Two eucharists in a day?

[MissMichal]

Hi there,

My husband and I are interested in learning to speak Spanish, so we have an idea to attend our parish’s Spanish Mass and to interact with some of the Spanish-speaking parishoners. I would also like to attend Mass in English, though, so I can hear the homily, etc. This would put us at two Masses on Sunday–should I receive at both?

Thx,
-S-

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Yes. you may receive twice in one day, so long as you do so at two different masses.

 

[andrewagill]

The 1983 Code of Canon Law states

Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 921, §2.

(Canon 921 Section 2 refers to viaticum)

Here’s a synopsis from EWTN.com. Essentially, it was originally supposed to be a relaxing of the rule for people who attend funeral masses or other extraordinary masses.

The recommendation made here is good:

However, it does reflect the thinking of the Church that a virtuous person might strive for daily reception of Holy Communion, but that striving for twice daily reception goes beyond balanced virtue. It might be more suitable for a person to do works of charity, penance, pray the rosary, etc.

I think you might not want to make a practice of mass twice, but if you do, it seems in my layman’s opinion that you should receive communion in both.

 

[jackie_gaspard]

.

Yes you may. There are many Catholic web sites that you can visit for details on this and the Church’s teachings. just type in the question "Can I receive Ho;y Communion more than once a day?’
Regards
Jackie

 

[marleelynn]

Someone already posted my answer - yes one can receive Holy Communion twice in the same day if they are different masses (ex. Saturday morning mass and Saturday evening for Sunday, a wedding or funeral and Saturday evening mass etc)

 

[Sr_Sally]

I love the idea of going to the Spanish Mass. What a great way to become more comfortable with the language!

Remember that even though you go to two entire Masses, you do not have to receive communion both times. You certainly may, but you must be properly disposed both times. If for some reason you are not able to complete the fast before the second Mass, than you wouldn’t recieve. If you feel that it is too presumptious to recive twice each Sunday, than say an act of Spiritual Communion during the 2nd Mass.

You are likely to find that fewer people receive during the Spanish Mass. In some parts of Latin America there is still a stronger sense that we are not worthy to receive every week and some will only receive directly after they have been to confession or even only once a year.

 

[MissMichal]

You are likely to find that fewer people receive during the Spanish Mass. In some parts of Latin America there is still a stronger sense that we are not worthy to receive every week and some will only receive directly after they have been to confession or even only once a year.

Wow, that’s interesting. I can’t wait to go. I’m thinking that I might go to Mass in English on Saturday evening and then Spanish on Sunday. And there’s the properly disposed bit–I won’t be receiving at all until our marriage is convalidated, but since learning a language (and hopefully making friends) is a long-term thing, I expect that we’ll be doing this with some regularity. And then I guess it’s still possible to go out and commit some mortal sin between 8:00 and 11:00 Mass, though I think you might really have to try

 

[Sr_Sally]

Wow, that’s interesting. I can’t wait to go. I’m thinking that I might go to Mass in English on Saturday evening and then Spanish on Sunday. And there’s the properly disposed bit–I won’t be receiving at all until our marriage is convalidated, but since learning a language (and hopefully making friends) is a long-term thing, I expect that we’ll be doing this with some regularity. And then I guess it’s still possible to go out and commit some mortal sin between 8:00 and 11:00 Mass, though I think you might really have to try

Yes, I hope you’d have to try hard to commit a mortal sin in that timeframe! I was thinking more about not being able to keep the fast if you went to the 2nd Mass at say 1pm and had just had lunch.

 

[Phemie]

Someone already posted my answer - yes one can receive Holy Communion twice in the same day if they are different masses (ex. Saturday morning mass and Saturday evening for Sunday, a wedding or funeral and Saturday evening mass etc)

No, they don’t have to be different Masses, they can be back to back Sunday Masses as long as the second time is at Mass.

For example, you can receive at a Communion service or at someone’s hospital bedside (as I did once at my Dad’s bedside) and then again at a Mass. You can’t do it in the other order: Mass then Communion service or at the bedside.

 

[MissMichal]

Yes, I hope you’d have to try hard to commit a mortal sin in that timeframe! I was thinking more about not being able to keep the fast if you went to the 2nd Mass at say 1pm and had just had lunch.

Haha, yeah, I guess that’s true. I’m thinking “hey, there’s a bar around the corner, I’m sure there’s a suitable sin to be had there!” But you would have to be careful to keep the fast.