Receiving Daily Communion and not Attending Mass

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Arimor

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I attend Mass every Sunday, however, is it acceptable that go to Church during my work lunch during the week to receive Holy Communion, without attending Mass? I’m obviously observing the 1 hour fast requirement.

Many thanks.
 
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I’m assuming this is your first or only Holy Communion of the day, since if you were receiving a second Holy Communion then you would have to receive it at a Mass at which you assist, which means you would have to be there participating in the Mass for at least a significant part if not all of the Mass.

Assuming it’s your first or only Holy Communion of the day, and not on Sunday, then I’m not aware of any prohibition on receiving Communion without being present for the whole Mass. I have seen one guy consistently receiving at daily afternoon Mass in this way - he comes in at Communion time in his work clothes (he’s clearly a groundskeeper or gardener of some sort), receives Communion, then leaves and presumably goes back to work. The priest (same priest every day at this church) sees him doing this and is apparently fine with it.

It would obviously be better if you attended Mass, so if you can attend at least part of the Mass you should do that. But I think priests understand that people who are working might not be able to stay long.
 
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Thank you for taking the time to answer my question, it’s very much appreciated.

It would be the only communion I would be receiving that day. I attend Mass every Sunday, thereby fulfilling my weekly obligation, however as there’s a Catholic Church near to my work, I would very much like to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord every day.

Many thanks and God Bless.
 
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To be on the safe side, you might try and have a word with the priest beforehand, to make sure he has no objection.
 
Went for communion today lunchtime and stayed till the end of Mass, which was finished within 5/10 minutes.

I’ll have a word with the priest, to hopefully get his blessing.

Many thanks.
 
Arimor said:
I attend Mass every Sunday, thereby fulfilling my weekly obligation
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Not to derail the thread, which @Tis_Bearself has wonderfully answered in full detail, but I just wanted to clarify to anyone not Catholic reading this thread, it’s called the Sunday Obligation - it’s not a “weekly obligation”, because it can’t be fulfilled any other day of the week.
God bless! 🙏
 
Arimor said:
I attend Mass every Sunday, however, is it acceptable that go to Church during my work lunch during the week to receive Holy Communion, without attending Mass? I’m obviously observing the 1 hour fast requirement.

Many thanks.
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Two questions to consider.
Who is going to open the Tabernacle and offer you the Eucharist?
What is the Priest’s view about this?

I thought you might be referring to an infirm visit, or communion service without Mass at first.
 
It used to be a common practice, especially in certain religious houses, to receive daily but Mass may not be offered daily, especially in absence of a priest. They had devised an approved way to do so. (I’m thinking 1800s here.) I’ve never heard of a priest objecting to someone properly disposed receiving reverently outside of Mass, but it’s never been done to my knowledge without clerical approval.
 
After I posted I realized my concern was unfounded, especially considering I asked about receiving on the same day at Saturday morning daily Mass and the Saturday evening Sunday anticipation Mass. They are completely different Masses. I don’t think logically it would make sense not to be able to receive twice a day in that scenario.
 
Zach said:
They are completely different Masses.
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This doesn’t matter. The law is twice in a day, midnight to midnight. The second time must be a Mass you attend and participate in (to the extent any reasonable lay person would in the pew; doesn’t mean acting in any kind of ministry is required).

That’s an automatic exception to the twice in a day rule.

With permission, yes it is. The pastor has a duty to safeguard the Eucharist, and you can’t self-communicate, hence the permission need I reference.
 
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If you are in a state of grace, fulfilling the fast, and obeying the Laws of the Church regarding receiving Communion, you may receive whether at Mass or away from Mass. Provided you are properly disposed, there is nothing wrong with showing up at a daily Mass right before Communion, receiving, and then leaving. You incur sin by neglecting to attend Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation, not by partaking of the Eucharist outside of Mass or at a Mass you were late to.
 
Thank you mythbuster, that is my exact scenario. I’m literally nipping in to daily mass during my lunch break, just as communion is about to be handed out, receive communion, then leave (well, I actually stay ‘till the end of Mass, then leave).

I’m still going to speak to the parish priest about it, just out of courtesy.

Many thanks.
 
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Apologies, I wasn’t clear. I’m literally popping in to daily Mass just as communion is about to be handed out, then leave.

Many thanks and God bless.
 
Arimor said:
I attend Mass every Sunday, however, is it acceptable that go to Church during my work lunch during the week to receive Holy Communion, without attending Mass? I’m obviously observing the 1 hour fast requirement.

Many thanks.
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Attending Mass is not a requirement for receiving Communion. The only requirement is that you are in a state of grace and properly disposed to receiving, provided (as Tis_Bearself stated) that you are only receiving once.
 
I should have used the word “participating at Mass” rather than “Assisting”. I have read guidelines that used the word “assisting” to mean “participating”, as in laity sitting in the pew responding and praying along with the Mass and so forth, but someone always gets confused thinking “Assists” means you need to be the altar server or the deacon or the lector etc, which is not necessary. Actually, I can see “participating” being misinterpreted the same way.

Anyway bottom line is that as someone else said, in order to receive a second time you need to attend a Mass and do the things the congregation normally does like respond at the proper points, pray the communal prayers, listen to the readings, etc.
 
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Arimor said:
Apologies, I wasn’t clear. I’m literally popping in to daily Mass just as communion is about to be handed out, then leave.

Many thanks and God bless.
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Why can you not attend the entire Mass? Being a daily Mass it will be tailored towards working people.
 
I am not sure you will find a place to just get communion. No parishes I know of offer this. Perhaps instead of seeking daily communion you could attempt to go to one additional mass each week and monthly confession.
 
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