Sin to receive Communion when late to daily Mass?

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UKcatholicGuy

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OK, I need an answer pretty fast!

I’m at work right now. I work until 5:30pm. Daily Mass starts at 5:30. I can leave work and get there in time for Communion. I’ve been to confession and I’m in a state of grace. But should I receive if I get there after the Gospel? After the consecration? Is it ok since it’s daily Mass?

My thinking is, I really really really want to receive the Eucharist because I’m afraid of falling into grave sin before Easter . . . really, before tomorrow! I know the Eucharist is my only defense against this.

What should I do?
 
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UKcatholicGuy:
OK, I need an answer pretty fast!

I’m at work right now. I work until 5:30pm. Daily Mass starts at 5:30. I can leave work and get there in time for Communion. I’ve been to confession and I’m in a state of grace. But should I receive if I get there after the Gospel? After the consecration? Is it ok since it’s daily Mass?
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You should not receive the Eucharist in the situation you describe above. We are to participate fully in the liturgy, and you are not able to do so. As such, you should refrain from receiving.

“How much of mass do I have to attend before it counts” is a very minimalist view of things.
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UKcatholicGuy:
My thinking is, I really really really want to receive the Eucharist because I’m afraid of falling into grave sin before Easter . . . really, before tomorrow! I know the Eucharist is my only defense against this.

What should I do?
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Easter is in 5 days. Either you are planning already to sin gravely (in which case you’re not really sin-free are you?), or perhaps you are a little overly dramatic on this issue?
 
I have been informed differently, 1ke. I apologize that I don’t have time to go look up the specifics, but when I’ve inquired in the past, I have been told that you may receive Communion regardless of what time you arrive at Mass.

The issue of “how much of Mass do I have to be there for so it counts” question pertains to fulfilling the Sunday obligation, not reception of communion.

This makes sense, since it is permissible to approach the priest to receive communion outside of Mass entirely if you are truly unable to attend Mass that day. I have had to do that that once or twice when travelling, since I normally do try and attend Mass daily.

As far as fear of falling into grave sin before tomorrow—
???

Please bear in mind that we must never put ourselves in the near occasion of sin. If you honestly foresee a specific circumstance in which you will quite likely commit grave sin-- STAY AWAY. Pray, fast, repeat as needed.

Margaret
 
Margaret and 1ke,

Thanks for the replies. Margaret, I’ve also heard the same thing, but I wanted to post to get some other opinions.

There is no specific situation tomorrow or before Easter that will cause me to mortally sin. I’ve been told by more than one priest that I’m terribly scrupulous, so I assume it’s my scruples getting the better of me. Today was the “last-chance” confession before Easter, so I guess psychologically it scares me to think there is no possibility of Confession before Easter Mass (I’m a sponsor and really want to receive the Eucharist at the vigil Mass). I do appreciate your wonderful advice. Too many people see no problem with occasions of sin, or pass them off as things that do not exist. I noticed your signature is about St. Escriva. Are you a member of Opus Dei? Just curious-- I have a lot of respect for the group and I love St. Escriva’s writings.

Thanks again and God bless,
Daniel
 
To fullfill the Sunday obligation, you are required to go to a moral totallity of the Sunday mass.

But to recieve on a weekday, I do not believe you have to go to the whole Mass. As you said, one may simply request communion outside of Mass on a weekday when one cannot make it…so this shouldnt be a problem.

Canon law specifies that to recieve communion a SECOND time in a day you have to hear the Mass…but to just recieve it…I think you can recieve it coming late to daily mass. But remember, there are benefits to being there for the consecration too…recieving communion is recieving the body and blood of Christ…clearly a very good thing and gives you graces. But it is not the same as being their for the actual Sacrafice that takes place in the double consecration.

Yes, canon law encourages you to go to the mass, but you may recieve anyway:
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 ß2 [danger of death].
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Can. 918 It is most strongly recommended that the faithful receive holy communion in the course of a eucharistic celebration. If, however, for good reason they ask for it apart from the Mass, it is to be administered to them, observing the liturgical rites.
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UKcatholicGuy:
Margaret and 1ke,

Thanks for the replies. Margaret, I’ve also heard the same thing, but I wanted to post to get some other opinions.

There is no specific situation tomorrow or before Easter that will cause me to mortally sin. I’ve been told by more than one priest that I’m terribly scrupulous, so I assume it’s my scruples getting the better of me. Today was the “last-chance” confession before Easter, so I guess psychologically it scares me to think there is no possibility of Confession before Easter Mass (I’m a sponsor and really want to receive the Eucharist at the vigil Mass). I do appreciate your wonderful advice. Too many people see no problem with occasions of sin, or pass them off as things that do not exist. I noticed your signature is about St. Escriva. Are you a member of Opus Dei? Just curious-- I have a lot of respect for the group and I love St. Escriva’s writings.

Thanks again and God bless,
Daniel
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Maybe the best advice would be to ask the priest if you can receive if you are late to mass.

I do recognize we can receive outside of mass, but when in mass I was under the impression that we should participate fully if we are to receive (Sunday or other day). But, I’m not an expert… so the priest would be a good source to ask.

I’m sure you will not fall into mortal sin before Easter.

You can receive the Eucharist tomorrow or Friday also. Hopefully you schedule will allow that.
 
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UKcatholicGuy:
…I’ve been to confession and I’m in a state of grace. But should I receive if I get there after the Gospel? After the consecration? Is it ok since it’s daily Mass?
…I really really really want to receive the Eucharist because I’m afraid of falling into grave sin before Easter…What should I do?
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There is no mortal sin in arriving late to a daily mass, and probably there is no mortal sin in arriving late to Sun. mass. There would be a venial sin if it were something, which occurred frequently without good reason. Missing mass on Sun. is a mortal sin. Nonetheless, even in a state of mortal sin you can partake of the Eucharist if something strongly felt warrants you to do so–it is somewhat of a judgement call on your part. There is nothing to stop the host from becoming, or from not becoming the body and the blood of our Lord; additionally, it seems many masses absolve a person of sins prior to the consecration; though, it seems to be somewhat illegal–I’m unclear with your diocese and the size of your congregation.

The Lord always is eager to forgive those who repent.

You’re not going to be in sin, if you arrive late without being able to avoid being late; work, and it is only occasional.
 
Please don’t just walk into the church, receive communion, then walk right out again. You cannot possibly have sufficient time to reflect on what you are about to do. There are other ways to stay in a state of grace besides receiving the Eucharist. Pray, fast, and avoid near and proximate occasions of sin. Keep your mind always on Jesus and the Sacraments and you will avoid sin.
 
IF you can’t make it to mass before what used to be the Offeratory (just after the Gospel), I don’t think you should receive Communion. The Sunday obligation says you have to be present for the Gospel, but the old school requirement was just after that.

I think its a bit gauche to walk into mass just before Communiuon and receive.

The fact that you make an attempt to make it to mass on weekdays is great.

I think the intent of the Canon law quoted is that we should be at a 'full mass" to receive Communion, but under the right circumstances, we may request it anyway. It’s debatable whether being late because of work fits the right circumstances.
 
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1ke:
You should not receive the Eucharist in the situation you describe above. We are to participate fully in the liturgy, and you are not able to do so. As such, you should refrain from receiving.

“How much of mass do I have to attend before it counts” is a very minimalist view of things.
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That is incorrect. You are confusing the Mass Obligation with the reception of the Eucharist.

To satisfy the Sunday Mass Obligation requires that one attend the totality of the both Liturgies (from the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word to Agnus Dei).

If a person came in late for Sunday Mass, that person, if in the State of Grace, could recieve Communion. But they had better planning on attending another Mass to fulful their Sunday obligation.

But a person may recieve the Eucharist at any time they are in the state of Grace and it is offered under the terms set out by their local Ordinary. At the end of a weekday Mass is certainly fine.

One recieves the Grace of the Sacrament, but not the Grace of Mass.

This really is no different than any other reception of the Eucharist outside of Mass (per an EMHC, for example).
 
Thanks, all.

I went to the Mass and got there during the prayers of the faithful. However, I decided not to receive. I was praying and thinking about whether or not I should, and I decided that I had no right to the Eucharist-- it is a sublime gift of God, and if I cannot truly appreciate it with ample reflection beforehand, I have no business “stealing” it by showing up to receive real quick.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
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1ke:
You should not receive the Eucharist in the situation you describe above. We are to participate fully in the liturgy, and you are not able to do so. As such, you should refrain from receiving.

"?
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sez who? for Sunday Mass, yes, for daily Mass, which is not required, it is fine to receive communion of you come late and are otherwise properly disposed. No sin whatever. you tried to get there and came late. No obligation so no sin.
 
Even in those circumstances when you discern you ought not or doubt that you should physically receive Communion, you may always make a Spiritual Communion.

tee
 
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