Sacrilegious Communion

[BeOurDefense]

My sister is a fallen away Catholic who openly dissents from the most basic teachings of the faith, and has said that if she ever comes back to a religion, it likely won’t be Catholicism.

My parents are both ill - my father gravely so, my mother temporarily so. The illness has brought our family closer together in many ways, but also highlighted the sharp divide regarding faith and spirituality between my mother, father, and I who are observant Catholics, and my sister who basically has no religion and may or may not believe in God based on things she’s said.

Lately, from time to time, she has been going to church with my parents, and when the time comes, she receives Holy Communion. She used to refrain from doing this because she knew it was “against the rules”, so this is a newer thing. My parents know it’s wrong as well, but shy away from saying anything because they seem to think it might somehow bring her back to the Church.

This puts me in an extremely difficult position. I love our Lord deeply and I know this is wrong, as explicitly stated by St. Paul and the constant teaching of the Church, yet I’m having some difficulty navigating my place in bringing it up. My question is not whether the communion is sacrilegious - if it isn’t, based on all outward evidence, I don’t know what would be - but the appropriate reaction of a faithful Catholic in such a situation.

I think that something needs to be said to her, because she’s hurting her own soul and causing scandal, but how does one go about doing that charitably, without judgement, and without causing oneself to fall into sin in the process? And if one says nothing, is that not a sin of omission?

I will also be seeking council from my own holy and solid parish priest, but I’d like to get advice here as well. And please pray for this situation and also my parents’ health. Thank you, and God bless.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I think that you have the correct idea to consult your pastor. It is his responsibility. It is, generally speaking, not your responsibility to police your sister’s religious faith. If you have a good relationship with your sister, you could ask her if her views on the Catholic Faith have changed. It is possible that your parents’ illnesses have brought her closer to God. If, however, you do not have a good relationship with your sister, bringing up such an intensely personal issue may just cause conflict in your family at a time when your ill parents do not need it.

 

[RomanoAmerio]

I think that you have the correct idea to consult your pastor. It is his responsibility. It is, generally speaking, not your responsibility to police your sister’s religious faith. If you have a good relationship with your sister, you could ask her if her views on the Catholic Faith have changed. It is possible that your parents’ illnesses have brought her closer to God. If, however, you do not have a good relationship with your sister, bringing up such an intensely personal issue may just cause conflict in your family at a time when your ill parents do not need it.

I would agree with these wise words. Priests have experience in dealing with these difficult situations, and may handle them with more grace than we can.

 

[Matt241]

The Lord must have her redemption in mind in some form. It’s good to see that your sister is at least responsive to the call of the Lord. The parish priest might talk with her about the necessity of receiving the sacrament of confession, if you want her to avoid causing scandal. It’s up to her, and people shouldn’t judge a person’s state of grace in receiving communion. The Lord must have given her grace in some form for her to be confident enough to approach Him in the first place. Don’t dissuade her, but encourage her to go to confession at the earliest opportunity. I know it’s tough. I’ll pray for both yourself and her.

 

[paperwight66]

I wouldn’t mention going to confession, to be honest, as that might be seen as nagging, however gently you express it, and do more harm than good.

Let the Holy Spirit do His work. and, of course, as others have said, pray.

 

[fred_conty]

For you sister’s own spiriual good, get her to stop receiving. Receiving the Eucharist must be framed in the love of Jesus and not just for show. Receiving the Eucharist means that one is also in union with the beliefs of other Catholics in church. That is our sign of solidarity with one another in Christ. Your sister certainly does not have this.

Like I said, for her own good, have a private talk with her and explain that those who receive are doing so out of love for Christ and for union with one another. Any thing else is wrong and should not be done for her own sake.

Explain to her that it is available to her if she admits her sins to Jesus in the sacrament of penance, and then she would be welcome at the altar to receive the Lord in her heart. And that the priest will help her make her confession if she doesn’t remember.

This has to stop because it is seriously hurtful to her and to our dear Lord. You are the Catholic in the family, so it is up to you to say this in the best possible way. If she doesn’t stop, then remind her again that Jesus is waiting for her in the sacrament of penance.

And unless you say something there is no reason for her to stop. Jesus did tell us that he would be the reason that brother would be against brother, daughter against mother, and so on. And that if we don’t testify for him, then he will not testify for us on the last day. There is no easy solution. Just be as kind as you can, but do it. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to help you to be strong and that your sister receive the grace to soften her heart. And pray with confidence and trust and love.

Ask Our Lady for her help. One way to do this is plant a blessed green scapular in her room some where. Then pray the prayer on the scapular at least once every day. Mary said the effect would be in proportion to the trust you place in her. And she said that if you did this, she would see to it that your sister returned to her faith. Those aren’t my ideas but those of Mary’s.

 

[paperwight66]

One way to do this is plant a blessed green scapular in her room some where. Then pray the prayer on the scapular at least once every day. Mary said the effect would be in proportion to the trust you place in her. And she said that if you did this, she would see to it that your sister returned to her faith. Those aren’t my ideas but those of Mary’s.

How can you be so sure and definite? We are not obliged to believe private revelations, and we should not claim to know what Mary said in these private revelations, as everything is filtered through the perception of the one or ones who believe they had the revelation in the first place.

Look, I am not saying we should not ask Our Lady’s prayers. But we must guard against superstition.

 

[fred_conty]

How can you be so sure and definite? We are not obliged to believe private revelations, and we should not claim to know what Mary said in these private revelations, as everything is filtered through the perception of the one or ones who believe they had the revelation in the first place.

Look, I am not saying we should not ask Our Lady’s prayers. But we must guard against superstition.

But this isn’t superstition since it has been church approved. Any Catholic has the right to these promises of Mary.

It is incorrect of anyone to say this is superstitious when it is church approved. If you personally do not wish to use it, that is your right.
For the Church approval of this scapular see post 32 of the following

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=622167&page=3

 

[Jean_Anthony]

Please refrain from discussing side topics. If you wish to discuss a side topic, please start a new thread in the appropriate forum. Thank you all.