Unworthy

[Holland]

Is is OK not to receive Communion if you feel unworthy? I find if I do a good examination of conscience and don’t get a chance to go to Confession I really feel unworthy of Communion.

 

[dulcissima]

If you do a good examination of your conscience and have mortal sins that need to be confessed, then yes, you should not receive communion until after you have made your confession. However, if there are just venial sins or a vague feeling of unworthiness, then you should still receive communion. Afterall, none of us is actually worthy.

 

[puzzleannie]

we should feel unworthy, none of us is worthy that is why we pray, Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. This prayer and the Eucharist itself take away all venial sin. If you are conscious of mortal sin by all means go to confession first, or stay away from communion until you confess. But do not confuse a general feeling of unworthiness with a conviction of mortal sin unless you actually know you committed such a sin. To refuse to receive communion without a good reason, just because of a sense of unworthiness, is to reject the healing power of the Eucharist and to reject the gift itself, and can even result from a mistaken “pride” in the extent of one’s “unworthiness”, a false humility.

 

[applepie]

Holland:

Is is OK not to receive Communion if you feel unworthy? I find if I do a good examination of conscience and don’t get a chance to go to Confession I really feel unworthy of Communion.

I read once that at the moment of death, the number of masses and communions that we received during our lifetime will be our greatest consolation. Knowing this, and knowing the light that comes into our souls when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, I imagine that Satan tries to persuade us not to receive, thereby losing some of the grace that we could otherwise have received.

I definitely think it’s better to receive Communion, unless of course we have mortal sin on our soul.

 

[mosher]

Do not receive only if you are sure that you are in Mortal Sin. Don’t give Satan the opportunity to allow scrupulosity to get in the way of yoru relationship with Christ.

 

[ncjohn]

mosher:

Do not receive only if you are sure that you are in Mortal Sin. Don’t give Satan the opportunity to allow scrupulosity to get in the way of yoru relationship with Christ.

Exactly.

One of the greatest tricks of the devil is to undermine our feeling of being loved by God. Playing on our natural feeling of unworthiness is an easy way to accomplish that.

Peace be with you! Be not afraid.