Strange question. Catholic w/o ever having communion

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Agnus-Dei

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This one is pretty far out in left-field, but bear with me.
Could a person become a member of the Catholic church without intending to take communion? (Possibly never)
Not from a problem with faith directly, but doubting ones own worthiness to receive. (Avoiding consuming one’s own damnation as it were if they are wrong.). I understand that technically no one is “worthy” but here we are. Faith usually required to know we are accepted after confession/absolution and such. The person still has doubt.
(I have asked this question to a member of the religious community, and was answered, “Why would you want to do that?” Thoughts will be appreciated.)
I will go hide back in my hermitage now and try to behave.
Dominus vobiscum
Edited for clarity
 
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We are required to take communion once a year.

But we should be taking it as often as possible because we get graces from doing so and it’s such a gift. God wants us to take the Eucharist… someone who feels so unworthy is probably scrupulous and needs help
 
Sounds to me like someone who still hasn’t made up his mind whether he really wants to be a Catholic or not. Or he wants to be a Catholic, but not too Catholic. He’s hedging his bets.
 
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The Eucharist is one of the sacraments of initiation. When an adult is received into the Church, they are baptized, confirmed, and receive communion at the same Mass.
 
Agnus-Dei said:
Could a person become a member of the Catholic church without intending to take communion?
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No.

Communion is one of the three sacraments of initiation so would be part of reception into the Church. And, we must receive at least once per year per Church precept.
 
Agnus-Dei said:
Could a person become a member of the Catholic church without intending to take communion? (Possibly never)
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Technically yes. One could for example have someone baptized into the Church who is not capable of eating or drinking because of illness or injury.
Not from a problem with faith directly, but doubting ones own worthiness to receive
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This suggests a serious theological misunderstanding and/or a scrupulosity disorder. The person should speak to a priest and possibly get mental health help.
It’s not normal and it’s a really wrong-headed view of the Eucharist.
MeganCecilia said:
We are required to take communion once a year.
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This is also true, unless there is some extraordinary circumstance preventing it, such as inability to eat or drink, or a COVID related dispensation.
A normal Catholic wants to receive Communion.
Some Catholics in a persistent/ chronic state of mortal sin (for example, an irregular marital relationship that they don’t want to leave or don’t feel they can leave for some reason) will continue going to Mass but just not receive.
 
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What Tis_Bearself said. If you’re that worried about worthiness maybe try going to confession and Mass directly afterward. Share you concerns with the priest.
 
What I just posted reads a bit harshly, so let me add this:

The Eucharist isn’t a reward for being super duper holy and worthy. That type of thinking was prevalent several centuries ago, and all kinds of saints and Popes have worked to change that way of thinking and get people to actually receive Communion more often than the required once a year.

The Eucharist is meant to heal and strengthen us. It’s like medicine. I’ve heard priests preach homilies on Eucharist as healing medicine, more than once. Receiving takes away our venial sins. And makes us more able to resist sin.

Jesus wants us to receive him. He said so. He didn’t say only the super holy and perfect should eat his body and drink his blood. If that was the case then probably nobody but Mother Mary would have ever received Eucharist in Jesus’ time. Certainly not the 10 Apostles who ran away and hid when Jesus was being tortured and killed, 1 of whom also violently cut off someone’s ear and then denied knowing Jesus 3 times.
 
I would assume that someone that has confessed but still won’t take communion is someone that isn’t understanding Church teaching. If someone is also refusing to confess at least once yearly, then I fail to see how they could be considered a member of the Catholic Church.

Am I seeing this correctly?
 
As pointed out above, we have to receive once a year, during the Easter season. Even if this precept of the Church did not exist, Our Lord did tell us that if we do not eat His Body and drink His Blood, we will not have life in us. So it’s obviously Our Lord’s will for us to receive, and if we never do, we reject what He wants us to do.
 
Agnus-Dei said:
… Could a person become a member of the Catholic church without intending to take communion? …
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Yes, it happens all the time with infant baptism (not yet completed seven years of age) since some know nothing of the sacraments, but the parent or guardian does, instead. Also baptism of desire and of blood also make one a member. Perhaps for some reception of the Eucharist will occur in the resurrected body.
 
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Pattylt said:
If someone is also refusing to confess at least once yearly, then I fail to see how they could be considered a member of the Catholic Church.
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You’re technically not required to confess once yearly.

The requirement is to receive Holy Communion at least once yearly, during the Easter Season.

There is no specific confession requirement, except for confessing your grave, possibly mortal sins at least once a year. One would normally confess before receiving the Holy Communion to make sure one was free of any mortal sin and in a state of grace. In past eras, like a few hundred years back when most people only received Communion once a year anyway, you would get a little card or something to show you had confessed and if you didn’t have your card at Communion time then no Communion for you.

However, if you have not committed any grave-possibly-mortal sin since your last confession the previous year, then you would not need to go to confession before receiving Communion.
 
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It’s a common mistake because “making your Easter duty” has been used for decades by Catholics to refer to going to Confession within a week or two before Easter, like at the big penance services churches typically have then with 10 or 20 priests all hearing confessions for 2 hours.

In fact, “Easter duty” refers to the required annual reception of Communion during the Easter season.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
However, if you have not committed any grave-possibly-mortal sin since your last confession the previous year,
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Well, that definitely rules me out.

+O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
+O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
+I have sinned without number; forgive me, O Lord.
 
There probably actually are people who don’t commit any grave sins all year.
I’m thinking of Archbishop Sheen saying that hearing nuns’ confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.
But those people would be too humble to say so, for the most part.
And those who do manage to stay out of grave sin are very likely confessing much more frequently than once a year, as the frequent confession would help to keep them from bad sins.
 
To actually become a member of the Church we are required to have 3 sacraments of initiation.
Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.
A cradle Catholic most probably is Baptized at birth.
And 1st Communion and Confirmation is done at the “age of reason” typically 7 years of age. (At least this is what it was when I did it. 😉)
RCIA catechumen tend to receive all 3 at the end of their instruction.
Following that we are required to attend mass every Sunday and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion at least once a year.
So that scenario would not be cogent with a Catholic, I am afraid.

Peace!
 
JerryZ said:
Following that we are required to attend mass every Sunday and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion at least once a year.
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No, this is not what he Church teaches.

As Tis correctly stated in a pp, the obligation is to receive Holy Communion once a year, not confession unless in mortal sin.

Se Canon Law 986, IIRC.
 
Thank you everyone for the responses. Appears that the “problem” is the person, if not feeling “worthy” even after confession, is not accepting the basic teaching of the church. They are not a member, but a “seeker” currently.
And, perhaps because of that, should not at this time try to become Catholic.
They will be attending RCIA this year most likely. Hopefully that will help.
Dominus vobiscum
 
Because of our unworthiness, helplessness and sickness, we need communion with God. ”Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Our faith is all about reconciling us with Him and establishing a relationship where He resides in us and we regularly partake of Him. Man was made for this relationship; we’re dead and lost without it so humility should drive us to the Eucharist, not away from it. Jesus died because we’re sinners, and while we were yet sinners according to Scripture.
 
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