Refraining from Eucharist because of distractions?

[thewanderer]

I have recentl heard of a few people who refrain from receiving communion if they have been distracted during the Mass as they do not believe that they are sufficiently prepared to receive Christ because of the distractions. As I understand it, one should receive the Eucharist whenever one can because of the spiritual strenght which comes through the Eucharist. So why would someone refrain because they had been distracted during the Mass… Isn’t it enough to put aside the distraction as one goes up to receive if they have fallen into the problem of being distracted during Mass?

Is this a common or even required practice? or is this something to be avoided? Or is it up to the discretion of the person?

 

[TimothyH]

For a Catholic, all that is required for recpetion of the Eucharist is not being concious of mortal sin.

The idea of recepetion only without distraction seems a bit over the top to me. I’ve never heard of it.

I always throught that that perfection would result from the Eucharist. I never heard that it was a prerequisite.

-Tim-

 

[Cathryn]

This sounds like a “protest” to me. I can’t see how distractions are going to put anyone into the state of mortal sin. Distractions should be dismissed, and not dwelled on. Holy Communion gives us spiritual strength and any minor venial sins are forgiven. It is our daily bread. We need Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is almost like saying I am going to boycott, until these distractions are removed. It is not going to happen.
There will always be distraction. We need to work on ourselves, not on others, and we need the Eucharist in order to do this.

 

[seagal]

Most likely the person is suffering from scrupulosity.

 

[jilly4ski]

This sounds like a “protest” to me. I can’t see how distractions are going to put anyone into the state of mortal sin. Distractions should be dismissed, and not dwelled on. Holy Communion gives us spiritual strength and any minor venial sins are forgiven. It is our daily bread. We need Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is almost like saying I am going to boycott, until these distractions are removed. It is not going to happen.
There will always be distraction. We need to work on ourselves, not on others, and we need the Eucharist in order to do this.

It depends on the distraction. I have refrained from communion when I spent the entire Eucharistic prayer out in the vestibule with a screaming child. I did not feel properly disposed to receive. Yes the Eucharist imposes graces, but it is not a magic bullet that upon receiving it, we will become calm/happy/serene/a better person. For those who receive regularly (weekly or more) missing one week because you were extremely distracted or upset should not pose any real detriment to ones spiritual life. In fact it should make you work harder next time (if you can) to work on or avoid those distractions in the future.

 

[Rainaldo]

I have recentl heard of a few people who refrain from receiving communion if they have been distracted during the Mass as they do not believe that they are sufficiently prepared to receive Christ because of the distractions. As I understand it, one should receive the Eucharist whenever one can because of the spiritual strenght which comes through the Eucharist. So why would someone refrain because they had been distracted during the Mass… Isn’t it enough to put aside the distraction as one goes up to receive if they have fallen into the problem of being distracted during Mass?

Is this a common or even required practice? or is this something to be avoided? Or is it up to the discretion of the person?

Common sense should clear this one up. If he is right about distractions disqualifying someone from receiving communion, then among the disqualified are:

• parents with small children
• people sitting next to the doors
• people with tight shoes
• sneezers
• neighbors of sneezers making a mental note to smile-nod at the sign of peace
• people trying to find the hymn in the book
• people trying to figure out why the second reading is different from what they thought it was going to be
• people who say “and also with your spirit”
• people sitting near people who say “and also with your spirit”
• people negotiating raising and lowering the kneelers in a crowded pew
• people kneeling behind sitters
• sitters sitting in front of kneelers
• anyone who heard the car alarm in the parking lot and wondered if it was their car
• acolytes trying to remember what to do next
• celebrants flipping to the day’s preface when the ribbon slips
• EMHCs scanning the congregation to see which of the other EMHCs showed up
• the musicians shuffling their music sheets, the organist fiddling with the stops for the offertory
• ushers taking the collection trying not to stab each other in the back with the basketrods
• handshakers & smile-nodders sizing each other up at the sign of peace
• any communicants trying to step over noncommunicants’ feet without flying headlong into the next pew
• communicants timing their genuflections so there isn’t a disastrous pileup at the altar steps
• communicants getting lost on their way back to their pews because the neighbors they were following in line ended up dining and dashing
• communicants returning to their pews trying not to split up their neighbors who went for the cup

I think that just about covers every single person at a typical mass, including the priest. It’s a wonder anyone is fit to receive.

 

[Chatter163]

If this question had been posted in the Traditional Catholicism forum, I suspect that the responses would have been quite different.

I have refrained from receiving communion on occasion when my mind had drifted significantly during Mass. This was not for just a few moments, but when my mind repeatedly thought about work or domestic matters. If I notice this happening repeatedly during the Mass, especially during the Canon of the Mass, then I will not receive the Most Holy.

There are any number of reasons not to receive communion beside being in a state of mortal sin. Proper disposition is surely one of those reasons.

 

[etmom]

My oldest child is 25. My youngest is 2. I have been distracted during mass for decades by smàll children. If this was the case, I could have only received on those rare occasions I’ve been at mass by myself.

 

[jilly4ski]

…]

There are any number of reasons not to receive communion beside being in a state of mortal sin. Proper disposition is surely one of those reasons.

Indeed. There are more requirements than to be free of mortal sin. One also must observe the requisite fast, and be properly disposed to receive. ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_dispositions.htm Which includes paying attention to Mass. I think this attitude that there is not a reason to avoid the Eucharist beyond a mortal sin, feeds into the incorrect notion that the Eucharist is the only thing that happens at Mass, and if we can’t receive the Eucharist there is no point in being there.

This sounds like a “protest” to me. I can’t see how distractions are going to put anyone into the state of mortal sin. Distractions should be dismissed, and not dwelled on. Holy Communion gives us spiritual strength and any minor venial sins are forgiven. It is our daily bread. We need Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is almost like saying I am going to boycott, until these distractions are removed. It is not going to happen.
There will always be distraction. We need to work on ourselves, not on others, and we need the Eucharist in order to do this.

 

[mitex]

You wouldn’t have these problems if your Church did open communion like mine

 

[etmom]

Indeed. There are more requirements than to be free of mortal sin. One also must observe the requisite fast, and be properly disposed to receive. ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_dispositions.htm Which includes paying attention to Mass. .

I think that you should attempt to pay attention, certainly. I love attending Mass, and it is an utter joy to be able to give it my full attention, truely. But are you saying parents of small children (babies and toddlers) who attend Mass with their children should NEVER receive if they are attending with small children who will inevitibly need attention and distract their parents at some point (or multiple points) during the Mass?

 

[jilly4ski]

I think that you should attempt to pay attention, certainly. I love attending Mass, and it is an utter joy to be able to give it my full attention, truely. But are you saying parents of small children (babies and toddlers) who attend Mass with their children should NEVER receive if they are attending with small children who will inevitibly need attention and distract their parents at some point (or multiple points) during the Mass?

No, I am not saying that parents with small should never receive, but if you miss all of Mass (or a large portion) because of a screaming child do you really think that the parent would be properly disposed to receive? I have been in that position many times, and I after dealing with a screaming child in the vestibule during the entire Eucharistic prayer, I am frustrated, angry, (often on the verge of tears myself), and did not even know when the consecration took place, and thus not disposed. Now it is different if I am in church distracting the baby, and/or keeping my toddler from squirming, I can still take a quick moment and pay attention to the consecration and prepare myself for reception. This is where common sense comes in, as there are obviously different levels of distraction.

 

[Cathryn]

I think this attitude that there is not a reason to avoid the Eucharist beyond a mortal sin, feeds into the incorrect notion that the Eucharist is the only thing that happens at Mass, and if we can’t receive the Eucharist there is no point in being there.

I have no idea how you came up with that conclusion. The Sacrifice of the Mass is not just Holy Communion. Calvary is made present. This is reason alone to go to Mass. Being properly disposed has to do with being in the state of Sanctifying Grace, which means being free from Mortal Sin and having the life of Christ within us. The Church encourages all who are in the state of Sanctying grace to receive the Eucharist. This does not mean that if we can not receive there is no point in being there. Being distracted is not a reason the Church tells us to refrain from the Eucharist.

 

[jilly4ski]

I have no idea how you came up with that conclusion. The Sacrifice of the Mass is not just Holy Communion. Calvary is made present. This is reason alone to go to Mass. Being properly disposed has to do with being in the state of Sanctifying Grace, which means being free from Mortal Sin and having the life of Christ within us. The Church encourages all who are in the state of Sanctying grace to receive the Eucharist. This does not mean that if we can not receive there is no point in being there.

I was not suggesting that you thought this, just a common thread I see. Being properly disposed is more than being free of mortal sin, as I said.

 

[Cathryn]

I was not suggesting that you thought this, just a common thread I see. Being properly disposed is more than being free of mortal sin, as I said.

Can you show us where the church states that one must be more than in the state of Sanctifying Grace in order to receive the Holy Eucharist?

 

[jilly4ski]

Can you show us where the church states that one must be more than in the state of Sanctifying Grace in order to receive the Holy Eucharist?

Sure.

Can. 919 §1 Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine.

 

[Cathryn]

Sure.

Can. 919 §1 Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine.

Very true. That and being in the state of Sanctifying Grace. The Church does not make it difficult for a Catholic to receive the Holy Eucharist.

 

[Cat]

I can’t help but think that Satan must clap his claws in glee when he manages to convince a Catholic that a crying baby or some other everyday real-life human distraction has somehow made them improperly disposed to receive the Lord Jesus.

It seems to me that Catholics who are easily distracted (most of us) would be well-advised to receive the Lord Jesus as often as possible and trust that His Presence in us will help us to concentrate more fully on the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

[triumphguy]

One of the effects of receiving the Eucharist is that we receive forgiveness from venial sins. Given that a person has fasted and is free from mortal sin when they go to Mass then unless the distractions are causing them to fall into grave sin there is no reason not to go to communion. In fact the imperative to go to communion is probably greater.

Our lives are a distraction, the world is a distraction and the Eucharist is an island of peace, and a source of goodness and connection with the Divine.

When do you go to the well? When you are thirsty.

Matt 11:28 Jesus said: “Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

He did not say: come to me when you are perfect.

 

[marytk]

One of the effects of receiving the Eucharist is that we receive forgiveness from venial sins. Given that a person has fasted and is free from mortal sin when they go to Mass then unless the distractions are causing them to fall into grave sin there is no reason not to go to communion. In fact the imperative to go to communion is probably greater.

Our lives are a distraction, the world is a distraction and the Eucharist is an island of peace, and a source of goodness and connection with the Divine.

When do you go to the well? When you are thirsty.

Matt 11:28 Jesus said: “Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

He did not say: come to me when you are perfect.

And he came for sinners. I am thinking that if I thought I was “properly disposed” that would be pride and then I wouldn’t be “properly disposed”