Receiving the Eucharist

[Tootsie37]

I attended Mass on what I believe was Laetare Sunday (I recall the priest was wearing purple). The reading was the parable of the prodigal son. I had received ashes for the first time a few weeks before - marking the first time I had been to Mass in many, many years.

I was moved to receive Communion that Sunday. I can’t explain it any other way.

My question is this: If the Eucharist is a sacrament from God, and not the church, did I perform a sin by receiving it before going to confession - even though I was contrite, and felt that I was being summoned to go? I’ve since been devoting myself to learning more about the religion that I abandoned years ago. I will be going to confession this month.

Thanks,
Tootsie

 

[palmas85]

I attended Mass on what I believe was Laetare Sunday (I recall the priest was wearing purple). The reading was the parable of the prodigal son. I had received ashes for the first time a few weeks before - marking the first time I had been to Mass in many, many years.

I was moved to receive Communion that Sunday. I can’t explain it any other way.

My question is this: If the Eucharist is a sacrament from God, and not the church, did I perform a sin by receiving it before going to confession - even though I was contrite, and felt that I was being summoned to go? I’ve since been devoting myself to learning more about the religion that I abandoned years ago. I will be going to confession this month.

Thanks,
Tootsie

If you received communion unworthily, ie: in a state of mortal sin, which if you knowingly did not attend Mass for several years it would appear that you were, then yes, you committed another sin. Go to confession ASAP, make a good confession with a good firm purpose of amendment and all will be fine.

Incidentally, I’ve done exactly what you did and received for exactly the same reason, so you are not alone in this by any stretch of the imagination.

Welcome home.

 

[puzzleannie]

welcome home, certainly sounds like you are ready to respond to a clear call from the Holy Spirit to return to the sacraments, beginning with a full confession of all the sins of your past life. Take a deep breath, and just do it, the graces will be unimaginable and powerful. again, welcome home.

 

[Stillkickin]

A friend of mine and I were discussing this type of situation. She felt it would be O.K. because by coming to Mass you have in essence been invited to the feast by our Father so it would be wrong not to let the person partake while eveyone else gets to. I disagreed with her and tried to find a good analogy. This is what I came up with.
You are a child and you come to the dinner table with your hands and face filthy because you have been outside playing. What would your parents do? Would they allow you to eat in that state or would they have you go wash up? Well, with the Eucharist before confession our souls are like the little kid. What would our Father have us do? I think he would have us go clean up before recieving the Eucharist.
For me it is easier - to reconcile. If the Church says I need to do it, then I need to do it, no questions asked. I personnaly feel obedience to the Holy See is very important.

God Bless and Welcome Home!

 

[alanjeddy]

I attended Mass on what I believe was Laetare Sunday (I recall the priest was wearing purple). The reading was the parable of the prodigal son. I had received ashes for the first time a few weeks before - marking the first time I had been to Mass in many, many years.

I was moved to receive Communion that Sunday. I can’t explain it any other way.

My question is this: If the Eucharist is a sacrament from God, and not the church, did I perform a sin by receiving it before going to confession - even though I was contrite, and felt that I was being summoned to go? I’ve since been devoting myself to learning more about the religion that I abandoned years ago. I will be going to confession this month.

Reconciliation or confession is also a sacrament that we all need to reciveve, we need to confess or sins before receiving our Lord.
I am glad you are going. So many Catholics no longer take advantage of this sacrament. Though your sins may be scarlet red I will make them as white as snow. God’s mercy is so much greater than all of our sins. We need to spread the word again that confession is good for all our collective souls. Satin and his band of fallen angels is doing a great job convincing us that we don’t need to go. Look at the world today in its moral decay. We need the Eucharist but unless we are all saints and I don’t believe we are, we NEED to recieve God’s forgiveness through his loving sacrament of reconcilliation.
Thanks,
Tootsie

 

[baltobetsy]

A friend of mine and I were discussing this type of situation. She felt it would be O.K. because by coming to Mass you have in essence been invited to the feast by our Father so it would be wrong not to let the person partake while eveyone else gets to. I disagreed with her and tried to find a good analogy. This is what I came up with.
You are a child and you come to the dinner table with your hands and face filthy because you have been outside playing. What would your parents do? Would they allow you to eat in that state or would they have you go wash up? Well, with the Eucharist before confession our souls are like the little kid. What would our Father have us do? I think he would have us go clean up before recieving the Eucharist.
For me it is easier - to reconcile. If the Church says I need to do it, then I need to do it, no questions asked. I personnaly feel obedience to the Holy See is very important.

That’s an excellent analogy that reminds me of the parable of the King who threw a wedding feast, but the invited guests declined. He had the servants invite people in from the streets. But one of these newly invited guests appeared without the proper wedding garment, and was unceremoniously bounced out into the darkness to wail and gnash his teeth.

Betsy

 

[Seeks_God]

Tootsie,

I think it’s only natural that you would feel compelled to receive the Eucharist, but part of that feeling is to first attend Confession. I think many of us have felt that need to receive our Lord, but I remember one time someone mentioning to me that receiving God when you’re in a state of mortal sin is akin to bringing judgement upon yourself at that time.

Have I knowingly received Eucharist when in a state of mortal sin? Yes and I went to confess it as soon as possible…

I’ve come to realize that going to confession is just as rewarding as it is to attend Mass and receive Jesus - I’ve made it a point to go at any time I’m in a state of mortal sin. But I also go at least once a month to confess even venial sins - it’s what I do to try and live a more sacramental life.

SG

 

[alanjeddy]

I was away from the Catholic church for 25 years. By the grace of God through EWTN I came home. I couldn’t wait to recieve the Eucarist but I knew from the depths of my soul that i needed to go to confession. I will never forget that day for there was only one person waiting to see the priest. A month later I was the only one. Same thing on my next confession. Am I the only sinner in my parish? Have we as Catholics suddenly become so holy we can walk on water? Satan is smiling. There are two different churches that I go to and they are always half or even one third empty.

As Father Corapi so eloquently speaks: "In the end forever, you and I will be in Heaven or hell. Time on earth is so short and eternity is forever.

Alan