Receiving Holy Communion in the state of Mortal Sin

[yinekka]

A priest told my son that it is ok to receive Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin because of the “embarrassment factor” as long as you go to confession as soon as possible after Mass. Is this true?

 

[martino]

False!!!

The embarrassment factor is referred to as “vainglory”, which basically means “pride”, and that is not a reason to profane the body of Christ. We must always receive absolution through sacramental confession if we have commited mortal sin before we can receive Communion. The only possible exception would be in some case of emergency and no priest was available for confession, but even then an act of “perfect contrition” is required by the penitent. These cases are rare and should not even be considered outside of an emergency.

 

[Catholic2003]

There is something in canon law to that effect, but it applies to latae sententiae excommunications (and interdicts), not to mortal sins:

Can. 1352 §2 The obligation of observing a latae sententiae penalty which has not been declared, and is not notorious in the place where the offender actually is, is suspended either in whole or in part to the extent that the offender cannot observe it without the danger of grave scandal or loss of good name.

martino did an excellent job of explaining the conditions for mortal sin:

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

There is a state prison in our area that is lucky to get a priest once a month. Sometimes there is not enough time to hear confessions before mass. The priest will allow those who feel that they need confession to receive( On condition that they will confess after mass) and then after mass will hear their confessions.

God bless,
Deacon Tony

 

[Funky_Cedars]

Paul says it’s a really bad idea to recieve the Eucharist unworthily. it would seem better to skip communion if marred by mortal sin rather than compounding the problem. what if the communicant suffers a fatal heart attack while returning to their pew? God is merciful, but we shouldn’t be presumtive of receiving enough to cover profaning His Son’s Body and Blood. if Daddy said ‘don’t receive if you’re mortally seperated from Me’, sounds like we shouldn’t.
thanks for listening, love and peace, terry

 

[Juxtaposer]

Funky Cedars:

Paul says it’s a really bad idea to recieve the Eucharist unworthily.

Funky Cedars is getting this from I Corinthians 11:28-32, which says:
“Everyone is to examine himself and only then eat of the bread or drink from the cup; because a person who eats and drinks without recognizing the body is eating and drinking his own condemnation. That is why many of you are weak and ill and a good number have died. If we were critical of ourselves we would not be condemned, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are corrected by the Lord to save us from being condemned with the rest of the world.”

I’m not sure how anyone could think it’s fine to receive Eucharist in sin due to embarrassment. Paul didn’t say, “Everyone is to examine himself and only then eat of the bread or drink from the cup, unless, of course, they’re embarrassed. Then it’s totally fine.” No! What will it take for people to have more reverence for the Eucharist?

 

[Dr.Colossus]

yinekka:

A priest told my son that it is ok to receive Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin because of the “embarrassment factor” as long as you go to confession as soon as possible after Mass. Is this true?

It sounds like the priest was confusing this teaching of the Church. It is ok to receive the Eucharist prior to confession with good reason and the full intent to seek reconciliation as soon as possible. The problem with your priest’s description is that embarrassment is not a good reason. A good reason would be something like family emergency at the time a previous reconciliation were scheduled. But to receive Communion so that you will not be embarrassed is essentially acting out a lie, saying to the congregation and to God that you’re not worthy, but you’re not willing to fess up. To be truly repentant one must be humble, and part of that is to recognize when we are truly not worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

[jofad]

why go receive a communion in a state of mortal sin when you can even have a confession before receiving it, its just like a pre-requisite, you wont put soap first all over your body when you are taking shower you must first get wet, that should be the case, be as worthy as possible to receive the holy communion, how can the holy body and blood of christ dwell among us if we are full of stain, GOD cannot co-exist with sin thats why confession has been made for us to be ready in receiving Hhis holy body and blood. and of course having faith that after the confession we are been forgiven by GOD.