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CRW
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Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. What more could one say or need!
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DiscerningDave
Guest
Bishops to Vote on Guidelines for Helping Catholics Prepare to Receive Communion
WASHINGTON (October 19, 2006) — The U.S. bishops will vote on a statement designed to help Catholics properly prepare to receive Holy Communion during their annual November meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 13-16.
The proposed document, “Happy Are Those Who Are Called To His Supper”: On Preparing To Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist, is not intended to be a technical document for bishops, pastors, or ministers, but is addressed to all the faithful and suitable for individual reading, parish study groups, and other education programs. Organized as a series of questions and answers, the statement explores topics such as what the Catholic Church believes about the Eucharist, who may receive Holy Communion, and how Catholics can prepare to receive the sacrament more worthily.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” that brings the faithful into communion with Christ and also together as a community of believers. Catholics should prepare to receive Holy Communion, the statement says, by regular prayer and scripture reading, participation in the Sacrament of Penance, fasting, wearing modest and tasteful dress during the liturgy and coming to Mass in a prayerful state of mind.
The statement reiterates Church teaching that with “few exceptions, only those who are members of the Catholic Church may receive Holy Communion at a Catholic Eucharist.” **Catholics should strive “to receive Holy Communion regularly, gratefully, and worthily,” but should refrain from the sacrament when they find themselves no longer in a state of grace because of mortal sin, which is an act violating God’s law that involves grave matter and that is performed with both full knowledge and complete consent of the will. **Catholics who are conscious of committing any mortal sin must receive the Sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion. Catholics should also refrain from Holy Communion, according to the statement, when they lack adherence to what the Church authoritatively teaches on matters of faith and morals or when a person is publicly known to have committed serious sin.
More information about the November meeting can be found at www.usccb.org/
Email us at commdept@usccb.org
Office of Media Relations | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON (October 19, 2006) — The U.S. bishops will vote on a statement designed to help Catholics properly prepare to receive Holy Communion during their annual November meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 13-16.
The proposed document, “Happy Are Those Who Are Called To His Supper”: On Preparing To Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist, is not intended to be a technical document for bishops, pastors, or ministers, but is addressed to all the faithful and suitable for individual reading, parish study groups, and other education programs. Organized as a series of questions and answers, the statement explores topics such as what the Catholic Church believes about the Eucharist, who may receive Holy Communion, and how Catholics can prepare to receive the sacrament more worthily.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” that brings the faithful into communion with Christ and also together as a community of believers. Catholics should prepare to receive Holy Communion, the statement says, by regular prayer and scripture reading, participation in the Sacrament of Penance, fasting, wearing modest and tasteful dress during the liturgy and coming to Mass in a prayerful state of mind.
The statement reiterates Church teaching that with “few exceptions, only those who are members of the Catholic Church may receive Holy Communion at a Catholic Eucharist.” **Catholics should strive “to receive Holy Communion regularly, gratefully, and worthily,” but should refrain from the sacrament when they find themselves no longer in a state of grace because of mortal sin, which is an act violating God’s law that involves grave matter and that is performed with both full knowledge and complete consent of the will. **Catholics who are conscious of committing any mortal sin must receive the Sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion. Catholics should also refrain from Holy Communion, according to the statement, when they lack adherence to what the Church authoritatively teaches on matters of faith and morals or when a person is publicly known to have committed serious sin.
More information about the November meeting can be found at www.usccb.org/
Email us at commdept@usccb.org
Office of Media Relations | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.
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CRW
Guest
Absolutely! I agree! No argument!
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palmas85
Guest
In manay parts of the world people still believe in sin and that you should not receive while in a state of Mortal Sin. So they don’t. Here in the US the normal opinion seems to be, “I’m saved anyway, so I’ll receive” Very Protestant thinking, once saved always saved. Very Lutheresque.
I once heard a Deacon say that as far as he was concerned since the Eucharist is itself salvific, we should receive while in a state of Mortal Sin and further that since all the sacramnts look to the Eucharist as the center, there was no way that such reception could be wrong, as long as we are truly contrite and “feel sorry” for our sins that is. His reasoning was that Christ is present in the Eucharist and Christ forgives sins, so we’re covered
There isn’t much you can say to people who believe that way.
I once heard a Deacon say that as far as he was concerned since the Eucharist is itself salvific, we should receive while in a state of Mortal Sin and further that since all the sacramnts look to the Eucharist as the center, there was no way that such reception could be wrong, as long as we are truly contrite and “feel sorry” for our sins that is. His reasoning was that Christ is present in the Eucharist and Christ forgives sins, so we’re covered
There isn’t much you can say to people who believe that way.
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Walking_Home
Guest
In manay parts of the world people still believe in sin and that you should not receive while in a state of Mortal Sin. So they don’t. Here in the US the normal opinion seems to be, “I’m saved anyway, so I’ll receive” Very Protestant thinking, once saved always saved. Very Lutheresque.
I once heard a Deacon say that as far as he was concerned since the Eucharist is itself salvific, we should receive while in a state of Mortal Sin and further that since all the sacramnts look to the Eucharist as the center, there was no way that such reception could be wrong, as long as we are truly contrite and “feel sorry” for our sins that is. His reasoning was that Christ is present in the Eucharist and Christ forgives sins, so we’re covered
There isn’t much you can say to people who believe that way.
I wonder if what the deacon said—is what the Church refers to as “food for the journey”.
vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20050707_instrlabor-xi-assembly_en.html
- Many Lineamenta responses refer to the rapport between the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
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PhilipCal
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Prior to the Pontificate of St. Pius X, frequent reception of Holy Communion was not encouraged, and in a small parish, probably not allowed. The “flip-side” of all that is, the immense joy, wonder, and beauty of frequent reception of Our Lord in the Eucharist. Reception of the Eucharist is food for the day, or the week. The initial welcoming of Our Lord as you go back to your pew is sublime. Reception of Holy Communion presupposes our being in a state of grace. For such a gift as Our Eucharistic Lord, no other state can be acceptable.
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DILCIA
Guest
Here in England whre I live most people go every Sunday to receive. There are some who don’t every week and I assume that they have some reason, non Catholic, divorced and remarried etc. Nobody asks them why and everyone just gets on with their own worship.
I know a lot of people who go every day and when I am off work I go every day, in fact I have been twice in one day and apparently that is the limit.
I know a lot of people who go every day and when I am off work I go every day, in fact I have been twice in one day and apparently that is the limit.
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tcraig
Guest
Your friends’ observances are their own, but my experience of attending Masses in the U.S., Germany, Italy and France shows me that just as many European Catholics go up to receive Holy Communion as in the U.S.
The main difference I’ve noticed at Masses in Europe is that they are almost entirely devoid of children.
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palmas85
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Actually, now that I think about it both he and the Priest at his Church have described Holy Communion as food for the journey. Maybe that it is where he got it from
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itsjustdave1988
Guest
Viaticum means “provision for a journey.” It is what the Eucharist is traditionally called when the recipient is in grave danger of dying.
CCC **1331 **Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body. We also call it: the holy things (ta hagia; sancta) - the first meaning of the phrase “communion of saints” in the Apostles’ Creed - the bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality, viaticum. . . .
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palmas85
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I knew that. They had applied it though to the concept of receiving Holy Communion while in a state of Mortal Sin as the reception itself would be sufficient to forgive the sin. No sacramental confession was required either before or after and in fact was activey discouraged except for the communal penance services that occur around Easter.
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mosher
Guest
Well that is just obvious poor sacramental theology. The Holy Eucharist does not remit sin but it does preserve us against sin. But you already have to be without sin to be preserved from it.
For instance you can put food in a “zip-lock” bag to preserve it in the fridge. However, if the food is already turning the closed space of the bag can actually cause it to turn faster.
BTW: I have not left this thread I am just watching the conversation. It has been interesting so far.
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yessisan
Guest
Where did you hear this?? I lived in Mexico for 13 years of my life, and go back for vacation often, and let me say that in Mexico, as in most Latin countries (so I have heard from my Latin friends) that they do receive the Eucharist every Sunday. It’s not a practice, it’s mandated, it’s a sacrament. If you are a Catholic and don’t receive the Eucharist, you are not in state of grace, and if you’re not in state of grace, you’re in a state of mortal sin. Do you think Catholics in Latin America or other countries want to be in mortal sin? Mexico is 95% Catholic, and most of my family receives the Holy Communion every Sunday (except for those who cannot for several reasons).
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palmas85
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Used to be 95% Catholic maybe not now. As of 2000, it was approximately 85% Catholic and is less than that now. Our separated brethren the Protestants, particularly the Charismatic evangelicals have managed to convert a lot and I mean a lot. And more are lost every day
Also your theology is off just a bit concerning the sacraments but I’ll let soemone else explain that to you.
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Pug
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Perhaps you have in mind here only mortal sins and not venial ones? I know that is what seems to be in the thread, but I’m worried about a lurker. CCC follows
1393 Holy Communion separates us from sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is “given up for us,” and the blood we drink “shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins.” For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins:…
Perhaps it is passages like this that are confused by modern Catholics (not you, mosher).
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baltobetsy
Guest
It is a sacrament, and it is mandated - once a year during Eastertime. Although frequent reception of the Eucharist is highly recommended, it is not required.
Sunday Mass attendance is required every week, but it is not necessary to receive the Eucharist every time.
If you are Catholic and don’t receive the Eucharist, it **may be **because you are in mortal sin. Unless you fail to receive once a year, not receiving is not in itself a mortal sin. In fact, if one is not prepared, for example, by the one-hour fast, one should not receive.
Betsy
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mosher
Guest
No, I understand what you mean and why you posted this. I too considered changing the language that I used in the referenced post. However, after reflection I left it as is because while reception of Holy Communion can cleanse us from venial sins (of which we should already be free from through the penitential rite) it does not remit sin which is a slight difference in effect.
Thank you . I was going to post similar corrections to yessinia’s post.
I think that it is important to note that there are times in a persons spiritual life fasting from the Holy Eucharist for a time while under Spiritual Direction can be beneficial.
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Pug
Guest
I agree and accept, that is the normative rule (exception exists, but is not relevant to this thread). There is a type of Catholic that is relevant to this thread, the type that believes receiving communion in a state of mortal sin is a good thing, and will cure the state of mortal sin. I was hypothesizing that perhaps they read CCC quotes like the one I gave as saying that you can’t receive the Eucharist without it simultaneously forgiving or removing mortal sin, so confession seems less pertinent to them, because the Eucharist will do the job in it’s place. I am not one of those people.
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