What part of mass is essential to receive communion

[Reuben_J]

I would disagree. What is the purpose of attending Mass, just to receive communion or to worship God with praise and thanksgiving? To just pop in at the end of mass and get on the communion line (unless impeded by extenuating circumstances) seems to me like treating communion like a consumer product. Even if it is not a Sunday Mass and one is in the state of Grace, I would question why a person would even do that? They want to receive Jesus, yes, but they don’t want to sit through the rest of the Mass? Personally, if I arrive late at Mass, and for me that would mean once the readings begin, I don’t go to communion. There is no law that says you have to go to communion. Sometimes sitting out provides incentive to make sure I get to Mass early and to reflect on what receiving the Eucharist really means. If it was OK to just come in at the end why not have a drive in so people can get their Jesus fix and move on to other things.

I am sorry if this sounds too harsh, but why reap the benefits without participating in the sacrifice?

Technically a person can receive Communion because here is no law to deny a baptized Catholic to receive it. But I would agree with you whole heartedly. Personally I wouldn’t if I have not participated in much of the mass. My personal guideline is I must listen to the Gospel, if I am late with very good reason, to go for Communion. I would be much happier if I don’t receive knowing that I am honoring the sacred body of the Lord when I am not in full disposition to receive it. To me Communion is only received if I fulfill my obligation. And I am not one who would just merely come for Communion. I cannot imagine walking in anytime of the mass just for Communion. I think the Communion deserved more respect than that.

I was admitted in a hospital for a surgery earlier this year and Holy Communion was administered to me by priests or Communion Ministers in a brief communion service. They made it a point not to give Communion to my relatives who were present by the bedside, meaning that they should receive it during the mass itself.

 

[maryjk]

I was admitted in a hospital for a surgery earlier this year and Holy Communion was administered to me by priests or Communion Ministers in a brief communion service. They made it a point not to give Communion to my relatives who were present by the bedside, meaning that they should receive it during the mass itself.

That is interesting.

When my mom died, the priest came to our house, specifically to give us Communion. SO, we wouldn’t have to attend Mass but could receive Communion.

I also received every time the priest came to the hospital to visit my mom (and my dad).

Most Sundays, during their illness, I also attended Mass. A couple, I didn’t. Sometimes when you are up all night with a dying parent, you just can’t attend Mass.

Now, normally, for our Sunday obligation, I taught my son that Mass starts when Father’s foot leaves the carpet and doesn’t end until he steps back on to it. If we are going to be late, we turn around and go back home and come to a different Mass. But that is our policy. It isn’t what the Church says.

 

[Reuben_J]

That is interesting.

When my mom died, the priest came to our house, specifically to give us Communion. SO, we wouldn’t have to attend Mass but could receive Communion.

I also received every time the priest came to the hospital to visit my mom (and my dad).

Most Sundays, during their illness, I also attended Mass. A couple, I didn’t. Sometimes when you are up all night with a dying parent, you just can’t attend Mass.

Now, normally, for our Sunday obligation, I taught my son that Mass starts when Father’s foot leaves the carpet and doesn’t end until he steps back on to it. If we are going to be late, we turn around and go back home and come to a different Mass. But that is our policy. It isn’t what the Church says.

Perhaps they would give the relatives if they asked. Usually in home mass, a priest would ask how many are receving Communion and people would raise up their hands. During the hospital visit the priests or the CMs did not, even though they knew my wife and daughter personally. Since they did not offer, my relatives did not ask. But I noticed that was the norm for them during the almost three weeks I was in the hospital.

Our parish has been more strict on giving communion outside of mass for a couple of years already. So it is the parish initiative. I am not too sure the reasons but I think it is to discourage abuse and to encourage parishioners to actually come for the mass. Probably they feel they may not have to come if they have recieved communion.

In any case, the number of hosts being brought out is restricted to the number of whom they meant to be with a few extra just in case. Communion outside is on request with allowance for the extra just in case and the Communion Ministers would know to whom they are going to