Reason for Communion limit to once a day?

[MarcoPolo]

I know there’s some exception that it Communion can be taken twice per day, but does anyone know of a bishop from USCCB or Magisterium explaining why Communion is limited to once (or twice) per day?

 

[cyberwolf001]

I know there’s some exception that it Communion can be taken twice per day, but does anyone know of a bishop from USCCB or Magisterium explaining why Communion is limited to once (or twice) per day?

I’ve asked this before back in RCIA. All I got was a long rant about quantity vs. quality. Yes even on this I could never get a direct answer.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Avoiding making the Eucharist an object of superstition. Instances where some people may think that receiving more makes one more Holy or have a superficial belief on benefits such as protection from bodily harm or maybe “good luck”.

 

[ProVobis]

Fr William Saunders makes some good points of it here.

You’ll have to read all of it but his last few paragraphs:

**Never, in ordinary circumstances, do we isolate the reception of Holy Communion from the rest of the Mass. **The Church grants the permission of receiving Holy Communion twice in one day to meet those situations of a person attending perhaps a wedding Mass and a funeral Mass on the same day, or attending the regular daily Mass and then some special Mass the same day; nevertheless, the stipulation is that the person attends the whole Mass in both instances. Unfortunately, I have known individuals who on a daily basis just “pop” into Mass (even Masses) at the right time to receive Holy Communion and then leave before Mass concludes; it is almost like they are getting their “Jesus fix” for the day rather than worshiping God and wholeheartedly receiving the Blessed Sacrament.

As qualified in Canon 921, §2, in those special circumstances when a person is in danger of death, then he may receive Holy Communion as viaticum along with Penance and Anointing of the Sick, even though he may have received twice already that day. Another special circumstance arises when the person is confined in a hospital or homebound: here the person may receive outside the context of Mass, but would not receive more than once a day unless in danger of death.

Two other basic stipulations govern the reception of Holy Communion: First, a person who is conscious of mortal sin must first make a sacramental confession and receive absolution (Code of Canon Law, #916).

Second, a person must fast from food and drink (except water or medicine) for one hour beforehand (Code of Canon Law, #919). However, the period of fast before receiving Holy Communion is reduced to “approximately one quarter of an hour” for those who are sick at home or at a hospital, those elderly confined to home or a nursing home, and those who care for these people and who are unable conveniently to observe the fast (Immensae Caritatis, 1973).

The Church in her prudence provides these laws to help us have a balanced spiritual life, avoiding extremes. Just as the Church requires a person to receive Holy Communion at least once a year (the “Easter duty law”), so does the Church restrict the number of times we can receive a day.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Thank you. Your responses gave me additional ideas for searching and I came across something rather obvious from CCC#2837. The Eucharist is represented in “our daily bread,” in Christ’s own words. In a theological sense, it seems single receipt of the Eucharist nourishes us completely for that day. Prevention of scrupulosity is also a valid reason.

 

[reginacaeli]

Yes, except Canon 917 says you can receive Holy Communion a second time on the same day, as long as you participate in a eucharistic celebration.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes, except Canon 917 says you can receive Holy Communion a second time on the same day, as long as you participate in a eucharistic celebration.

There are many practical reasons for that. One is if you received outside of Mass, you may want to receive during one. Also, in cases of a day preceeding a Feast Day or Sunday, the evening Mass for that day would count towards the next day. So you may go to Mass in the morning, and again in the evening for fulfilling your obligation for the next day, but you are indeed receiving for the second time in the same day. For reception of Communion, it is always a 24-hour period.

 

[laszlo]

Here are the relevant canons

Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 921, §2.

Can. 921 §1. The Christian faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are to be nourished by holy communion in the form of Viaticum.

§2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.

In short: If one participates in multiple Masses one can receive the holy Communion multiple times. Above that outside of the Mass the Holy Communion can be received as viaticum.

The first part is new (#917); previously only the priest celebrating multiple masses on the same day was allowed to receive the Eucharist multiple times, other did not were allowed to do so. The formal reason for the previous law was the required Eucharistic fast from midnight, which required no to eat or drink anything. The new law recognizes the change related to the fasting

 

[ProVobis]

Thank you. Your responses gave me additional ideas for searching and I came across something rather obvious from CCC#2837. The Eucharist is represented in “our daily bread,” in Christ’s own words. In a theological sense, it seems single receipt of the Eucharist nourishes us completely for that day…

Are you referring to the interpretation in Matthew 6:11?

11 τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον:
11 Panem nostrum supersubstantialem da nobis hodie
11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.

■Supersubstantial bread… In Luke 11:3 the same word is rendered daily bread. It is understood of the bread of life, which we receive in the Blessed Sacrament. (Challoner)

newadvent.org/bible/mat006.htm

 

[HAnne]

Speaking to this on a practical level, there are many who (especially on Sundays) may be present at more than one Mass for any number of reasons (musicians, readers, kids doing stuff in 2 different services, etc.). It can be awkward trying to figure out if you take communion once, twice, etc for them.

One parish I used to perform at had a meeting with all the musicians when multiple services would be attended by the same group (such as Christmas, Easter, etc.) To keep music fluid they each opted to receive at a different service so there would still be music throughout communion at each and rotated whose “turn” it was.

When in doubt, ask your priest. He’ll know if there are any additional requirements for your diocese.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

There are many practical reasons for that. One is if you received outside of Mass, you may want to receive during one. Also, in cases of a day preceeding a Feast Day or Sunday, the evening Mass for that day would count towards the next day. So you may go to Mass in the morning, and again in the evening for fulfilling your obligation for the next day, but you are indeed receiving for the second time in the same day. For reception of Communion, it is always a 24-hour period.

I have seen canon lawyers state that a day in canon law is strictly midnight to midnight unless specifically stated otherwise.