Receiving Eucharist multiple times in a day

[ProVobis]

Vico, interesting point about Vatican II recommending the reception of the same Body as was consecrated at that Mass.

Furthermore:

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal §321 recommends that “the eucharistic bread … be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. … The action of the fraction or breaking of bread, which gave its name to the Eucharist in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramental_bread

 

[Vico]

Vico, interesting point about Vatican II recommending the reception of the same Body as was consecrated at that Mass.

Furthermore:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramental_bread

That is interesting, and I can see why it is the usual practice. Why would the Church do otherwise?

RITE OF DISTRIBUTING HOLY COMMUNION OUTSIDE MASS WITH THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD 1

1. This rite is to be used chiefly when Mass is not celebrated or when communion is not distributed at scheduled times. The purpose is that the people should be nourished by the word of God. By hearing it they learn that the marvels it proclaims reach their climax in the paschal mystery of which the Mass is a sacramental memorial and in which they share by communion. Nourished by God’s word, they are led on to grateful and fruitful participation in the saving mysteries.
   1 Taken from Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass (1974). All paragraph numbers refer back to the original
   and have not been changed. Changes to the text reflect overlap with the Roman Missal, third edition, and have been underlined.
   At communion service it presentation of the Most Blessed Sacrament will emphasize: "the fact that Christ himself is present under the appearance of bread."8 Why are some of the consecrated hosts reserved after the Mass?

While it would be possible to eat all of the bread that is consecrated during the Mass, some is usually kept in the tabernacle. The Body of Christ under the appearance of bread that is kept or “reserved” after the Mass is commonly referred to as the “Blessed Sacrament.” There are several pastoral reasons for reserving the Blessed Sacrament. First of all, it is used for distribution to the dying ( Viaticum), the sick, and those who legitimately cannot be present for the celebration of the Eucharist. Secondly, the Body of Christ in the form of bread is to be adored when it is exposed, as in the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction, when it is carried in eucharistic processions, or when it is simply placed in the tabernacle, before which people pray privately. These devotions are based on the fact that Christ himself is present under the appearance of bread. Many holy people well known to American Catholics, such as St. John Neumann, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Katharine Drexel, and Blessed Damien of Molokai, practiced great personal devotion to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, devotion to the reserved Blessed Sacrament is practiced most directly at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, offered on weekdays of Lent.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/resources-for-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm

 

[Gorgias]

I also reasoned that since the Saturday evening Mass was a Vigil Mass for Sunday, that it was technically ‘another day’ and therefore they could receive Communion again when we went to Mass as a family (they did not act as Altar Servers at that Mass).

Nope. The canon is talking about ‘calendar days’ (that is, from midnight one day to midnight the next day). The fact that the Vigil Mass satisfies the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday doesn’t factor into the question of the reception of Communion. So, if your sons had already received Communion twice that day, they should have deferred at the Vigil Mass.

Father told them that the rule/law that I was thinking of was outdated and no longer applied.

Perhaps he thought that you were thinking of the old rule, which was once a day?

So, if someone assists in Mass twice in one day and then attends a Vigil Mass, they are not bound by the ‘receive twice in one day’ law, since the third Reception is a Vigil that technically counts for Sunday…right?

Nope. Twice in a single day, regardless of the reason for the Mass.

 

[Phemie]

But participating and assisting are not…a server can assist and participate (hopefully!). I can sit in a pew and participate, but not assist. Assisting at Mass involves being on the Altar…no??? Am I misunderstanding this?

While we usually think of “assist” as meaning “give help”, the word has another definition: “be present at”.

People often interpret “participate” in that particular canon as meaning that one has a particular ministry: EMCH, reader, etc. But in this case the words ‘assisting’, ‘participating’, ‘attending’ all mean the same thing: one is at Mass – ideally with full, conscious, active participation.

 

[hsmomforlife]

Nope. The canon is talking about ‘calendar days’ (that is, from midnight one day to midnight the next day). The fact that the Vigil Mass satisfies the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday doesn’t factor into the question of the reception of Communion. So, if your sons had already received Communion twice that day, they should have deferred at the Vigil Mass.

Perhaps he thought that you were thinking of the old rule, which was once a day?

Nope. Twice in a single day, regardless of the reason for the Mass.

THANK YOU for the straightforward response! As long as no one disagrees with you, I will share that info with my kids. I will also read the other responses and hopefully ‘get them’…thanks!

 

[Vico]

THANK YOU for the straightforward response! As long as no one disagrees with you, I will share that info with my kids. I will also read the other responses and hopefully ‘get them’…thanks!

I agree. Both the canon and the liturgical codes use midnight to midnight. Do you need the references (I have them)?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I’ve seen a few threads about this already, but it’s a subject that intrigues me. It seems that the general rule according to canon law is that you can receive Eucharist twice in one day, provided certain circumstances are met (second time must be in context of a Mass, etc). I assume that this is a law put in place to prevent people from treating the Eucharist with superstition by receiving as many times as possible.

The reason I’m interested by this is because I belong to a large parish in which I am one of the go-to Cantors for weekend Masses. In normal circumstances I sing one Mass on Saturday evening and two on Sunday morning, and I’ve been receiving Communion each time. Technically that means I’m within the “limit” of twice a calendar day. But then there may be times when I fill in for another singer during another Sunday Mass in addition to my usual two, and then my schedule gets even more crowded during Christmas - two Christmas Eve Masses (in addition to two in the morning if Christmas Eve is a Sunday!), then Midnight Mass, then another two Christmas Morning Masses.

Up until this point I’ve only known about any sort of “communion limit” very vaguely, and it was usually in the context of personal opinions and not canon law. As such, I haven’t usually prevented myself from receiving during any Mass I participate in if I get the chance to.

Now I highly doubt that God is automatically offended if we happen to receive the gift of the Body and Blood of His Son more than a specified number of times a day, but I do recognize that the limit was put in place to make sure our hearts and minds are in the right place when receiving the Eucharist. Do you think that receiving too many times in one day (for someone in my sort of situation) can damage one’s appreciation for the sacrament? I want to make sure I give Christ’s Body and Blood their due reverence, but I don’t want to get caught up in the technicalities of it either. Thoughts?

I really don’t understand the question. Are you saying that you know the rule but don’t wish to be bothered by it because your situation is different? It would seem to me that if you know the rule then asking these questions is saying that a spirit of obedience is not good enough for you. This idea of “technicalities” shows a lack of respect for the Church and ultimately for the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. You are not the only person who has to participate in three Masses in one day sometimes. This rule applies to all.

 

[hsmomforlife]

I agree. Both the canon and the liturgical codes use midnight to midnight. Do you need the references (I have them)?

If they are handy, that would be helpful, but I don’t want you to go out of your way.

Thanks!!

 

[Vico]

If they are handy, that would be helpful, but I don’t want you to go out of your way.

Thanks!!

Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made; a week is a period of 7 days; a month is a period of 30 days, and a year is a period of 365 days unless a month and a year are said to be taken as they are in the calendar.

The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar from the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship explains:
“The liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight, but the observance of Sunday and solemnities begins with the evening of the preceding day.”

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5932&CFID=61492661&CFTOKEN=46040491#Days

From CDW: General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar

TITLE I: LITURGICAL DAYS
I. The Liturgical Day in General
3. 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.

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5932

 

[FrDavid96]

But participating and assisting are not…a server can assist and participate (hopefully!). I can sit in a pew and participate, but not assist. Assisting at Mass involves being on the Altar…no??? Am I misunderstanding this?

“Participating” in Mass and “assisting” at Mass mean the same thing.
For whatever reason, in the English language, the term “assist at Mass” means to attend and participate in the Mass (in other words, to say the responses proper to the congregation, and say and do the people’s parts). To “assist” at Mass does not mean that one is present in the sanctuary, or has any particular role beyond that of everyone else in the congregation.

I have a particular scenario that I recently encountered and I would love to hear from others to make sure that I explained it correctly to my sons, so I hope those with a better understanding of Cannon law will help me out here.

My son’s are both altar servers and served a 10am Saturday funeral, an 11:30am Saturday funeral and then attended the Sunday Vigil with us as a family on Saturday evening at 5:15pm. (Yes, the Pastor joked that they were at more Masses that day than he was!LOL!I’m pretty sure he wants one or both of them to consider the Priesthood ) I was pretty sure that since they were participating AND assisting/serving at both of the morning Mass’ that it was canonically allowable for them to receive Communion both times (thanks to this and other threads on CAF!). I also reasoned that since the Saturday evening Mass was a Vigil Mass for Sunday, that it was technically ‘another day’ and therefore they could receive Communion again when we went to Mass as a family (they did not act as Altar Servers at that Mass). After rolling it around in my head as we prepared to head out the door for the two morning funerals (one of which was a double funeral for two people!) I sort of threw my hands up and said, “Ask Father! He’s the one who is trained in this sort of thing!LOL”
Father told them that the rule/law that I was thinking of was outdated and no longer applied. Maybe my boys didn’t ask the question in the right way, who knows.
So, if someone assists in Mass twice in one day and then attends a Vigil Mass, they are not bound by the ‘receive twice in one day’ law, since the third Reception is a Vigil that technically counts for Sunday…right?

I’m not trying to be scrupulous or anything, I am just trying to help my children understand the rules and responsibilities surrounding the reception of Holy Communion and to help them avoid scrupulosity (which one of my children who already lives with OCD just might have to deal with someday).

Of course I understand the rationale behind the guidelines, and will explain that to my children as well, I just want to make sure I have the facts down so that I can explain it all from a place of knowledge and authority…so any help/backup anyone can give is much appreciated!

What your sons did is perfectly fine, and the priest was certainly right to allow them to do it. Indeed, he would be in the wrong if he were to deny them Holy Communion when they participate in the Sunday Mass, for no reason other than that they received on Saturday.

The Masses on Saturday morning are Saturday Masses, and they may receive Communion no more than twice on Saturday.

The Mass on Saturday evening is the Sunday Mass. It is not the Saturday Mass, and whatever happened on Saturday is in the past, and no longer matters.

The Sunday Mass on Saturday evening is the Mass of Sunday in every possible way. It is not the “anticipated Mass” it is the Mass of the feast of Sunday. Blessed John Paul II, who promulgated the Code of Canon Law says that quite clearly in his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini. In the life of the Church, Sunday has already begun.

A person may receive Communion twice on Saturday. If that person then attends the Mass of Sunday, that person may certainly receive Holy Communion—whether the Mass of Sunday occurs on Sunday morning, or it occurs, in the secular calendar on Saturday evening.

Canon 202 says that a day runs from midnight to midnight “unless other provision is expressly made.”

That last part is important. Unless other provision is expressly made.

So, what is that “other provision?” Vico just quoted it for us.

In the General Norms for the calendar, the liturgical day of Sundays and other solemnities begins in the evening (vespers) of the previous calendar-day.

In the life of the Church, the entire Mass on Saturday evening is the Mass of Sunday. It is not in any way the Mass of Saturday. The whole Mass is the Mass of Sunday.

There is a principle in canon law which goes like this “whatever applies to the whole applies to every part of the whole.” In this context, that means that since the whole and entire Mass of Sunday on Saturday is the “Sunday Mass” then it necessarily follows that every part of that whole pertains to Sunday. And that is indeed the way the Church treats the Sunday Mass on Saturday evening—every part of the whole pertains to Sunday, to the complete exclusion of Saturday.

 

[Vico]

The specific canon which reflects the observance on the previous day coordinates with the Sunday and solemnities. The observance does not begin on the Sunday or solemnity. Eucharisticum Mysterium allowed reception of communion for the vigils. The day there is also 24 hours midnight to midnight, allowing communion on that midnight to midnight day, twice.

Eucharisticum Mysterium, Instruction on Eucharistic Worship Sacred Congregation of Rites. May 25, 1967.

1. Anticipating the Sunday and Feast Day Masses on the Previous Evening: Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord.
   …
   In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday, the homily and the prayer of the faithful are not to be omitted.
   …
   The faithful who begin to celebrate the Sunday or holy day of obligation on the preceding evening may go to Communion at that Mass even if they have already received Communion in the morning.

(You can read the entire document on adoremus website.) Now we have:
CIC Can. 1248.1
A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar from the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship explains: “The liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight, but the observance of Sunday and solemnities begins with the evening of the preceding day.”
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5932&CFID=61492661&CFTOKEN=46040491#Days

From CDW: General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar TITLE I: LITURGICAL DAYS
I. The Liturgical Day in General
3. 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.
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5932

That is completely in harmony with the canon law: Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made; a week is a period of 7 days; a month is a period of 30 days, and a year is a period of 365 days unless a month and a year are said to be taken as they are in the calendar.

The Sunday or solemnity is a 24 hour midnight to midnight period. (This ignores the 23 hour and 25 hour daylight savings dates.)

 

[Gorgias]

The Mass on Saturday evening is the Sunday Mass. It is not the Saturday Mass, and whatever happened on Saturday is in the past, and no longer matters.

A person may receive Communion twice on Saturday. If that person then attends the Mass of Sunday, that person may certainly receive Holy Communion—whether the Mass of Sunday occurs on Sunday morning, or it occurs, in the secular calendar on Saturday evening.

The confusion here, it seems, stems from the difference between liturgical norm and canon law. These two are set down in different places, and do not conflict with each other. On one hand, the notion of a vigil Mass, which satisfies the obligation to assist at a Mass (e.g., on Sunday or a holy day of obligation), is a liturgical norm. Therefore, the vigil Mass on Saturday is a celebration of the Sunday Mass. On the other hand, the discipline regarding the reception of communion is a canonical precept, not liturgical norm; therefore, when canon law says ‘twice in one day’, it means precisely that. Therefore, in order to harmonize these two sources of Church discipline – without forcing one to conflict with the other – we see that a person can receive the Eucharist twice between midnight and the following midnight, as long as the second reception takes place in the context of a Mass, and we see that participation in a Vigil Mass (such as on Saturday) satisfies the obligation to assist at Mass on Sunday. However, it does not mean that one can receive a third time on Saturday (i.e., coming into conflict with c. 917) by virtue of assisting at a vigil Mass on Sunday.

Unfortunately, a variety of ‘answers’ exists to this question. As evidence of this, we see that at Fr Z’s blog, he explains the situation as I’ve outlined it, above.

Confusing? Yes. Easily misinterpreted? Yes. Leads us to the situation in which one authority says ‘yes’ and another says ‘no’? Unfortunately, yes… :ehh:

 

[FrDavid96]

The specific canon which reflects the observance on the previous day coordinates with the Sunday and solemnities. The observance does not begin on the Sunday or solemnity. Eucharisticum Mysterium allowed reception of communion for the vigils. The day there is also 24 hours midnight to midnight, allowing communion on that midnight to midnight day, twice.

Eucharisticum Mysterium, Instruction on Eucharistic Worship Sacred Congregation of Rites. May 25, 1967.

1. Anticipating the Sunday and Feast Day Masses on the Previous Evening: Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord.

In these cases the Mass celebrated is that assigned in the calendar to Sunday, the homily and the prayer of the faithful are not to be omitted.

The faithful who begin to celebrate the Sunday or holy day of obligation on the preceding evening may go to Communion at that Mass even if they have already received Communion in the morning.

… Now we have:

A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar from the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship explains: “The liturgical day runs from midnight to midnight, but the observance of Sunday and solemnities begins with the evening of the preceding day.”

From CDW: General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar TITLE I: LITURGICAL DAYS
I. The Liturgical Day in General
3. 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.

That is completely in harmony with the canon law: Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made; a week is …

The Sunday or solemnity is a 24 hour midnight to midnight period. (This ignores the 23 hour and 25 hour daylight savings dates.)

Article 28 of Eucharisticum Mysterium dates from 1967. It has been abrogated by the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

You say that the Solemnity is “midnight to midnight period.”

That is categorically false and contradicts the teaching of the Church. It contradicts the very words of the Church that you posted.

The solemnity (including Sundays) begins on the evening of the previous calendar day—just as the numerous Church documents which you yourself quoted prove quite clearly.

You are inserting your own “period” to substitute where the Church says “unless other provision has been expressly made.”

These are the words of Bl. John Paul II, who, was the very Pope who promulgated the 1983 Code of Canon Law

1. Because the faithful are obliged to attend Mass unless there is a grave impediment, Pastors have the corresponding duty to offer to everyone the real possibility of fulfilling the precept. The provisions of Church law move in this direction, as for example in the faculty granted to priests, with the prior authorization of the diocesan Bishop, to celebrate more than one Mass on Sundays and holy days, the institution of evening Masses(86) and the provision which allows the obligation to be fulfilled from Saturday evening onwards, starting at the time of First Vespers of Sunday. From a liturgical point of view, in fact, holy days begin with First Vespers. Consequently, the liturgy of what is sometimes called the “Vigil Mass” (praefestivae) is in effect the “festive” (festiva) Mass of Sunday, at which the celebrant is required to preach the homily and recite the Prayer of the Faithful.
   vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_en.html

There is a sentence clause in the original Latin which is missing from the English translation.
Propterea Missae liturgia nonnumquam “praefestivae” appellatae, quae vero reapse pleno iure “festiva” est, dominici diei est, instante etiam celebrantis officio ut homiliam sacram habeat et cum fidelibus precationem universalem absolvat.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_lt.html

He teaches “dominici diei est” it is the day of the Lord.

In fact, the 1967 document Eucharisticum Mysterium proves the point that one who receives Communion twice on Saturday is eligible to receive at the Sunday Mass even if that Sunday Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening. At the time, Catholics could only receive Communion one time on a given day. The fact that they could receive on Saturday evening even after receiving in the morning proves the mind of the Church that the evening Communion pertains to Sunday, not Saturday.

Whatever applies to the whole applies to every part of the whole.
The whole of the Sunday Mass on Saturday evening is the Sunday Mass.
Every part of the Sunday Mass on Saturday evening pertains to Sunday.
Therefore receiving Communion at the Sunday Mass on Saturday pertains to Sunday.

A Catholic who receives two times on Saturday may receive at the Sunday Mass celebrated on Saturday evening. Period.

 

[FrDavid96]

The confusion here, it seems, stems from the difference between liturgical norm and canon law. These two are set down in different places, and do not conflict with each other. On one hand, the notion of a vigil Mass, which satisfies the obligation to assist at a Mass (e.g., on Sunday or a holy day of obligation), is a liturgical norm. Therefore, the vigil Mass on Saturday is a celebration of the Sunday Mass. On the other hand, the discipline regarding the reception of communion is a canonical precept, not liturgical norm; therefore, when canon law says ‘twice in one day’, it means precisely that. Therefore, in order to harmonize these two sources of Church discipline – without forcing one to conflict with the other – we see that a person can receive the Eucharist twice between midnight and the following midnight, as long as the second reception takes place in the context of a Mass, and we see that participation in a Vigil Mass (such as on Saturday) satisfies the obligation to assist at Mass on Sunday. However, it does not mean that one can receive a third time on Saturday (i.e., coming into conflict with c. 917) by virtue of assisting at a vigil Mass on Sunday.

Unfortunately, a variety of ‘answers’ exists to this question. As evidence of this, we see that at Fr Z’s blog, he explains the situation as I’ve outlined it, above.

Confusing? Yes. Easily misinterpreted? Yes. Leads us to the situation in which one authority says ‘yes’ and another says ‘no’? Unfortunately, yes… :ehh:

No, it isn’t confusing. Some people want to make it confusing.

The Church intends that there be harmony between the Code of Canon Law and the Liturgical Laws of the Church. There is no conflict between them.

Canon Law defines a day for canonical purposes while Liturgical Law defines a day for liturgical purposes.

If we say that there is a conflict, then the entire concept of Mass on the evening previous would be a violation of Canon Law. We know from experience that this is NOT the case. The Church clearly allows the Masses of Solemnities to be celebrated on the evening before. If this were in violation of some “midnight to midnight” requirement in Canon Law then that would mean that the entire Church for decades now has been violating the canons without knowing it—certainly that is not the case.

There is no doubt that in the praxis of the Church, everything (absolutely everything with no exceptions) pertaining to the Mass on Saturday evening pertains to Sunday to the complete exclusion of Saturday.

However, there are some who post on CAF who want there to be one single, solitary, isolated exception to this by saying that Communion is somehow separated-out from the rest of the Mass and that Communion “counts” for Saturday even though the Mass in its totality pertains to Sunday.

We do not separate Communion from the rest of the Mass. When a person receives Communion at the Sunday Mass, then that person is receiving “Sunday Communion” not “Saturday Communion.”

Furthermore, we need to keep in mind that the Code of Canon Law exists for the good of souls. It does not exist so that the Church can have some arbitrary code that causes harm to the faithful.

The Church allows the Sunday Mass to be celebrated on Saturday evening. This is done for the good of souls—see JPII’s Dies Domini.

The Church also encourages Catholics (those who are otherwise eligible) to participate more fully in the Mass by actually receiving Communion. Again, this is for the good of souls.

However, attempting to impose ones own notion of “midnight to midnight” to discourage Catholics who attend Sunday Mass from receiving Communion a the very Mass which the Church says pertains exclusively to Sunday, is not for the good of souls–it’s to their detriment.

If the Church were to say (which She does not) “you can attend Sunday Mass on Saturday evening, and everything about that Mass pertains to Sunday, but if you’ve received Communion twice on Saturday, GOTCHA! you’re now prohibited from fully participating in that Sunday Mass” That would make the Church into a deceiver. Holy Mother Church simply does not behave that way.

The canons were not meant to be an obstacle to the good of souls. Unfortunately, some people want to use them that way.

 

[ProVobis]

A Catholic who receives two times on Saturday may receive at the Sunday Mass celebrated on Saturday evening. Period.

Fr, then I take it from the dominici diei est clause, one who receives at the Saturday vespere Mass can only receive once after midnight?

I think I need a Visio flowchart for this.

 

[Bookcat]

Day in Canon Law is midnight to midnight (unless otherwise specified in Canon Law). That is the case here. Midnight to midnight.

 

[FrDavid96]

Fr, then I take it from the dominici diei est clause, one who receives at the Saturday vespere Mass can only receive once after midnight?

I think I need a Visio flowchart for this.

The priority here is the good of souls.

Unless we both agree on that point, I’m not sure I want to go sniffing around that trap. I’ll keep my answer in reserve for the moment.

As a pastor, whenever I am confronted with real-life situations like the one we’re discussing here, I remind myself what my “intro to canon law” professor told us on day one, day two, day three, and every other day. “Canon Law is meant for the good of souls.”

When we read canon law in such a way that it is detrimental to the good of souls, it’s not because the Church intends the canons to be that way, it’s because we are misunderstanding them.

So, I’ll respond to your question with my own question:

Do you believe that the purpose of Canon Law is the good of souls?

 

[Bookcat]

catholic.com/quickquestions/how-often-can-you-receive-communion-at-mass-on-the-same-day

catholic.com/quickquestions/is-it-all-right-to-attend-mass-and-receive-communion-twice-in-one-day

 

[FrDavid96]

Day in Canon Law is midnight to midnight (unless otherwise specified in Canon Law). That is the case here. Midnight to midnight.

Not true.

Liturgical law makes the very provision that you try to deny.

You prove that by changing the words of the canon. The words that you typed are not the words found in the Code, they reflect your own changes.

Bl. John Paul II promulgated the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This is what he had to say on the matter of the Sunday Mass on Saturday evening, in his own (untranslated) words:

Propterea Missae liturgia nonnumquam “praefestivae” appellatae, quae vero reapse pleno iure “festiva” est, dominici diei est, instante etiam celebrantis officio ut homiliam sacram habeat et cum fidelibus precationem universalem absolvat.

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_lt.html

Can. 16 §1. The legislator authentically interprets laws as does the one to whom the same legislator has entrusted the power of authentically interpreting.

Can. 17 Ecclesiastical laws must be understood in accord with the proper meaning of the words considered in their text and context. If the meaning remains doubtful and obscure, recourse must be made to parallel places, if there are such, to the purpose and circumstances of the law, and to the mind of the legislator.

The mind of the legislator is quite clear here.

 

[Bookcat]

Not true.

Yes true.

It is* midnight to midnigh*t -in terms of how the meaning of “day” for the determinations of the number of receptions of Holy Communions.