Too Frequent Reception of Communion

[mosher]

From what I am told by friends that live in countries other than the United States it seems that here in the US we practice something that is uncommon in other countries. It seems that unlike here it is not common practice to receive Holy Communion at every Sunday Mass (as seems to be the norm here). This was noted especially in Latin countries but also in Denmark as a friend recently observed.

This got me thinking. First of all we know about the abuse of people receiving Holy Communion who are not disposed so I am not addressing that. Yet, it is a mark of the American tendency to “over indulge” even in a good thing. And so is reception of Holy Communion on a daily or even weekly basis necessarily a good thing?

While I know about the imparting of grace and that is always a good thing but are there some practical aspects of the reception of Holy Communion that we are missing? Some things come to mind such as becoming too familiar with the Blessed Sacrament and thus making the extraordinary ordinary or perhaps it discourages people from not going to Communion when they are not disposed because they may feel that they are being singled out. I really don’t know but it is something I have thought about.

In the history of the Church it was not common to receive Holy Communion more than once or twice a year. However, Pope Saint Pius X wanted to change that and encouraged more frequent reception of communion but have we gone from his desire of “more frequent” to “too frequent” reception of Holy Communion?

 

[Joan_M]

Provided we are in a state of grace, how on earth could we be receiving Holy Communion too frequently by receiving at every Sunday Mass?

That is like saying that we should only eat one or two days per week!

We need, of course, to keep in mind what we are doing and Who we are receiving. One Holy Communion should make us saints, but, unfortunately, being human we will probably need to receive about 25,000 times before we are saints!!

 

[scylla]

It is because we Americans are good saintly people, that is why 99 out of 100 go up to recieve the Eucharist each Sunday.

We are sooo good we don’t need to go to confession.

We are sooo good that we don’t even need to genuflect before we enter our pews or respect the Altar as we deserve to do what we want, it is our right as Americans to do what we want.
Don’t make me feel bad by saying I might possibly be a sinner.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[Walking_Home]

In a way I can understand what you are saying Mosher.
From what I have come across here—it seems that there is a tendency to approach Holy Communion in a way that focuses on us----for God to meet our needs.

Being that the Mass is the prayer of the Church thru which the Holy Spirit guides us in true worship of our Lord—some say that it does not matter what happens in the Mass–as long as He is there–for us to receive.

Have we in a way becoming–self centered—thinking of what our Lord can do for us—the more we receive Him —the more we get from Him—and are losing sight that we need to give–and true giving, true worship is guided by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

 

[SMHW]

I would agree that a danger of frequent reception of the Eucharist is the side effect of casual reception of the Eucharist.

But not everything dangerous can or ought to be avoided.

As a latin rite Catholic I think it’s a mistake to conclude that there is such a thing as “too frequently” for those in a state of grace. The benefits of receiving so greatly outweigh the risks.

In my opinion, “too frequently” only has meaning for a person who is not properly disposed. The occasional casual or distracted attitude about receiving communion does not make one improperly disposed.

 

[mosher]

I would agree that a danger of frequent reception of the Eucharist is the side effect of casual reception of the Eucharist.

But not everything dangerous can or ought to be avoided.

As a latin rite Catholic I think it’s a mistake to conclude that there is such a thing as “too frequently” for those in a state of grace. The benefits of receiving so greatly outweigh the risks.

In my opinion, “too frequently” only has meaning for a person who is not properly disposed. The occasional casual or distracted attitude about receiving communion does not make one improperly disposed.

This made me think of another aspect of this question.

We in the west have daily Mass. But what about the Eastern Churches that do not have daily Mass (read: Divine Liturgy). If there is no such thing as too much then why has it not been seen fit to include a daily liturgy in each of the Eastern Churches? If this is not so then why have they not moved to a daily liturgy?

 

[SMHW]

This made me think of another aspect of this question.

We in the west have daily Mass. But what about the Eastern Churches that do not have daily Mass (read: Divine Liturgy). If there is no such thing as too much then why has it not been seen fit to include a daily liturgy in each of the Eastern Churches? If this is not so then why have they not moved to a daily liturgy?

I was thinking about this when I mentioned that I am a Latin rite Catholic.

It may be that the ‘frequency of Communion’ issue is like that of infant versus adult confirmation; celibate versus married clergy; and standing versus kneeling during Mass.

We need more than one rite to express all valuable practices in Catholicism.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

…In the history of the Church it was not common to receive Holy Communion more than once or twice a year. However, Pope Saint Pius X wanted to change that and encouraged more frequent reception of communion but have we gone from his desire of “more frequent” to “too frequent” reception of Holy Communion?

Since St. Pius X encouraged daily communion, what do you mean by “too frequent?”

SACRA TRIDENTINA
On Frequent and Daily Reception of Holy Communion
Pope St. Pius X

“…all Christians should be daily nourished by this heavenly banquet and should derive therefrom more abundant fruit for their sanctification.”

I don’t agree this is an “American” thing. I think it is a Catholic thing to desire to be nourished daily by this heavenly banquet.

 

[AquinaSavio]

"If someone knows from experience that daily Communion increases fervor without lessening reverence, then let him go every day. But if someone finds that reverence is lessened and devotion not much increased, then let him sometimes abstain, so as to draw near afterwards with better dispositions." - St. Thomas Aquinas

 

[LilyM]

This made me think of another aspect of this question.

We in the west have daily Mass. But what about the Eastern Churches that do not have daily Mass (read: Divine Liturgy). If there is no such thing as too much then why has it not been seen fit to include a daily liturgy in each of the Eastern Churches? If this is not so then why have they not moved to a daily liturgy?

Priests and communicants among the Orthodox have to not just fast (I believe from midnight the night before) but also abstain from marital relations for a day beforehand. I believe there are other prayers and preparations that need to take place before one receives.

Given that many priests are married as well as members of their congregation, it would be completely impractical for them to go through all this every day. Among monks who are celibate I think it often IS celebrated every day.

 

[LilyM]

Priests and communicants among the Orthodox have to not just fast (I believe from midnight the night before) but also abstain from marital relations for a day beforehand. I believe there are other prayers and preparations that need to take place before one receives.

Given that many priests are married as well as members of their congregation, it would be completely impractical for them to go through all this every day. Among monks who are celibate I think it often, if not always, IS celebrated every day.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

… it discourages people from not going to Communion when they are not disposed because they may feel that they are being singled out.

I think this is common. I know I’ve been asked why I wasn’t going up to receive. I just looked at them and said, “because I have to go to confession.” I count such incidents as teaching moments.

 

[sandmountainsli]

This will probably be a stupid question but if the Catholics of old only took Communion once or twice per year what did they do at Mass all the other sundays?
WP

 

[Myangel]

I know I’ve been asked why I wasn’t going up to receive.

REALLY??? I cant believe someone would come out and ask you that. WOW. Actually there have been times when I dont receive for weeks and I have this lovely lovely lady who sits behind us and really if she wants to know something she will ask, I am just hoping she doesnt come at me with that question, because out of being gobsmacked I dont think I could answer her lol. I still cant believe someone would come out and ask you that

 

[Walking_Home]

This will probably be a stupid question but if the Catholics of old only took Communion once or twice per year what did they do at Mass all the other sundays?
WP

---

Worship our Lord.

 

[LilyM]

This will probably be a stupid question but if the Catholics of old only took Communion once or twice per year what did they do at Mass all the other sundays?
WP

Stand at the foot of Calvary.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

While I know about the imparting of grace and that is always a good thing but are there some practical aspects of the reception of Holy Communion that we are missing? Some things come to mind such as becoming too familiar with the Blessed Sacrament and thus making the extraordinary ordinary or perhaps it discourages people from not going to Communion when they are not disposed because they may feel that they are being singled out. I really don’t know but it is something I have thought about.

Mosher: You made my eyes bug out a little, because the above is one of the classic Protestant arguments AGAINST frequent reception of Holy Communion! I can remember my grandfather positing this and me asking if he waited once a quarter to kiss my grandmother in order to make it more special (Southern Baptists used to limit the Lord’s Supper to once a quarter. I’m not sure if they still do).

No one should go to Holy Communion who is not properly disposed via Confession. If one is, however, I don’t think they should abstain.

 

[zorrox]

I think the problem of people who are not disposed to recieve holy communion recieving, is psychological, you just do as everybody else does, some people don’t have the guts to stay in the pews.
We have to fear God more than men.

If you are properly prepared and have the right disposition you cannot recieve too often, and people who love God will long to recieve Him even more than once daily.

 

[mosher]

Thank you for the quotes from Pope St. Pius X and St. Thomas it was nice to see them in context of this.

Then I guess the converse needs to be asked. Why then in other countries and among the East daily communion is not done by more people. I know that in the East it would require some changes in discipline but among the other Latin Rite countries should this not be something that is emphasized?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

… among the other Latin Rite countries should this not be something that is emphasized?

Yes, it should. It is strongly encouraged by the Catholic Church, for all the Catholic faithul of every rite.

Code of Canon Law (can. 276) in the section entitled “The Obligations and Rights of Clerics” states the following:

“In leading their lives, clerics are especially bound to pursue holiness because they are consecrated to God by a new title in the reception of orders as dispensers of God’s mysteries in the service of His people. In order for them to pursue this perfection … they are to nourish their spiritual life from the two-fold table of Sacred Scripture and the Eucharist; priests are therefore earnestly invited to offer the sacrifice of the Eucharist daily.”

Furthermore, according to canon 881, par. 3 of the Code of Canons of Oriental Churhes:

The Christian faithful are strongly recommended to receive the Divine Eucharist on these days [Sundays and feast days] and indeed more frequently even daily.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which applies to both Latin and Eastern Catholic rites:

the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still,*** even ***daily. (CCC 1389)