Receiving Communion more than once a day

[surritter]

I know that the Church’s rule is that Holy Communion can be received more than once in a day, if the second time is at a Mass. And then no more after that. (Of course, there would be an exception to this rule for imminent death – viaticum.)

There is also a Church rule that says the Lord’s Day actually starts on Saturday evening (or afternoon) which is why Saturday Masses after 4 p.m. count as Sunday.

So the hypothetical question: Can one receive Holy Communion at a Saturday vigil Mass and then at two of the Sunday Masses? Or does the first reception on Sunday become the second and final time?

 

[Phemie]

For communion purposes it’s from midnight to midnight, so yes, you can receive on Saturday at the anticipated Sunday Mass and twice on Sunday.

 

[diggerdomer]

I know that the Church’s rule is that Holy Communion can be received more than once in a day, if the second time is at a Mass. And then no more after that. (Of course, there would be an exception to this rule for imminent death – viaticum.)

There is also a Church rule that says the Lord’s Day actually starts on Saturday evening (or afternoon) which is why Saturday Masses after 4 p.m. count as Sunday.

So the hypothetical question: Can one receive Holy Communion at a Saturday vigil Mass and then at two of the Sunday Masses? Or does the first reception on Sunday become the second and final time?

You can, yes, but it doesn’t seem to make sense. If we’re talking about Sunday Mass, we are obliged to celebrate it…what time/day we do so is up to our parish and individual circumstances…but it’s still ONE celebration. It makes no sense, in that consideration, to go more than once (and so, to receive communion more than once). Once is enough…more than enough, it’s the fullness, the complete participation in the Paschal Mystery of Christ as we join Him in offering praise and worship to God the Father, with the Holy Spirit.

Canon Law codifies this idea in 917:

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.

The “same day” in this sense does incorporate the Church’s understanding of the “liturgical day” which is normally 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m… But in the case of Sundays and Solemnities, the liturgical day does begin the evening before…so as I understand it adhering to Canon 917 means we should only receive Communion once for a given “Sunday” Mass.

C. 921 refers to those who receive communion in the context of viaticum, i.e. near death, which is of course allowed regardless of Sunday etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[surritter]

The “same day” in this sense does incorporate the Church’s understanding of the “liturgical day” which is normally 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m… But in the case of Sundays and Solemnities, the liturgical day does begin the evening before…so as I understand it adhering to Canon 917 means we should only receive Communion once for a given “Sunday” Mass.

This is a hypothetical example, remember. But it could apply for an organist who plays at the Saturday vigil and then the two Sunday Masses. Perhaps he wishes to fully participate at each Mass by receiving Communion.

Regardless of the motivation, it seems that the two replies above (Phemie and Diggerdomer) are not in agreement. I guess it comes down to a Canon Law question. Anyone else want to weigh in?

 

[hansard]

Why does there even need to be a ruling on this? It should be a matter of personal choice. Did Jesus have anything to say on the topic?

 

[Phemie]

Why does there even need to be a ruling on this? It should be a matter of personal choice. Did Jesus have anything to say on the topic?

Because the Church has laws that we have to follow and this law was established for a good reason – to prevent those who would receive multiple Communions out of superstition, ignorance or misguided devotions. Until Vat. II we were only allowed to receive once a day except for Viaticum or to prevent desecration. Since Vat. II we have been allowed to receive twice in a calendar day and Canon 917 simplifies all the post-conciliar legislation.

 

[baltobetsy]

Without any citations handy, the interpretation I have always heard from experts is that, for this purpose, a day is midnight to midnight.

And here’s another reason one might do it. A person who attends Mass daily, 7 days a week, and is unable for some reason to go to Mass on Saturday morning, can attend the Sunday Mass celebrated on Saturday afternoon or evening, and call that his daily Mass for Saturday, and then attend the regular Sunday Mass on Sunday for Sunday’s Mass. The readings don’t matter at all for this purpose - it’s getting to Mass in each 24-hour period that matters to people. There is no Church rule about daily Mass attendance.

Betsy

 

[japhy]

Here is how Canon Law reckons time:
Can. 202 §1 In law, a day is understood to be a space of twenty-four hours, to be reckoned continuously and, unless expressly provided otherwise, it begins at midnight; a week is a space of seven days - a month is a space of thirty days, and a year a space of three hundred and sixty-five days, unless it is stated that the month and the year are to be taken as in the calendar.
So when Can. 917 says that “One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates,” it means a 24-hour day starting at midnight.

 

[diggerdomer]

Here is how Canon Law reckons time:
Can. 202 §1 In law, a day is understood to be a space of twenty-four hours, to be reckoned continuously and, unless expressly provided otherwise, it begins at midnight; a week is a space of seven days - a month is a space of thirty days, and a year a space of three hundred and sixty-five days, unless it is stated that the month and the year are to be taken as in the calendar.
So when Can. 917 says that “One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates,” it means a 24-hour day starting at midnight.

Thanks Japhy. I figured canon law defined it but I didn’t know where.

What I was referring to e.g. is found in the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar:

1. Each day is made holy through the liturgical celebrations of the people of God, especially through the eucharistic sacrifice and the divine office. The liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight, but the observance of Sunday and solemnities begins with the evening of the preceding day.

scborromeo.org/litcal.htm

So as I understand it, this is a situation where it’s “expressly provided otherwise” (meaning for Sundays and Solemnities).

 

[japhy]

1. Each day is made holy through the liturgical celebrations of the people of God, especially through the eucharistic sacrifice and the divine office. The liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight, but the observance of Sunday and solemnities begins with the evening of the preceding day.
   So as I understand it, this is a situation where it’s “expressly provided otherwise” (meaning for Sundays and Solemnities).

Then the question is, does the observance of Sunday starting with the previous evening produce a “liturgical day” of more than 24 hours (which is not envisioned by Can. 202)?

 

[diggerdomer]

Then the question is, does the observance of Sunday starting with the previous evening produce a “liturgical day” of more than 24 hours (which is not envisioned by Can. 202)?

Yes. That’s why the Liturgy of the Hours has two Sunday Evening Prayers. One is prayed on Saturday evening, one on Sunday.

 

[japhy]

Yes. That’s why the Liturgy of the Hours has two Sunday Evening Prayers. One is prayed on Saturday evening, one on Sunday.

But is the observance of Sunday (on Saturday evening) the same as the day of Sunday? Canon Law describes a day as a continuous period of 24 hours, neither more nor less. The starting point can vary, but the number of hours is 24. (Canon Law is not concerned with “daylight savings time”, it would seem.)

 

[diggerdomer]

But is the observance of Sunday (on Saturday evening) the same as the day of Sunday? Canon Law describes a day as a continuous period of 24 hours, neither more nor less. The starting point can vary, but the number of hours is 24. (Canon Law is not concerned with “daylight savings time”, it would seem.)

Liturgically, yes, Saturday evening is – for liturgical purposes – considered “Sunday.” Mass on Saturday evening is the same as Sunday Mass (readings, prayers, etc.; except of course when a feast has a specific Vigil Mass in which case different readings would be used). “Sunday” Mass can be celebrated any time from Saturday evening until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Evening Prayer I for Sunday is prayed on Saturday evening, Evening Prayer II for Sunday is prayed on Sunday evening. There is no Saturday Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Canon Law may not envision this, but as you pointed out it does note that there could be exceptions to its definition of “day.” This is an example of that being applied.

 

[FrDavid96]

But is the observance of Sunday (on Saturday evening) the same as the day of Sunday? Canon Law describes a day as a continuous period of 24 hours, neither more nor less. The starting point can vary, but the number of hours is 24. (Canon Law is not concerned with “daylight savings time”, it would seem.)

Sunday itself begins with 1st Vespers–that’s addressed in the Norms for the Calendar #3. That’s exactly what canon 202 was meant to address by saying “unless expressly provided otherwise.” (and yes, the days of the year when we have either 23 or 25 hours in one day would likewise be an example of 202). In other words, it’s the very intent of the law (c. 202) to say that Saturday evening is Sunday, not an inintended application of the law.

The concept that Sunday actually begins when it is Saturday on the secular calendar is a relatively recent concept for Catholics (even though it’s a restoration of an ancient understanding), and we still haven’t quite grasped it. We all understand that “one may attend a Mass on Saturday evening to fulfill the Sunday obligation” but the problem is that we still think of it as being “Saturday evening” when it’s actually not Saturday but Sunday.

 

[surritter]

So based on Fr. David’s comments, I guess the answer to my original question is:

If one receives Holy Communion on Saturday evening, he many receive again at only one Mass on Sunday (excepting the case of viaticum if near death).

Thanks all!