Receiving Holy Communion at a Mass that one did not attend

[whosebob]

I remember reading some time ago on Zenit.org about how it is okay to receive Holy Communion at a Mass that one did not attend, that is by joining the communion line but not having been there for any other part of the liturgy. But that this is only the case if one understands that such reception would not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation and would not meet the requirement for receiving communion twice in one day “in the context of Mass.”

That being said . . . suppose I assist at the Saturday evening Vigil Mass and receive Holy Communion. Then, I happen to be at the parish to help set up some picnic tables the next day, and am able to attend only the end of the noon Mass. Would it be okay to receive Our Lord during communion at the noon Mass? What if I had assisted and received at the day Mass for Saturday (8:30am) in addition to receiving at the Vigil Mass?

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

 

[MParedon]

brain turns to mush by just reading this post

lol, I don’t know, but I am interested in what other people post.

 

[Marauder]

As a Extraordinary Minister of Communion and Minister of the Sick I study this stuff a lot.

The official rules for recieving communion are that you are allowed to receive communion twice in one day as long as the second time is during a Mass. This requirement is based on the calendar day, not Vigil to Vigil day.

Whether a Mass qualifies as a Sunday obligation is another matter because there is no requirement that you have to attend Mass to receive the Eucharist and just by fulfilling your Sunday obligation you aren’t required to receive the Eucharist.

Based on this requirement, attending Saturday Vigil and receiving and then just receiving on Sunday at a Mass you didn’t “attend” is allowed.

Just like receiving at a hospital if you are visiting a friend and then receiving again at Mass the same day is allowed.

Same thing goes for your question about serving at the Saturday Day Mass and the Vigil Mass, since the second time receiving is at Mass it is permitted.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As I understand it when refering to “day” it is speaking about a 24 hour day. Receiving on Saturday and again on Sunday are two different days. A person can receive Communion once a day outside of Mass. So if you received at Saturday evening. You could receive on Sunday Morning or afternoon without attending the whole Mass. However if you received on Sunday morning (either by attending Mass or by just receiving Holy communion) the only way to receive a second time on the same day on Sunday afternoon would be to attend the whole Mass Sunday afternoon.