Receiving the eucharist every day of the week

[Kramgen]

Is that wrong or not recommended as a lay person.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Daily communion is an excellent practice. Keeping oneself in a spiritual state to be able to do that, is just a “given”, communion or no communion — St Ignatius Loyola said always to be in such a state as to be able to communicate at any time. Prior to recent years, the eucharistic fast was difficult (from midnight on, and then reduced to three hours), but now, it is a token fast of one hour, which for Sunday Mass would be very difficult to break — basically taking an absent-minded sip of coffee or soft drink on the way to Mass. I make sure to pour mine out and take only a bottle of water when I leave the house for Mass.

 

[Irishmom2]

It is not wrong at all if you have no mortal sins to confess.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There’s nothing wrong with it. Lots of people do it. I try to, although some days I miss.

Just make sure you are in a state of grace when you receive.

 

[Dan_Defender]

It is a personal decision. Some do and some don’t. Some people also say a rosary daily or wear their crucifix or medal 24/7, doesn’t mean you have to. Follow your heart.

 

[ThomasMT]

Is this new? I was brought up with the belief that there is only one special day during the year when the honor to receive twice is granted…Christmas. Once during Midnight Mass, and once during the Christmas day Mass. Interestingly enough, attending Midnight Mass did not satisfy fulfillment of Xmas day obligation (which I found irritating as a youth)… but I digress.

Anywho, I guess times are changing

 

[MNathaniel]

When it’s possible in your circumstances it’s awesome! I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend daily Mass (and receive Jesus in the Eucharist) daily for prolonged periods… I was always thankful for that, but especially so after the pandemic hit and I couldn’t even receive him on Sundays. Now back to once weekly thank goodness. But if the opportunity arises again for me to attend daily Mass, I’m there

 

[ThomasMT]

Thanks for the clarity.

 

[Anesti33]

It is from the Code of Canon Law, 1983, probably revised at that time.

Can. 917 One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates, without prejudice to the provision of can. 921 §2.
Can. 921 §1 Christ’s faithful who are in danger of death, from whatever cause, are to be strengthened by holy communion as Viaticum.

§2 Even if they have already received holy communion that same day, it is nevertheless strongly suggested that in danger of death they should communicate again.

Can We Receive Holy Communion Twice on Christmas Day?

Q: When we were kids, we were told that on Christmas Day, we were allowed to receive Holy Communion twice, if we attended two Masses. The same was true for Easter. Is this still allowed? –…

canonlawmadeeasy.com

 

[Todd_Easton]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, emphasis mine:

1389 The Church obliges the faithful to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season.[224] But the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily. (source)

 

[kapp19]

One should have grown in charity since the last time one has received Holy Communion…

Far better to have a few very good Communions than many mediocre ones. Francis of Assisi and Mary of Egypt are good examples. It does not seem to have worked out the way Pius X had envisioned… Monotony and mindlessness just become the norm. Francis de Sales has a good method for preparation for Holy Communion, I think in Introduction to the Devout Life… If I recall, it includes prayers the night before, going to bed early, extra prayer before Mass… and of course, a real fast.

Unfortunately, many people are scandalized by someone not receiving… One more reason to extend the fast.

 

[Lobster_Johnson]

I am going to go a little bit against the grain here: I am about to undergo three months of receiving Communion monthly.

For most of Christian history, people received only on rare occasions. In the East it is pretty common to only receive after each of the four fasting periods, and even then only with the approval of your confessor. I think receiving less often may help us to avoid trivializing Communion. I do believe frequent Communion is a good thing, but I don’t think frequent should mean “as often as possible”

This is my opinion, and I am not recommending that anyone follow it. Just sharing my view. Please pray for me as I undergo these three months.

 

[mdgspencer]

.
Many Catholics go to mass every day.
I recall when I was at the University of Wisconsin for many years, I saw the same people at daily mass. (This is one of the periods of my life when I did this.) In fact, my wife goes to daily mass, and to her this is the most important thing of her day, and she schedules every day on its basis.
However, during a whole period of history up to the early Twentieth Century, Catholics commonly went to communion infrequently. Some even went once a year. However, the Pope changed that in 1905, issuing a statement encouraging frequent or daily communion, a change some of the saints who lived then welcomed.
(For those interested. this statement is provided at
Decree on Frequent & Daily Reception of Holy Communion | EWTN [this is rather long])

 

[phil19034]

Is that wrong or not recommended as a lay person.

You can receive every day. The Church recommends frequent communion.

HOWEVER, as late as the late 1800s, even Religious Brothers & Nuns/Sisters had to receive permission from their spiritual directors to receive communion once a week, let alone every day.

The argument was if people receive communion too often, they will start taking it for granted.

 

[phil19034]

Is this new? I was brought up with the belief that there is only one special day during the year when the honor to receive twice is granted…Christmas. Once during Midnight Mass, and once during the Christmas day Mass. Interestingly enough, attending Midnight Mass did not satisfy fulfillment of Xmas day obligation (which I found irritating as a youth)… but I digress.

Anywho, I guess times are changing

In regards to when it became a rule, see the following link provided by @(name removed by moderator) Can We Receive Holy Communion Twice on Christmas Day? - Canon Law Made EasyCanon Law Made Easy

… but it’s not really meant for the average person. Most people don’t attend Mass twice in a day anyway.

While it applies to everyone, the rule was primarily meant for people who serve at more than one Mass.

examples:

• Altar Servers who serve more than one mass in a day
• ushers who serve more than one mass in a day
• Deacons who serve more than one mass in a day
• parish employees who attend more than one mass in a day
• people who attend daily mass in the morning and then a wedding/funeral later that day
• etc

As far as Midnight Mass counting as Christmas Mass, it would have counted in the old days if the Mass started after Midnight. Sometimes “midnight mass” would start BEFORE midnight, in which the Christmas Eve liturgy would have been used.

My mom always went to Midnight Mass as a kid and they would party afterwards well into the early hours of the morning and then sleep all day.

If the mass you attended Mass at or after midnight and were told it didn’t count: either your parents/grandparents were mistaken or your priest was mistaken.

NOTE: when they started to count the Christmas Vigil (when prayed after Vespers) as completing your Christmas Obligation, I don’t know.

God Bless

 

[phil19034]

I am going to go a little bit against the grain here: I am about to undergo three months of receiving Communion monthly.

For most of Christian history, people received only on rare occasions. In the East it is pretty common to only receive after each of the four fasting periods, and even then only with the approval of your confessor. I think receiving less often may help us to avoid trivializing Communion. I do believe frequent Communion is a good thing, but I don’t think frequent should mean “as often as possible”

This is my opinion, and I am not recommending that anyone follow it. Just sharing my view. Please pray for me as I undergo these three months.

I pray this allows you to appreciate the Eucharist all the more.

Good luck and Godspeed

One more reason to extend the fast.

I’m all for restoring the fast to at least 3 hours. The one hour fast is pretty useless in most Sunday situations.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The argument was if people receive communion too often, they will start taking it for granted.

Given that we all just went about 10 weeks without, I don’t think anyone currently going to Mass and receiving is “taking it for granted” at this point. All it would take is another COVID spike and boom, Masses could go away again.

Getting to daily Mass is also a significant effort a lot of the time, especially if you’re working, or at least that’s the case for me (maybe not if you work next door to a church or something), so that also helps one not “take it for granted” when one has to go through significant hassle to attend Mass.

It is fine for people to decide on their own that they wish to receive less frequently for whatever reason. That’s between them and their spiritual director. But they should not present that as being a good practice for everyone, or make blanket remarks like everyone is just taking Eucharist for granted if they are a frequent mass-goer. Many people at daily Mass are there for a reason; they feel they need the help and the benefit of attending Mass, or they are discerning some vocation or have some spiritual director recommendation that they go to Mass daily and receive Communion frequently. Let’s also not forget that Communions can be offered as a form of prayer, including offered for others. Also, remember that receiving Communion removes venial sin.

In short, if the Church felt there was something wrong with receiving every day, they would not make it easy for people to do.

I’m all for restoring the fast to at least 3 hours. The one hour fast is pretty useless in most Sunday situations.

You’re personally free to fast as long as you want. There are plenty of traditionalists who still do the fast from midnight Saturday night.