State of Grace

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yinekka

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Does any priest really care anymore whether a person presenting for Communion is in the state of grace? At my parish, a fairly traditional one, the priests routinely give Holy Communion to the children at the school Mass when it is very obvious from their behaviour that the last time they were at Mass was at the last school Mass. The children’s mothers, who exhibit the same lack of knowledge of the prayers etc of the Mass are also given Holy Communion. If I speak to my priest about this matter I know he will bring up the Pharisees who were “hung up on rules”. Is he right? :confused:

When I was in primary school we used to attend Confession monthly. Do primary school children go to confession at school any more?
 
If the children are not being brought to Church by their parents, what can they do? They are only children and don’t have any control over their lives; they are entirely dependent on the adults around them.

Therefore, I don’t believe that they would be in a state of Mortal sin. Hopefully they’re being taught the truth about the requirements of the Church. These days though that’s highly doubtful.
 
what do you suggest, asking for a show of hands of who has committed a mortal sin and asking them to sit down? asking each person before they communicate “are you in a state of sanctifying grace?” what are you, their mother? how is the state of someone else’s soul your concern, unless you are their pastor? with what authority are you passing judgement?
 
I don’t believe that it’s for any of us to judge or even to be concerned about whether anyone else is able to receive communion.

How can any of us know the heart of another? And just because someone isn’t saying every prayer or acting perfectly does not exclude them from holy communion in my opinion.

My advice would be to only worry about whether or not you yourself are worthy to receive communion - who amongst us are. We are all sinners!
 
Just ponder how awful it would be if priests had to ask every communicant about the condition of their soul prior to receiving…
 
A priest can only withold communion from someone whose unworthiness is manifest, or public. Non-public figures, unless they have been excommunicated, cannot be denied the Blessed Sacrament.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
A priest can only withold communion from someone whose unworthiness is manifest, or public. Non-public figures, unless they have been excommunicated, cannot be denied the Blessed Sacrament.
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It is however the pastors responsibility to speak with them privately. And to insure that their public behaviour is not cause for public scandal.
 
True that, but how much culpability does a child have for missing Mass because his parents don’t take him? Not much, in my humble, informed opinion.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
A priest can only withold communion from someone whose unworthiness is manifest, or public. Non-public figures, unless they have been excommunicated, cannot be denied the Blessed Sacrament.
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Seems one can’t be more public about the sin of abortion than Kerry. He never met an abortion bill he wouldn’t sign and he regularly receives “communion” from Protestant sects, which is also a public sin. Yet don’t most priests and bishops happily participate in the photo op of giving him Communion whenever he presents himself? Has Ted Kenedy ever been denied Communion? If a priest cannot withold communion from either of these public sinners, isn’t it meaningless to claim the option? – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
 
Albert:

On this particular issue, you and I are in agreement. Priests have a moral obligation to withold Communion from pro-abortion politicians, as their mortal sin is public. The same could be said of a public figure (like a politician or celebrity) who is divoced and remarried.
 
While the initial poster’s statement may have been a bit brassy, they are certainly pointing to a truth. I certainly don’t claim to know the state of anyone else’s soul anymore than the next fellow, but recognizing the cultural reality that we live in gives one pause on Sunday when the whole darn Church presents itself to receive Holy Communion. I think that the problem with the parents is not unlike that of their children. While the parents in question obviously aren’t caring for the spiritual needs of their people, the priests, who have charge of the parents, are often slow about reminding them (or, given the age of most parents of young children today, catechizing them) on teh necessity of being in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion. That’s not being pharisetical, that’s just being honest.
 
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FenianMan:
the priests, who have charge of the parents, are often slow about reminding them on teh necessity of being in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion. That’s not being pharisetical, that’s just being honest.
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The point you raise leads to why Dante lowered so many bishops and even popes into hell in his Divine Comedy. What saint said that hell was paved with the skulls of our bishops?

The point is that bishops and priests are complacent in the sins of their flock to the degree they do not shepherd their flock. It’s a grave responsiblity they have historically failed at, proving again and again (and especially in our times) the just how much our of a good shepherd our Lord was compared to all the shepherds that came after Him. – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
 
albert cipriani:
The point you raise leads to why Dante lowered so many bishops and even popes into hell in his Divine Comedy…

The point is that bishops and priests are complacent in the sins of their flock to the degree they do not shepherd their flock. It’s a grave responsiblity they have historically failed at, … – Sincerely, Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
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Mr. Cipriani,
I appreciate your perspective, but can not agree with what seems to fit the ‘blame game’ m.o. we see all too often in our culture.

Reality is that the ultimate measure of success, or the failure of the Bishops is unknown to us, is it not? The status of a soul [in the state of grace, or not] is known by Him alone; as such I am reluctant to strongly criticize Bishops. Our Lord’s Mercy is so much more infinite and ‘powerful’ than Bishop weakness(es).

As I see it, it’s more likely that **individuals **will be judged, and probably harshly so, for treating their Faith not as the gift of God that it is, but rather as yet another disposable commodity that can be ignored; or by claiming ‘victimhood’ with some unbelievable claim of ‘I didn’t know because of Bishop so-and-so’. C’mon! WebMd sure seems ‘in’ when a bellyache hits… what about spiritual health? The Catechism is out, and the Bible is very readable… **individuals **have an obligation to their Faith and their relationship with God.
Just my thoughts. Thanks for ‘listening’ :tiphat:
 
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