Receiving communion twice in a day

[Harsalter]

I am fairly new to the faith as I am a protestant convert to Catholicism. I have searched the archives and even Fr Vincent Serpa seemed to not even answer this question clearly.

Lots of people like to travel and site see and it is a passion to some. Well, I like to travel and experience Mass at different and beautiful churches, cathedrals and even basilica’s when I get the chance. When doing so, I sometimes have the opportunity to attend a couple of Masses a day.

I am not speaking of going to Mass on Saturday morning, receiving communion, then going to Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday evening and receiving communion. And as I understand it, even if you went to both of these Masses on Saturday, you could even go on to Sunday morning Mass and receive communion. Is this right?

But my main question, and please don’t mention “Mass participation” as this is the confusion. But can someone go to a regular Tuesday morning Mass at 7 am, then go to another Mass Tuesday afternoon of the same day, and receive communion at both, being only a simple Catholic worshipper?

Thanks…

 

[Marsha_Adams]

My understanding is that you can only receive communion once at a liturgy. Now, if you were to go to the 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning Mass and the 5:30 p.m. anticipatory Sunday Mass those are two different liturgies and you are free to receive communion at both Masses. Suppose you also went to a 2:00 Saturday afternoon Wedding Mass, that would be three different liturgies, and you could receive communion three times in one day.

The question is that if you went to the 7:00 a.m. Tuesday Mass at St. Gertrudes and the 3:00 p.m. Tuesday Mass at St. Ignatius, the readings and prayers would be the same at both Masses. So would that be the two celebrations of one liturgy? Or would it be two liturgies?

 

[Marsha_Adams]

The reason I restated your question was to show the reason why you were correct in your understanding of the Saturday situation, and why your Tuesday question was not as clear cut as it might seem. Perhaps the answer lays in WHY you were at two Masses on a Tuesday?

 

[Harsalter]

Perhaps the answer lays in WHY you were at two Masses on a Tuesday?

Sigh, thought I was as clear as possible in my question WHY I might be at two Tuesday Masses.

Guess I could take in a ball game or a secular museum rather than atending a second Mass at a second cathedral if the Church teachings think that is where our time is better served.

 

[drafdog]

You may certainly attend Mass as often as you please. But you do not receive Eucharist more than once in a day without permission from the local Ordinary (Bishop).

Matthew

 

[jamannor]

This is a common topic. You can look around Christmas time it was posted all the time. You are allowed to receive twice a day, and more for grave reasons.

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

 

[Godfollower]

You may certainly attend Mass as often as you please. But you do not receive Eucharist more than once in a day without permission from the local Ordinary (Bishop).

Matthew

This is incorrect. You may receive the Eucharist twice a day, so long as the second time is during Mass (you may receive it a third time as Viaticum if in danger of death).

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.

 

[martinporres]

Harsalter, Canon 917 explicitly allows for twice-a-day communion. Since it doesn’t proscribe more than twice-a-day communion (if you clearly read the canon), it can be inferred that it’s not illicit to receive more than twice per day. It may not be culturally encouraged, but if the Church wanted to prevent it legally, it could have been explicitly forbidden. (my opinion)

I should also point out that you can participate in a mass, experience the liturgy, and then not present yourself for communion to no ill effect, especially if you’d received just several hours earlier. Perhaps you’re under the impression to not present yourself for receiving communion each time you are offered it is somehow an affront? It isn’t.

[What an excellent way to spend some of your vacation/travel time, btw!]

 

[jmcrae]

I am not speaking of going to Mass on Saturday morning, receiving communion, then going to Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday evening and receiving communion. And as I understand it, even if you went to both of these Masses on Saturday, you could even go on to Sunday morning Mass and receive communion. Is this right?

Yes.

But my main question, and please don’t mention “Mass participation” as this is the confusion. But can someone go to a regular Tuesday morning Mass at 7 am, then go to another Mass Tuesday afternoon of the same day, and receive communion at both, being only a simple Catholic worshipper?

Yes.

As noted in the canon law citation above, we can receive Holy Communion up to twice in one day, as long as the second time is at a Mass, the sole exception being Viaticum.

EDIT: Priests can receive up to three times a day, and more with permission from the Bishop. They also only have to fast once, for the first one. (We of course have to observe the Communion fast each time we receive.)

 

[revejj2000]

I am confussed as to what you mean by “simple Catholic worshipper”. If that means that you come upon a church that has a Mass in progress or it is just beginning and you simple enter, but do not sing, respond to the prayers, sit, stand, kneel, etc. and then want to go to communion, I would say no. Participation is needed for second reception. Also, you can attend as many Masses as you want, but you are only able to receive Communion twice a day at a Mass you participate in.

 

[InLight247]

But can someone go to a regular Tuesday morning Mass at 7 am, then go to another Mass Tuesday afternoon of the same day, and receive communion at both, being only a simple Catholic worshipper?
Thanks…

YES!
One can receive Holy Communion maximum twice a day**.**

 

[baltobetsy]

I am confussed as to what you mean by “simple Catholic worshipper”. If that means that you come upon a church that has a Mass in progress or it is just beginning and you simple enter, but do not sing, respond to the prayers, sit, stand, kneel, etc. and then want to go to communion, I would say no. Participation is needed for second reception. Also, you can attend as many Masses as you want, but you are only able to receive Communion twice a day at a Mass you participate in.

I think the confusion is as to whether one has an official liturgical role in the Mass, such as reader or cantor or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. This is NOT what is meant by participating in the Mass. It means what you said it means - paying attention and praying along.

So, yes, a person may receive Holy Communion twice in one day, provided the second time is at a Mass in which he participates.

My concern is that it is not a great idea to make a habit of doing this. Holy Communion is INFINITE! One Holy Communion is more than anyone could ever dream of (if you really understand what’s happening when you receive). Can you improve upon infinity by multiplying it? No. It is infinite the first time. There is no more.

So while the occasional circumstance may arise when one attends two Masses in one day for some special reason, I don’t think it’s a good idea to multiply your Masses and Communions out of habit or the idea that if one is good, two is better. Let’s go once and really cherish it.

Betsy

 

[hopefull]

Perhaps the other point missed in the above is Communion Services. A few times I have gone to an early Mass, thinking it was my only chance for Mass that day and found a Communion Service in progress and received. Then later in the day, my schedule cleared and I was able to get to Mass and received again (as a full pew participant, not in the sanctuary, to clarify). But still I was able to go to Communion a second time (same readings for the day.) However it is my understanding that if I had gone to Mass in the morning, I could still have gone to a communion service in the afternoon but that I could NOT have received at the later Communion service. Does anyone disagree with this interpretation please?

 

[baltobetsy]

However it is my understanding that if I had gone to Mass in the morning, I could still have gone to a communion service in the afternoon but that I could NOT have received at the later Communion service. Does anyone disagree with this interpretation please?

I think you are absolutely correct.

Betsy

 

[jmcrae]

Perhaps the other point missed in the above is Communion Services. A few times I have gone to an early Mass, thinking it was my only chance for Mass that day and found a Communion Service in progress and received. Then later in the day, my schedule cleared and I was able to get to Mass and received again (as a full pew participant, not in the sanctuary, to clarify). But still I was able to go to Communion a second time (same readings for the day.) However it is my understanding that if I had gone to Mass in the morning, I could still have gone to a communion service in the afternoon but that I could NOT have received at the later Communion service. Does anyone disagree with this interpretation please?

As I understand it, this is correct - if it’s a Mass, you can receive the second time, but if it’s something else (Communion service, bed side communion for a friend who is sick, etc.) then no.

 

[pianoplayingmom]

"My concern is that it is not a great idea to make a habit of doing this. Holy Communion is INFINITE! One Holy Communion is more than anyone could ever dream of (if you really understand what’s happening when you receive). Can you improve upon infinity by multiplying it? No. It is infinite the first time. There is no more.

So while the occasional circumstance may arise when one attends two Masses in one day for some special reason, I don’t think it’s a good idea to multiply your Masses and Communions out of habit or the idea that if one is good, two is better. Let’s go once and really cherish it."
I don’t understand your reasoning here. If what you are saying is correct, then you seem to be saying is we just need to receive once in our lifetime? We receive grace through this sacrament. Receiving Jesus often is not wrong. Many of us are daily communicants. I am a church musician and sometimes I have the privilege to be able to receive twice in one day. I always do because, as one priest told me, I wouldn’t go to a friend’s home where I was invited to a meal but not eat. Jesus is my Friend; He invites me to partake and so I do. Recently, I started participating at Mass twice on Sunday…once when I play and once to attend with a dear friend in a nursing home. I follow the Church’s teaching not to receive more than twice a day if I have to play for another liturgy that day but I consider it a great blessing (and a huge privilege) to be able to receive twice.

 

[Beyrak]

Can someone who actually has some type of church authority answer this question without a copy/paste? Please state your position so we can take it on good authority. And answer it simply please, can a simple catholic man receive communion twice in a day if he finds himself at two different Masses (same readings, etc), and he isn’t involved in the Mass other than attending?

The entire thread has only confused me as everyone disagrees.

 

[BobP123]

"My concern is that it is not a great idea to make a habit of doing this. Holy Communion is INFINITE! One Holy Communion is more than anyone could ever dream of (if you really understand what’s happening when you receive). Can you improve upon infinity by multiplying it? No. It is infinite the first time. There is no more.

So while the occasional circumstance may arise when one attends two Masses in one day for some special reason, I don’t think it’s a good idea to multiply your Masses and Communions out of habit or the idea that if one is good, two is better. Let’s go once and really cherish it."
I don’t understand your reasoning here. If what you are saying is correct, then you seem to be saying is we just need to receive once in our lifetime? We receive grace through this sacrament. Receiving Jesus often is not wrong. Many of us are daily communicants. I am a church musician and sometimes I have the privilege to be able to receive twice in one day. I always do because, as one priest told me, I wouldn’t go to a friend’s home where I was invited to a meal but not eat. Jesus is my Friend; He invites me to partake and so I do. Recently, I started participating at Mass twice on Sunday…once when I play and once to attend with a dear friend in a nursing home. I follow the Church’s teaching not to receive more than twice a day if I have to play for another liturgy that day but I consider it a great blessing (and a huge privilege) to be able to receive twice.

Don’t mean to switch gears on you here, but the fact that you are a church musician means that you are already bestowed with a great blessing which can in turn bestow (extra) graces upon others.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Canon 917 explicitly allows for twice-a-day communion. Since it doesn’t proscribe more than twice-a-day communion (if you clearly read the canon), it can be inferred that it’s not illicit to receive more than twice per day. It may not be culturally encouraged, but if the Church wanted to prevent it legally, it could have been explicitly forbidden. (my opinion)

Actually, it has been explicitly forbidden. Holy Communion may be received a second time in a day (at Mass), but not a third or more. See ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_times.htm for an explanation. This is also made explicit in the revised Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, in footnote #222 to Paragraph 1388: “The faithful may receive the Holy Eucharist only a second time on the same day.” (The exception, of course, is Viaticum.)

 

[Beyrak]

Actually, it has been explicitly forbidden. Holy Communion may be received a second time in a day (at Mass), but not a third or more. See ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_times.htm for an explanation. This is also made explicit in the revised Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, in footnote #222 to Paragraph 1388: “The faithful may receive the Holy Eucharist only a second time on the same day.” (The exception, of course, is Viaticum.)

Thank you PhilotheaZ ! Finally an answer that satisfies me and directly answers the question. I quote from the above linked document,

***“What it is saying is that if one attends a Mass after receiving Holy Communion previously that day, one may receive it again.” ***

There are no qualifiers, etc, but yes one may attend two Masses per day even if it is the same liturgy scriptures, and receive communion twice.