Sin and Receiving Holy Communion

[TEX]

You can read some about that in “Medieval Handbooks of Penance” by John Thomas McNeill, Helena Margaret Gamer.

Per their book, the West was strict, with no repetition of penance before the time of Caesarius, bishop of Arles, 502-42. The list of serious sins was small, but expanded over time.

And repetition of penance began at Antioch and Constantinople, with St. John Chrysostom, who favored repetition and short terms of penance.

Then…is not the matter of confessing mortal sins to a priest before being permitted to receive communion a matter of discipline and not doctrine? A practice dating to only the 4th or 5th centuries can be only that; a practice, right?

When St. John Chrysostom wrote of penance, I would guess that he is not talking about the current list of mortal sins recognized by Western Catholics.

thanks,

cm

 

[Vico]

Then…is not the matter of confessing mortal sins to a priest before being permitted to receive communion a matter of discipline and not doctrine? A practice dating to only the 4th or 5th centuries can be only that; a practice, right?

When St. John Chrysostom wrote of penance, I would guess that he is not talking about the current list of mortal sins recognized by Western Catholics.

thanks,

cm

It is dogma now that it is necessary to confess mortal sins for absolution before a priest.

All revelations ended with Christ, but there is progesss in the knowledge and ecclesiastical proposal of Revealed Truth with consequent public faith of the Church.

 

[StillWondering]

One should never receive communion if they have any sins on their souls, venial or mortal. Hence, in the Apostle’s Creed, “the communion of saints”, which means a person without blemish on their soul. One’s soul must be as ‘clean’ as can be to receive communion. Anyone saying something opposing is not being honest with you and does not really know what they are talking about.

I can believe what you say because the Blessed Sacrament is Heaven on Earth. I’m not sure if that’s possible for me. Sure often times I don’t sin, but venial sins happens quite a bit for me. Maybe it’s scrupulosity. Or maybe it’s truth and I just can’t avoid venial sins. I’m not an arrogant person but I do worry about myself a lot and that cause plenty of sins of pride. Worry about what God wants me to do.

Either, I did not mean to side track the discussion with my petty problems. I really appreciate the answers here. Gives me much to think about.

 

[Dominique1234]

I can believe what you say because the Blessed Sacrament is Heaven on Earth. I’m not sure if that’s possible for me. Sure often times I don’t sin, but venial sins happens quite a bit for me. Maybe it’s scrupulosity. Or maybe it’s truth and I just can’t avoid venial sins. I’m not an arrogant person but I do worry about myself a lot and that cause plenty of sins of pride. Worry about what God wants me to do.

Either, I did not mean to side track the discussion with my petty problems. I really appreciate the answers here. Gives me much to think about.

I completely understand where you are coming from. And about the whole ‘family guy’ thing. I understand what you mean. If you ask me, there are some misguided souls out there searching for family guy threads on a Catholic website… anyhow.

We are all sinners whether we like it or not. That will never change unless one reaches Sanctity. We must aim for one thing and one thing only. To love, serve and adore God… okay those are three, but you get the picture.

It’s hard for a person to know what God wants of us. I know. I went through my own conversion story, but I won’t get into it. My point is, we must TRUST in God that what we do and pray for is His Holy Will. If we don’t trust in that, then we don’t really trust in God and what He wants for us.

I pray all the time, even in the little things to do God’s Will. I pray," Let thy Will be done, Lord." and I continue to do my daily tasks, those of which we are all called upon to do. God then leads you in the right direction. We must abandon ourselves to His Will. I think I said this in about 3 different ways now, and I’m sure you get the point… haha…

God bless you and continue on your journey!

Pax

Dom