Receive the Holy Communion twice a day?

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Hopefully this does not lead the discussion off topic.
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.

§3. While the danger of death lasts, it is recommended that holy communion be administered often, but on separate days.

Is it possible the reason we have been instructed to refrain from receiving more than once, except when attending Mass for a different purpose lies in this Canon? Nobody knows when life’s situation might change.:twocents:
 
Actually, for some of us, that’s a very important question. Yeah, none of us know when the time will come, but some of us are in a more immediate state than others.

I’ve been in technically in danger of sudden death since June 9, 1996, when I had my first aortic root replacement, and my risks recently increased when I found out that my aorta has started growing again.

At our previous parish, my wife got enrolled as an EMC just so she could bring me communion when I needed it, but she was able to do that because I’ve known the deacon there for almost 20 years.
 
i just recently became a Catholic and went to mass twice in one day soon after.
then i wondered if i was permitted to receive Holy Communion twice in one day so i called my priest. he said it is not recommended to receive the Eucharist twice a day unless the second time is a funeral or wedding.

so i took him at his word.

he is an elderly priest so i assume he is familiar with canon law so i don’t know why he said that if the canon law says we can receive it twice a day.

it is not something i would want to do all of the time, but on a rare occasion
perhaps.
 
GodsGadfly said:
Actually, for some of us, that’s a very important question. Yeah, none of us know when the time will come, but some of us are in a more immediate state than others.

I’ve been in technically in danger of sudden death since June 9, 1996, when I had my first aortic root replacement, and my risks recently increased when I found out that my aorta has started growing again.

At our previous parish, my wife got enrolled as an EMC just so she could bring me communion when I needed it, but she was able to do that because I’ve known the deacon there for almost 20 years.
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The role of caretaker is the reason many choose to become trained as an EMCH. My own reason is somewhat different. In the old cowboy movies, the widow often took over the role of her husband whether it be running the ranch or the store in town. I basically acted as my husband’s substitute when he was unable to lector or act as EMCH because of work obligations.
We had a new pastor and I had to step into the husband’s role as an inexperienced lector. I managed to read the wrong Responsorial Psalm. I heard my husband’s clear voice responding as he covered my error and embarrassment. He had managed to make it to Mass. He sat in the pew in his Army fatigues beaming from ear to ear.
 
deborahaz said:
i just recently became a Catholic and went to mass twice in one day soon after.
then i wondered if i was permitted to receive Holy Communion twice in one day so i called my priest. he said it is not recommended to receive the Eucharist twice a day unless the second time is a funeral or wedding.

so i took him at his word.

he is an elderly priest so i assume he is familiar with canon law so i don’t know why he said that if the canon law says we can receive it twice a day.

it is not something i would want to do all of the time, but on a rare occasion
perhaps.
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The instruction the priest gave was that it was not recommended. That is not the same thing as not being permitted. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. Limiting it to once a daily helps maintain that specialness.
There were abuses regarding the Eucharist during the Middle Ages that were addressed during the Council of Trent. On one hand, it was being trivialized by multiple celebrations and on the other hand many laypeople never received the Eucharist.
There have also been changes in Canon Law that deal with length of the Eucharist fast and other issues of spiritual life. The priest’s reference may be an earlier version of Canon Law.
The Church has special Canon Lawyers who would be more aware of any changes and the interpretation of the Law.
I hope this answers your concerns. GodsGadfly may be able to articulate the reasons for this recommendation better than my attempt.
 
debchris - i agree. the key words are “not recommended” for the reasons you gave of the Eucharist not being trivialized and maintaining its specialness.
 
I was called down by a pastor for receiving communion twice in succession the same day, different mass … i did not think it was a sinful offense. WITH 97% of catholics who do not even believe in true presence of maybe never did,for give me father i am a sinner…and sobody wants jesus and serves him 7 days a week, i stand corrected…Sat at mass of a church of 3500 there were 15 to celebrate the sacrifice of our lord…my question is have i commited a sin againt man ? Sincde i do not believe god is calling me to the mat,a pastor who says i am the Boss …delegates my communion with GOD. pLS pray for me and ill pray for him.
 
DebChris said:
Generally speaking you may only receive Communion once a day. This is what I have always been taught.
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Such is incorrect. The other persons answered in regards to the discipline of the Church at this time.
 
A few posters have said that it is not recommended to receive communion more than once in a day.

Do you have any citations? Anything from any Church document? Anything written at all?

By the way, there are plenty of good reasons to go to Mass twice in one day, even if they don’t involve a funeral or wedding. Get yourself trained as a sacristan or server and you will quickly find out.
 
water said:
Sometimes, I plan to go to two masses on the same day but I am not sure if I am allowed to receive the Holy Communion for the second mass if both masses are the same. In other words, if the readings and Gospel are the same for both masses, then I cannot receive the Holy Communion for the second time?

Thanks!
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one can receive communion twice in one day if the masses are different. Example: daily mass Saturday morning the vigil mass Saturday night.
 
marleelynn said:
one can receive communion twice in one day if the masses are different. Example: daily mass Saturday morning the vigil mass Saturday night.
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I’m not sure where this misconception is coming from, but the “difference” of the Masses has absolutely nothing to do with it. Here are the only requirements:


  1. *]You may recieve Communion 2 times each day
    *]The second time, you must assist (attend) at a Mass to recieve. (ie, not recieve outside of Mass, or arrive to a Mass just before communion)

    Those are the only requirements to receive two times in one day.
 
marleelynn said:
one can receive communion twice in one day if the masses are different. Example: daily mass Saturday morning the vigil mass Saturday night.
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Do you have a citation? A Church document? Something in the Catechism? The GIRM?
 
TrueLight said:
Someone already posted Canon 917 on post 10.
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Yup. But it is directly contrary to the statement this poster made.

“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 …”

The poster from whom I am requesting a citation says that one may receive at two Masses, provided the second Mass is different. This is NOT what Canon 917 says. I am asking that poster if there is a citation for their statement, which seems at odds with 917.
 
GwenL said:
Yup. But it is directly contrary to the statement this poster made.

“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 …”

The poster from whom I am requesting a citation says that one may receive at two Masses, provided the second Mass is different. This is NOT what Canon 917 says. I am asking that poster if there is a citation for their statement, which seems at odds with 917.
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Ah. I see.
 
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