Some questions about Communion!

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Cassandra_Lyn

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I went to Mass for the first time and I did not partake in Communion, because I understand that you must be baptized and in a state of grace, meaning that you have made a good confession since your last mortal sin. I am not baptized, first of all. Secondly, I’ve never been to confession. So I have some questions.

1.) I do have to wait until I’m baptized to receive Communion - am I right on this?

2.) The vast majority of the people in the pews yesterday did go up and receive Communion. I understand that chances are slim that each person was in a state of grace, and that’s okay, I understand that we’re not always going to be - we’re humans and we sin a lot and we just aren’t going to attend confession on a weekly basis…
So why did they all get Communion yesterday?
From what I’ve read, receiving Communion without being absolved of mortal sins is… well… offensive in a way, for lack of a better way to say it due to my own ignorance…

3.) Is it okay if I leave and head to work at this point in the service? This is more of an etiquette question… I don’t care what assumptions the other congregants may make of my never going up for Communion, because I know and God knows that I can not… But I feel like there is no reason to stay when I have other commitments I have to meet (My job currently has me taking care of two individuals with MS, who are totally dependent for their care)
 
I found one of my answers, in the distinction between mortal and venial sin. Okay, cool.
 
  1. Yes, you must wait to be fully entered into the Church through Baptism before receiving the other Sacraments. As an adult, when you are received into the Church, you will receive Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation at the same time.
  2. Yes, people do receive Communion regularly. In ages past, it was very uncommon to receive the Eucharist very often. You were only required to receive once per year, during the Easter season, and still are. But, as a custom, most people receive every week or even every day, which is fine as long as we are in the state of grace. However, we should not judge others but rather give them the benefit of the doubt.
  3. For catechumens, it is actually customary for them to be excused after the homily in the Liturgy of the Word since they cannot partake in Liturgy of the Eucharist until after they have been fully received into the Church. This link will explain it more fully:
dioceseofgrandrapids.org/beliefs/Documents/Believe%20Celebrate%20Live/Bulletin/Option%20A%20-%20Bulletin%20Articles%20-%20Weekly/2%20-%20Liturgy%20of%20the%20Word/15%20-%20BULLETIN%20-%20Dismissal%20of%20Catechumens.pdf

However, if you are still learning about the faith, it is perfectly good and fine for you to stay for the whole Mass!

I hope this helps! May God bless you on your spiritual journey into His Catholic Faith! 🙂
 
Cassandra_Lyn said:
I went to Mass for the first time and I did not partake in Communion, because I understand that you must be baptized and in a state of grace, meaning that you have made a good confession since your last mortal sin. I am not baptized, first of all. Secondly, I’ve never been to confession. So I have some questions.

1.) I do have to wait until I’m baptized to receive Communion - am I right on this?

2.) The vast majority of the people in the pews yesterday did go up and receive Communion. I understand that chances are slim that each person was in a state of grace, and that’s okay, I understand that we’re not always going to be - we’re humans and we sin a lot and we just aren’t going to attend confession on a weekly basis…
So why did they all get Communion yesterday?
From what I’ve read, receiving Communion without being absolved of mortal sins is… well… offensive in a way, for lack of a better way to say it due to my own ignorance…

3.) Is it okay if I leave and head to work at this point in the service? This is more of an etiquette question… I don’t care what assumptions the other congregants may make of my never going up for Communion, because I know and God knows that I can not… But I feel like there is no reason to stay when I have other commitments I have to meet (My job currently has me taking care of two individuals with MS, who are totally dependent for their care)
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The state of the souls of others going up to receive the Lord need not be your concern. Do not trouble yourself with this.

Your priorities are in order when you describe your job. God bless!

Of course, if and when you become a Catholic, Sunday Mass can be attended at different times, and you will need to go when you can attend the entire Mass.
 
#1) correct
#2) As FYI - if you attend a Spanish Mass, you will see far more people remaining in the pews. There are many hypotheses regarding why you see so many English speaking Catholics receiving communion every week.
– One hypothesis is that many/most mortal sinners say home and skip mass if they haven’t been to confession .
– Second hypothesis is that some English speaking Catholics think that some sins are venial instead of mortal.
– HOWEVER, many priests are saying that confessions are up. Also many parishes in urban business districts (i.e. in walking distance to many office buildings) have confession during the week and hear a lot of confessions.

So while you are correct, that you should not be receiving communion when you have mortal sin, seeing everyone get up and receive communion doesn’t necessarily mean that tons of people are receiving unworthily.

3#) I would say if you are going to leave, you should do so after the homily or during communion in order not to disturb others. Also might be good idea to sit towards back if there are a lot of people at mass.

God Bless
Cassandra_Lyn said:
1.) I do have to wait until I’m baptized to receive Communion - am I right on this?

2.) The vast majority of the people in the pews yesterday did go up and receive Communion. I understand that chances are slim that each person was in a state of grace, and that’s okay, I understand that we’re not always going to be - we’re humans and we sin a lot and we just aren’t going to attend confession on a weekly basis…
So why did they all get Communion yesterday?
From what I’ve read, receiving Communion without being absolved of mortal sins is… well… offensive in a way, for lack of a better way to say it due to my own ignorance…

3.) Is it okay if I leave and head to work at this point in the service? This is more of an etiquette question… I don’t care what assumptions the other congregants may make of my never going up for Communion, because I know and God knows that I can not… But I feel like there is no reason to stay when I have other commitments I have to meet (My job currently has me taking care of two individuals with MS, who are totally dependent for their care)
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Thank you all!

Yes, I completely agree that it is none of my business, and my confusion was mostly due to my misunderstanding the difference between venial and mortal sin… which is a good bit of information to have!

I did sit in the back and will continue to for now, because I don’t want to disturb anyone. 🙂
 
Cassandra_Lyn said:
Thank you all!

Yes, I completely agree that it is none of my business, and my confusion was mostly due to my misunderstanding the difference between venial and mortal sin… which is a good bit of information to have!

I did sit in the back and will continue to for now, because I don’t want to disturb anyone. 🙂
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🙂
 
Cassandra_Lyn said:
1.) I do have to wait until I’m baptized to receive Communion - am I right on this?

yes

2.) So why did they all get Communion yesterday?
From what I’ve read, receiving Communion without being absolved of mortal sins is… well… offensive in a way, for lack of a better way to say it due to my own ignorance…

this is really between God and the person. However, when I could not commune, and was left alone in the pew it was very disheartening and many times when I got up to let everyone pass, I simply walked out of the church. I did try a mass in Spanish and found a few dozen parishioners keeping me company in the pews 🙂 I think that answers your third question, too.
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I always try and pray before Mass that everyone receiving Communion is in a state of grace and that those who should not receive will not. I know it’s not my job to make sure people out of grace don’t receive Jesus sacramentally (and I don’t–all I can do is pray,) but I want Jesus to be treated with respect and I don’t wish anyone to have the mortal sin of sacrilege on their soul.
 
About leaving during Communion time…
Lets us think for a while. Between Communion at the very end of Mass is… what? 10 minutes? Is it that urgent for you to leave, although you can’t partake in the Lord’s table?
See, during those 10 minutes, you can meditate, pray and receive “spiritual communion” (words from Benedict XVI). Also, there’s a final prayer, a final blessing and a final song. All of these are beneficial for our soul. Stay those 10 minutes and live it 🙂
 
fabio_rocha said:
About leaving during Communion time…
Lets us think for a while. Between Communion at the very end of Mass is… what? 10 minutes? Is it that urgent for you to leave, although you can’t partake in the Lord’s table?
See, during those 10 minutes, you can meditate, pray and receive “spiritual communion” (words from Benedict XVI). Also, there’s a final prayer, a final blessing and a final song. All of these are beneficial for our soul. Stay those 10 minutes and live it 🙂
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Wonderful points.
 
Cassandra_Lyn said:
I went to Mass for the first time and I did not partake in Communion, because I understand that you must be baptized and in a state of grace, meaning that you have made a good confession since your last mortal sin. I am not baptized, first of all. Secondly, I’ve never been to confession. So I have some questions.

1.) I do have to wait until I’m baptized to receive Communion - am I right on this?

2.) The vast majority of the people in the pews yesterday did go up and receive Communion. I understand that chances are slim that each person was in a state of grace, and that’s okay, I understand that we’re not always going to be - we’re humans and we sin a lot and we just aren’t going to attend confession on a weekly basis…
So why did they all get Communion yesterday?
From what I’ve read, receiving Communion without being absolved of mortal sins is… well… offensive in a way, for lack of a better way to say it due to my own ignorance…

3.) Is it okay if I leave and head to work at this point in the service? This is more of an etiquette question… I don’t care what assumptions the other congregants may make of my never going up for Communion, because I know and God knows that I can not… But I feel like there is no reason to stay when I have other commitments I have to meet (My job currently has me taking care of two individuals with MS, who are totally dependent for their care)
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k
 
Richard_White said:
  1. Yes, you must wait to be fully entered into the Church through Baptism before receiving the other Sacraments. As an adult, when you are received into the Church, you will receive Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation at the same time.
    snip…
dioceseofgrandrapids.org/beliefs/Documents/Believe%20Celebrate%20Live/Bulletin/Option%20A%20-%20Bulletin%20Articles%20-%20Weekly/2%20-%20Liturgy%20of%20the%20Word/15%20-%20BULLETIN%20-%20Dismissal%20of%20Catechumens.pdf

However, if you are still learning about the faith, it is perfectly good and fine for you to stay for the whole Mass!

I hope this helps! May God bless you on your spiritual journey into His Catholic Faith! 🙂
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Upon baptism as an adult, can one can receive the Eucharist immediately after baptism?
 
fbl9 said:
Upon baptism as an adult, can one can receive the Eucharist immediately after baptism?
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That is usually how it works. Through the RCIA process which is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. A non-baptised person is baptised, confirmed and receives the Eucharist for the first time all in the same Mass. It is usually on the Easter Vigil.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
That is usually how it works. Through the RCIA process which is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. A non-baptised person is baptised, confirmed and receives the Eucharist for the first time all in the same Mass. It is usually on the Easter Vigil.
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That what i thought but wanted to check to make sure… thanks.
 
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