What is my responsibility? Eucharistic question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Houro
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Houro

Guest
G’day,

I’ve watched as my family have slipped further and further away from the Church. I had a conversation with my mother the other day and she said that teachings around issues such as having to go to Mass on a Sunday or the use of contraception are all just ‘rules’ that we don’t really need to follow. My brothers don’t go to Mass unless it’s Christmas and my little sister is slipping further and further away from the Church and closer to the rest of my family.

I want to know what you think my responsibility is around the Eucharist. I ask them every week if they would like to come to Mass with me and when they do say yes, they refuse to go to confession and then receive the Eucharist anyway. My parents attend Mass almost every Sunday but they never go to Confession. Should I be telling them not to go up for Communion? I feel that if I push the issue that they won’t come at all but on the other hand I feel that God deserves more respect than this. I have no doubt that they have mortal sins on their souls and I just wonder if I should be really making sure that they don’t go up for Communion.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Patrick

I feel like this similar to Mark 6:4. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”
 
This is going to require a lot of prayer. Good thing they have you, right? Haven’t they heard of Matthew Kelly? He wrote a little book entitled “Rediscovering Catholicism” It would be a quite good read if they would set their minds to it. However, you have already told them the truth. Until and unless they accept it and act on it, you may only be driving a wedge between you and your family. As difficult as this seems, prayer and fasting are going to be the solution, since telling them the truth has failed. Advent is approaching. Perhaps an Advent fast would be appropriate? If they see you lose a little weight and ask, you may tell them the truth. Try prayer for them before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. And, be as patient with them, and with God, as He has been with you.

Christ’s peace be with you.
 
Jesus,our Lords peace be whit You.
It is a hard question. Since Your parents do atend mass,but not recieve communion they know that they are in a state of sin,mainly caused by their way to go against what the Church teaches. So they still believe,and that alone is good. Not “perfect” but good. You can do wery little,they have made up their mind to go against the Church and that is a ting You cant help. But pray for them,anyway.
I will give You a ansver,as a advice,and it is up to You if You feel You can do it. Pray to God:“Please God,let my faith be strong enough to carry my family just by my faith”. God will here that prayer,and He will make Your faith strong enough. And I will offer on Hail Mary for You.
I wish I could do moore,but theese are things only our faith can deal whit. It wont be easy,and You may fail,but as a wise man once said to my,“it is nothing wrong in failing,but for sure in not trying”.
And as my priest once said to me,“God will help” and yes,He will. If You like You can tell me later on what is going on and send my a priv.message if You like. And one thing moore,talk to Your priest.
 
Houro said:
G’day,

I’ve watched as my family have slipped further and further away from the Church. I had a conversation with my mother the other day and she said that teachings around issues such as having to go to Mass on a Sunday or the use of contraception are all just ‘rules’ that we don’t really need to follow. My brothers don’t go to Mass unless it’s Christmas and my little sister is slipping further and further away from the Church and closer to the rest of my family.

I want to know what you think my responsibility is around the Eucharist. I ask them every week if they would like to come to Mass with me and when they do say yes, they refuse to go to confession and then receive the Eucharist anyway. My parents attend Mass almost every Sunday but they never go to Confession. Should I be telling them not to go up for Communion? I feel that if I push the issue that they won’t come at all but on the other hand I feel that God deserves more respect than this. I have no doubt that they have mortal sins on their souls and I just wonder if I should be really making sure that they don’t go up for Communion.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Patrick

I feel like this similar to Mark 6:4. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”
Click to expand...
Hmmm. Difficult questions. The answer depends on a lot of things. For one, how old you are.

I don’t suppose they’d listen to your priest if you asked him to have a talk to them? Or an older, wiser and devout relative or friend who they look up to?
 
Thanks for the great replies and support po18guy, Totterman and LilyM.

LilyM, I’m 24 years old. The Priest that is in charge at our local parish seems to be a bit too ‘relaxed’ so I don’t think that would help, although he’s a really great bloke! My Father likes really short Masses and so goes to the local hospital Mass because it’s only 15mins long. The Priest there is always changing, but maybe I could find one that he likes and talk to him… That’s some good advice.

But what should I be telling my sister for example about receiving the Eucharist? Should I really make sure that she understand that going up for Communion without having been to Confession is wrong? Even if it may put her off Mass?

Blessings 🙂
 
Houro said:
Thanks for the great replies and support po18guy, Totterman and LilyM.

LilyM, I’m 24 years old. The Priest that is in charge at our local parish seems to be a bit too ‘relaxed’ so I don’t think that would help, although he’s a really great bloke! My Father likes really short Masses and so goes to the local hospital Mass because it’s only 15mins long. The Priest there is always changing, but maybe I could find one that he likes and talk to him… That’s some good advice.

But what should I be telling my sister for example about receiving the Eucharist? Should I really make sure that she understand that going up for Communion without having been to Confession is wrong? Even if it may put her off Mass?

Blessings 🙂
Click to expand...
Well, missing mass or communion is to be preferred to eating and drinking condemnation unto herself! Saint Paul had much to say about this in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11. He called for an examination of conscience before receiving. The Church teaches that one must be in a state of grace to receive. You might ask them what “state of grace” actually means. Point out those who died suddenly, with no opportunity to repent or be absolved. Ask them where they think those souls are right now.

Quite possibly, your family members do not truly believe in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist - thus, no real attachment to Him or any sense of loss away from Him. You have your work cut out for you, but it is God’s holy work you are doing. He will send you the help that you need. Ask yourself why you are the sole faithful Catholic in a family that has drifted away slowly. Purpose. That is what you are being shown. Fortunately, you already love them, so that hurdle is already overcome. My prayers are with you.

Christ’s peace.
 
There’s a great book by Patrick Madrid called “Search and Rescue” about sharing the faith with recalcitrant family members.

Otherwise, you could print out articles from Catholic.com about your mom’s specific mistaken beliefs – such as why we have an obligation to attend Sunday Mass and contraception – and present them in a non-abrasive fashion, like, “You told me X the other day but I found these articles that say Y. Could you read them and let me know what you think?”
 
Houro said:
G’day,

I’ve watched as my family have slipped further and further away from the Church. I had a conversation with my mother the other day and she said that teachings around issues such as having to go to Mass on a Sunday or the use of contraception are all just ‘rules’ that we don’t really need to follow. My brothers don’t go to Mass unless it’s Christmas and my little sister is slipping further and further away from the Church and closer to the rest of my family.

I want to know what you think my responsibility is around the Eucharist. I ask them every week if they would like to come to Mass with me and when they do say yes, they refuse to go to confession and then receive the Eucharist anyway. My parents attend Mass almost every Sunday but they never go to Confession. Should I be telling them not to go up for Communion? I feel that if I push the issue that they won’t come at all but on the other hand I feel that God deserves more respect than this. I have no doubt that they have mortal sins on their souls and I just wonder if I should be really making sure that they don’t go up for Communion.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Patrick

I feel like this similar to Mark 6:4. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”
Click to expand...
I think your responsibility as a Catholic is to celebrate Eucharist (Mass) on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
 
diggerdomer said:
I think your responsibility as a Catholic is to celebrate Eucharist (Mass) on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
Click to expand...
This seems to me to be a rather unhelpful answer. Are you saying the OP should just mind his own business about his family members’ participation (or lack thereof) in the life of the Church? You don’t even recommend that he pray for them.
 
Yeah, thanks japhy. The reply from diggerdomer was less than helpful…
 
Houro said:
Yeah, thanks japhy. The reply from diggerdomer was less than helpful…
Click to expand...
Let me address your situation. These are just my opinions on the matter, so take them with a grain of salt.
  1. It’s likely that your family members see receiving Holy Communion as a standard or typical part of “participating” at Mass. Telling them that they would have to confess their sins first would be like telling them they need to confess their sins before singing the entrance hymn or giving the Sign of Peace.
  2. You should not discount the fact that, even in a state of mortal sin, attending Mass can be a source of great – even life-changing – grace. Sinners can have conversion experiences at Mass.
  3. At the same time, you should not be too quick to invite the opportunity for a sacrilegious Communion. Once you’ve led a horse to water, just try keeping it from drinking! But their reception of Communion is beyond your power to control. You can instruct them and admonish them all you want, but unless you physically restrain them (and risk causing a potentially scandalous scene), you probably will not be able to prevent them from receiving.
  4. I think it might help to have a calm conversation with your family members – individually or as a group – to hear their justifications and to make your case.
  5. You should, of course, pray for them at every opportunity. Make their conversion your personal intention at Mass and at your reception of Communion. Make sacrifices – spiritual and material – for them.
 
Don’t nag, they will dig their heels in the dirt.
Set a great example for the family!
Offer daily sacrifice and reparation ( start the day with the morning offering)
Go to confession often as reperation for those in your family that don’t
Receive Holy Communion often ( join in the Eucharistic act of Redemption)
Pray, Pray, and don’t worry!( the last was from Saint Padre Pio)
 
japhy said:
This seems to me to be a rather unhelpful answer. Are you saying the OP should just mind his own business about his family members’ participation (or lack thereof) in the life of the Church? You don’t even recommend that he pray for them.
Click to expand...
Celebrating Eucharist includes praying for those in need. And the witness by example is incredibly powerful, as saints throughout the ages have proven.

[edited]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top