Receiving Holy Communion -- All The Time

[jmm08]

A little over 30 years ago I signed up to sing in the Catholic Chapel Choir at the university (PSU). I wasn’t Catholic, but I didn’t think I could get very good grades in Humanities or Social Sciences and being in the choir a year would get me three good credits in Humanities and help me towards graduation.

As a “born again” Christian I thought I knew a lot more than they did – so our director Fr. May must be a Saint because he was patient. Especially if or when I might say something about purgatory being stupid and wrong, etc. Mostly I did not bring stuff up like that but behaved because I needed the credits. And I did enjoy Mass and the music too.

We sang Mass once a month. We sang up in a balcony in the back of the chapel with Fr. May directing us as another Priest celebrated Mass. I’m not sure if it was an issue or not but I never went up and probably didn’t want to. But I noticed that at least a third of the other students (all the others were Catholic) did not go up. And perhaps sometimes more than half would keep in their seats. I don’t recall much kneeling but perhaps that is because it was 30+ years ago and kneeling is not much trouble at all for youth.

Now years later (I think about 11 or 12 years since Fr. May died) I have gone through RCIA and I am in my fourth year singing in my parish choir. I consider myself the least in the choir – obviously – because I am not in full communion with the Church although that would be nice if I were. Every week, everyone else in the choir goes up to receive Holy Communion. This and other things are a little different than I remember.

Fortunately my parish church does look a lot like a Catholic Church (compared to my memory years ago). We have poor boxes. We have candles to light (for a donation). And we have statues of Mary, Joseph, the Holy Family, a pieta, etc. A few other Catholic Churches in a nearby richer county do not have poor boxes, candles to light (for a donation), any problem with their roof leaking, etc. If I had “come home” to a newer church building I would have been too disoriented perhaps and not even gone further. It took me years to go from sometimes coming into the Church to pray until I started attending Mass or signed up for RCIA. We are very blessed in our parish.

I am OK with where I am at this time. After all, when I was in sixth grade I was put in the corner by my teacher before class even began on the first day. And I lost count of how many times I was sent to the principal’s office in Junior High. I am a bit of trouble even at my best.

I think yesterday maybe Mary gave me a big blessing because it was the “hour of mercy”. I couldn’t have my arms outstretched near the tabernacle in front of other people who were there with the priest saying Mass. And I figure the prayers of the Mass are bigger anyway than saying Psalm 51. But at the end of the Mass it was still not quite 1 PM so I was able to read and halfway pray Psalm 51 three times. I wish I could pray better than I do lately. But not with my arms outstretched. Anyway I suppose Mary at least partially has replied with her promised blessing.

Some of the people in the choir are very well educated in the faith and they are also quite Holy in their lives. Please pray for us all and me too. I wonder if they cannot see adequately enough that they might sometimes have a need for confession instead of always going forward.

Years ago in college, nobody asked anyone why they did not go forward. And I doubt if anyone thought anything whether somebody did go forward or not. I recall the other students liked to read good Catholic books such as by St. John Neumann.

Our English-speaking and Spanish-speaking congregations don’t mix a whole lot but they do some. But among the Spanish-speaking many do not receive Holy Communion. Are they being honest with themselves better?

This Friday is Our Lady of Guadalupe – not even on some of my Catholic calendars. But it is such a big feast for the Spanish-speaking congregation. They contribute so many many flowers for Our Lady on that day. And the place is as full as I ever see it for the evening Mass.

jmm08

 

[vocatio]

This is very intersting to me. I find that the Hispanic community do know their proper place with God. We, more educated and well off, have much to learn from such saintly acts of humility. I feel that the fast should return to the pre-Vatican II days. Then we might ignore what others are doing or not doing and concentrate on Christ. Just thinking. This too would be a great opportunity for the Knights to raise a few more bucks for the parish by providing a dinner after mass instead of donutes.

I heard recently that we are not supposed to ask what someone else’s sins are or something like that. If someone doesn’t receive, nothing should be asked. It is considered improper.

 

[Snowy]

At my parish, almost everybody goes for Communion on Sundays and almost nobody goes for Confession on Saturdays. I can smell a rat, but we cannot let those things bother us or make us feel holier-than-them. We’ve got our own crosses to bear, and God will take care of the judging when the time comes.

 

[puzzleannie]

not my problem I only have to worry about the children and adults preparing for sacraments
I only assume that like so many here, those receiving who I did not see on Saturday at confession visited the Basilica sometime during the week, or else they are already in the state of grace. That also is not my problem my own sins require all my attention and effort to correct, I have not the leisure to worry about theirs.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

At my parish, almost everybody goes for Communion on Sundays and almost nobody goes for Confession on Saturdays. I can smell a rat, but we cannot let those things bother us or make us feel holier-than-them. We’ve got our own crosses to bear, and God will take care of the judging when the time comes.

You “smell a rat?” Come on…please…don’t you even realize that there are those who might go to Mass and Communion on Sunday that you didn’t “see” on Saturday
because they went to Confession at a different church? That IS allowed you know and I do it often. Different confession times that work around my schedule. But I am glad you do not let “those things” make you feel “holier-than-thou.”

 

[Elizabeth502]

At my parish, almost everybody goes for Communion on Sundays and almost nobody goes for Confession on Saturdays.

This was also in a recent Father Corapi (re)broadcast.

I doubt that most people are committing conscious sacrilege, but I believe there’s a whole lot of “unconscience-ness” out there. This is a result of the convergence of two forces: the under-emphasis on a sense of personal sin, in the Church (through inadequate catechesis after about age 7, and certainly after age 13-ish – at which point all catechesis virtually stops), and due to the pressures of a secular public which minimizes personal accountability for most things. Most moral decisions in the secular consciousness have become reduced to psychological states of mind, the effects of practical circumstances, and ‘pathologies’ which absolve the doer of deeds of responsibility for his or her actions. It’s true that some habitual actions & states result in pathologies or are even caused by pathologies, but social pathologies (as opposed to inborn psychological ones) are mostly the result of cumulative behavior. You may not now be able to control your attraction for drugs (or pornography), but who made the decision to go there in the first place?

As far as non-extraordinary conditions (sins) are concerned, there is insufficient spirituality being communicated in the parishes, from the clergy. There is no other time to communicate this except on Sundays, because the more spiritually attuned group is not among those only showing up on Sundays; conscientious parishioners may go to Mass during the week and/or attend prayer groups, scripture study at church, etc. They may be the ones attending more frequent confession. Like catechesis & spirituality, liturgy & spirituality go hand in hand. Every Catholic should be required to hear Fr. Larry Richards’ CD, Confession, about once a week. Then he or she would be more aware of how often we seriously violate each of the 10 commandments, with a need to confess those violations frequently.

I think most priests tend to feel that they can use positive ways (in their homilies) to attract parishioners to discern their consciences, but there are ways to make ‘tough talk’ very appealing, and to weave in an urgency about self-evaluation within even a positive homily. It’s true that once you’re ‘hooked’ into a conscious relationship with God, you’re attracted by the positive, not the negative. But first (as Fr. John Corapi would say), you have to get their attention.

 

[emill311]

I heard a priest whom I respect speak about this very issue. He feels that a big reason why the Church is struggling in so many ways in fulfilling Christ’s will is that so many people today are receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. This obviously hurts and offends God immensely and hinders our acceptance of his Merciful Grace.

I think it is the duty of our priests to gently but forcefully re-educate the Church Militant about the gifts of the Sacraments. I think it is quite alarming that most parishes (at least in my diocese) offer confessions for 45min-1hour once a week. That suggests to me that most people don’t bother to go anymore and assume they can be absolved of sin simply by wanting to be. They do not accept (or perhaps are ignorant due to poor Catechesis) that receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is eating their own condemnation.

 

[Snowy]

You “smell a rat?” Come on…please…don’t you even realize that there are those who might go to Mass and Communion on Sunday that you didn’t “see” on Saturday
because they went to Confession at a different church? That IS allowed you know and I do it often. Different confession times that work around my schedule. But I am glad you do not let “those things” make you feel “holier-than-thou.”

I realize many things, even if they don´t bother me. I realize that I never see people from other parishes come to Confession at my parish, that I never see my parishioners go for Confession at a church near my parish run by monks, that my priest tells me that the Pope is wrong and I shouldn´t bother confessing certain mortal sins because 97% of Catholics believe they aren´t sins (according to my priest), etc.

I don’t doubt that a few of my parishioners probably confess somewhere else, but don´t make it sound like I was born yesterday, please.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I realize many things, even if they don´t bother me. I realize that I never see people from other parishes come to Confession at my parish, that I never see my parishioners go for Confession at a church near my parish run by monks, that my priest tells me that the Pope is wrong and I shouldn´t bother confessing certain mortal sins because 97% of Catholics believe they aren´t sins (according to my priest), etc.

I don’t doubt that a few of my parishioners probably confess somewhere else, but don´t make it sound like I was born yesterday, please.

You must have a very small parish where you must know everyone by face? I know I could sit and watch the people going to confession and have been in line behind some who I never recognized and I have been a member of that parish for years. How would I know if they are members of my parish or from another parish? I know there have been a couple of people asking about confession when I am going to daily Mass as the church is near a manufacturing area and one woman said she was stopping in on her way to work.

I don’t doubt there are Catholics who believe that Confession doesn’t apply to them, but it just appears you seem to be doing alot of observing of others’ practices. JMHO:shrug:

 

[Elizabeth502]

I think it is quite alarming that most parishes (at least in my diocese) offer confessions for 45min-1hour once a week. That suggests to me that most people don’t bother to go anymore and assume they can be absolved of sin simply by wanting to be. They do not accept (or perhaps are ignorant due to poor Catechesis) that receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is eating their own condemnation.

I’m not sure what it “suggests,” but I can tell you that when confessions are offered more abundantly (such as daily, before mass), more people show up. As to the “alarming” part, ditto. I’m so alarmed I’ve written to Rome about it. It sends the WRONG message, on several counts. Reconciliation & Eucharist are two halves of one whole. We are in the best position to fully benefit from Eucharistic graces when we are most in touch with our tremendous & ongoing need for mercy.

Ditto the comment on poor catechesis. And how. The hierarchy has completely dropped the ball in this department. There are so many options & so many creative ways to handle this. We need to return priests to the business of the sacraments & spirituality, & oversight for catechesis throughout a person’s life. We learn continually, not in the same “academic” ways necessarily (although that’s also essential), but certainly with progressive insight due to experience combined with prayer. We need that learning interpreted & directed & incorporated into our approach to the sacraments.

The excuses are always that priests are too busy, and there aren’t enough of them. In the case of point #1, their activities need to be prioritized. They don’t need to oversee every parish group, or be a part of any of it that they don’t wish to be or have not enough time for, relative to the need to be plentifully available to administer sacraments. I.m.o., modern parishes overall are way too “busy” with every group imaginable. As to point #2, naturally the priest shortage is a factor. However, if I were male & discerning a vocation, I would be rather turned off by the overwork factors associated with too much priestly multi-tasking, so I would be disinclined to respond to a “call.” Streamline & redefine my role, & now we’re talking.

It is difficult for most human beings in either a lay or religious state to do a multitude of things equally as well or equally enthusiastically. Most people do 2, at the most 3, “things,” activities, or callings, well. There are 24 hours in a day. Maybe we parent + have a profession + a major activity, interest, hobby. Some can only do one thing very well, and should only, and doing two things well is about average. No more should be expected of a priest. If I thought I would be no more put-upon than other professions, I would much more inclined to answer a religious call (if I were male ). Keep in mind that the chief role of priests is one that requires much more giving than most professions do (much more emotional energy) – even including most of the helping professions such as teaching, social work, medical work. Expecting them to do be really effective in the spiritual area while also doing a trillion everyday things does not compute, & does not attract. That’s even separate from all the grief they get by association (bad priests, sex abuse publicity, etc.)

 

[Snowy]

You must have a very small parish where you must know everyone by face? I know I could sit and watch the people going to confession and have been in line behind some who I never recognized and I have been a member of that parish for years. How would I know if they are members of my parish or from another parish? I know there have been a couple of people asking about confession when I am going to daily Mass as the church is near a manufacturing area and one woman said she was stopping in on her way to work.

I don’t doubt there are Catholics who believe that Confession doesn’t apply to them, but it just appears you seem to be doing alot of observing of others’ practices. JMHO:shrug:

I haven’t appointed myself God’s private eye, whatever you might want to imply. At my parish it’s always the same 3 old people in line for Confession, and the line for Communion is always long and casual, so one doesn’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to do the math. If that bothers you, using me as your scape goat will only bring you temporary relief.

 

[ericka1701]

I commited sacrilege (consciously) once. I felt so guilty that I immediately went to confession and it troubled me for quite awhile. I would rather feel scrutinized and embarrased not receiving communion than feeling that horrible guilt of desecrating the Lord’s body.

I feel this is a problem of being politically correct and the whole “do what feels good” hedonistic society. If nothing is wrong, then there is no sin, and if there is no sin, then it’s OK to do whatever I want…

God Bless you!

Ericka

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I haven’t appointed myself God’s private eye, whatever you might want to imply. At my parish it’s always the same 3 old people in line for Confession, and the line for Communion is always long and casual, so one doesn’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to do the math. If that bothers you, using me as your scape goat will only bring you temporary relief.

LOL…I have no need for a scapegoat. …Sherlock…

 

[jmm08]

I like to pray the Rosary. Sometimes my prayers are not too good. But sometimes praying the Rosary is very pleasant seems to do me some good.

One of the best things about prayer is that I don’t need to first worry about whether I need to go to confession first or wonder about the state of my soul. Prayer is great. And there are also so many other good prayers. After saying it a few times, the “Anima Christi” prayer seemed to suddenly gain a lot more meaning one day. But before it was just words in latin that I did not understand.

I wasn’t Catholic years ago, but I was raised in an upstate NY town where there were many Catholic churches (of each ethnicity). It seems to me that these days many things are different in many Catholic Churches than when I grew up. And how many people go forward for Holy Communion is just one of the things that seems different. As some commented…it does seem quite strange to me that confession is generally unavailable before weekday Masses. Perhaps the priest shortage has something to do with it. Or is it that more of us do not have as vocal a conscience. Our consciences are perhaps seared a lot by what is normally on TV. In our own minds we aren’t so bad anymore?

In the 1970s I don’t think I would have thought that general morality would have sunk so low. That it might be possible for gay marriages to be legalized and that it might be against the law to treat married gay couples with anything less than full respect. Or that it might be against the law not to provide an abortion even if you cannot want to do it because you don’t want to be a murderer. Perhaps someday it will be against the law to tell your children that gay marriages are wrong (perhaps under the label of teaching hate). As a Christian I suppose it is OK to love those in sin and to be helpful and charitable. But not to teach the sin as an acceptable lifestyle choice. But perhaps our public schools are so close to doing that.

Only a few days ago I received an important letter from a priest and met with him in person two days ago. It might be that I will be closer to being in full communion with the church within the next six months to a year. So thank you for praying for me.

jmm08

 

[Snowy]

LOL…I have no need for a scapegoat. …Sherlock…

Do you want to explain to us what you are trying to do then? Your theory that everyone goes for Confession to a different parish and yet all parishes are almost empty during Confession hour on Saturdays isn’t very convincing. Maybe they all go to the North Pole to confess to Santa?

 

[puzzleannie]

there are probably parishioners who are tempted to think ill of me because they will often see me in church on Saturday afternoon for various reasons, but never see me in the confessional line, because I confess with my spiritual director, not this pastor, or in need I go at my residential parish, not where I work. again, not my problem, theirs.

it is quite common here for people to have their favorite “regular” priests for confession, and so go to other parishes or to the Basilica, since there are many more opportunities there, so I would not necessarily expect to see long lines here, although generally the line is long enough that the priest has to come back after the evening Mass. I also don’t go here because I don’t want to take time away for parishioners who are waiting, since I have other opportunities. so go ahead and judge, but acknowledge you might be wrong

 

[ASD]

Does anybody notice a pattern here?

I think I perceive the following: One group is stating facts, pointing to the evidence right under our noses. The other group is (a) proposing possible stories to explain away the facts; & (b) suggesting that statements about the facts are somehow inappropriate.

In other words, one group wants to talk about facts; the other group is doing everything possible to silence them.

Well, why are they so anxious to silence people? Why is so much circumspection necessary in this context? In itself, that’s a fascinating phenomenon.

Anyway, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t talk about the facts, even in anecdotes if that’s all we have.

However, I really wish we could get past anecdotes and get some real numbers. I strongly suspect that the numbers would indicate that the anecdotes people are sharing here about decrease in confession, among other things, are a pretty good picture of reality.

But, I’m well aware that not everyone shares my attitude or approach. E.g., the text we’re supposed to use for 8th grade catechism at our parish says, apparently without a trace of irony, that one of the terrific things about the Church today is that, “Catholics frequently celebrate God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation.” (p xv). :ehh: That’s what it says.

I think we need to examine our consciences to figure out what we’re doing that makes them think we’re so dim.

ASD​

Sancta Missa