When are we allowed to have Communion

[marymary1975]

I had a conversation a few days ago with a church friend that left me a little confused over when catholics are allowed to have the Holy Communion and I would like someone to clarify this issue for me.

As a little background, I grew up abroad. In my country practicing catholics are an overwhelming majority in the country. Since I came to the United States I noted that priests and churches in my country are a little more stricter, i.e. many churches won’t allow you to go into the church if you are not properly dressed but I thought that mostly that was the extent of it. Now, since I came here I, also, noticed that during mass every single person present in the church goes to communion. I didn’t think too much of it but it called my attention because priests in my country have very strict rules with regard to Communion: we are thought that you can’t have Communion if you have eaten within two hours before Communion, you can’t have it if you skip mass, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed yourself in over a month, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed certain sins, etc. Also, which was the part that called my attention in the churches in the United States, in my country you can’t have it if you are not properly dressed but I just thought on the dressing matter that may be just because they give a little more leeway here with the dressing.

A couple of weeks ago, I didn’t go to Communion because I skipped the previous Sunday mass. When we got out my friend pointed out at me that why I was the only person in the church that didn’t go to Communion to which I responded that you can’t have Communion if you have skipped mass. She said that I was wrong and that you have to have it regardless of anything. I was pretty shocked and explained to her what I just have said and she insisted that I am wrong. According to her, you always have to go to Communion regardless if have confessed yourself or not, explaining why everybody at the church in the United States goes to Communion (in Latin America, many people would not go to Communion because we are hevily thought that if you do it and you are not free from sins it is a mortal sin, so people are very careful not to go to Communion down there if they are not sure).

Ever since I’ve spoken to a few people. People raised in Latin America have a similar concept to mine while most Americans have the view that you have to go to Holy Communion every Sunday, no matter what you are wearing, if you confessed yourself or not, or despite if you skipped mass. Now I am completely confussed in the subject. Am I wrong? Am I in sin if I don’t go to Communion every Sunday? Help! If anybody is knowleadgeable on this issue I need clarification.

Mary

 

[Richard320]

You are right.

The others are just ignorant.

 

[sw85]

No, you are not required to receive communion. In fact you are required to refrain from receiving communion if you cannot do so worthily.

The circumstances under which you may licitly receive communion include sacramental preparation (baptism and first communion), freedom from mortal sin (including the unhealthy attachments which produce them, i.e., cohabitation, homosexual relationships, etc.), observation of the Eucharistic fast, and communion with the Church in all its dogmatic and doctrinal teachings (i.e., at least assent of the will – doubts are OK, dissent isn’t). There may be more that I’m missing.

 

[domandcarols]

No, you’re right. You have to be in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion worthily.

 

[Leegal]

I had a conversation a few days ago with a church friend that left me a little confused over when catholics are allowed to have the Holy Communion and I would like someone to clarify this issue for me.

As a little background, I grew up abroad. In my country practicing catholics are an overwhelming majority in the country. Since I came to the United States I noted that priests and churches in my country are a little more stricter, i.e. many churches won’t allow you to go into the church if you are not properly dressed but I thought that mostly that was the extent of it. Now, since I came here I, also, noticed that during mass every single person present in the church goes to communion. I didn’t think too much of it but it called my attention because priests in my country have very strict rules with regard to Communion: we are thought that you can’t have Communion if you have eaten within two hours before Communion, you can’t have it if you skip mass, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed yourself in over a month, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed certain sins, etc. Also, which was the part that called my attention in the churches in the United States, in my countr y you can’t have it if you are not properly dressed but I just thought on the dressing matter that may be just because they give a little more leeway here with the dressing.

A couple of weeks ago, I didn’t go to Communion because I skipped the previous Sunday mass. When we got out my friend pointed out at me that why I was the only person in the church that didn’t go to Communion to which I responded that you can’t have Communion if you have skipped mass. She said that I was wrong and that you have to have it regardless of anything. I was pretty shocked and explained to her what I just have said and she insisted that I am wrong. According to her, you always have to go to Communion regardless if have confessed yourself or not, explaining why everybody at the church in the United States goes to Communion (in Latin America, many people would not go to Communion because we are hevily thought that if you do it and you are not free from sins it is a mortal sin, so people are very careful not to go to Communion down there if they are not sure).

Ever since I’ve spoken to a few people. People raised in Latin America have a similar concept to mine while most Americans have the view that you have to go to Holy Communion every Sunday, no matter what you are wearing, if you confessed yourself or not, or despite if you skipped mass. Now I am completely confussed in the subject. Am I wrong? Am I in sin if I don’t go to Communion every Sunday? Help! If anybody is knowleadgeable on this issue I need clarification.

Mary

You really cannot judge others. I have a dispensation from Mass due to illness and an injury to my leg, but attend as I can. That is the priest’s instruction. I can also go to Mass if I’m feeling better on a weekday or can make it. A spirtual director suggested that I substitute when I am ill.

You don’t know the state of others souls, what conversations they have had with their priests. Further, it’s impossible to attend confession at my Church due to the limited hours and only one priest. I normally confess at a Church with more hours. Those in my parish don’t know where I go to confession – I know that I go and that’s important, not whether someone at the Church did not see me at confession there. I also sometimes have to attend Mass at my mother’s Church if I am staying over there.

I do agree that some do not dress appropriately in Church, especially in tourist and beach areas.

Fasting is one hour before Mass. We recommend frequent confession, but we have no one month rule that you cannot receive communion if you have not confessed for one month – which as I previously said, you can’t know where they go to confession.

You friend is wrong though – you should not receive if you intentionally missed Mass. You know why you did not attend - but you cannot judge the state of others’s souls, only your own.

 

[thewanderer]

…

we are thought that you can’t have Communion if you have eaten within two hours before Communion, you can’t have it if you skip mass, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed yourself in over a month, you can’t have it if you haven’t confessed certain sins, etc. Also, which was the part that called my attention in the churches in the United States, in my country you can’t have it if you are not properly dressed but I just thought on the dressing matter that may be just because they give a little more leeway here with the dressing.

…

As others have said, you are correct that you cannot just receive the Eucharist unless you are worthily prepared, I have a few questions about all of the restrictions that you have placed upon the reception of the Eucharist. So far as I understand it, I believe the fasting time before Communion is only 1 hour. Also, Confession is only required once a year, although it is, of course, very important to go more frequently, it is not a mortal sin if one does not go to confession every month. Also, if you missed Mass intentionally the previous Sunday without a dispensation, you can still receive communion the next Sunday as long as you have confessed your sin.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

We shouldn’t make assumptions about other people and whether or not they are fit to go - unless it’s completely obvious to us somehow, in which case we should charitably explain this to them, but…

The things you heard are wrong, as the others noted!

One cannot go to communion if one has an unabsolved (in sacramental confession) serious/mortal sin on their soul, and missing mass on Sunday without a serious reason is an objective mortal sin.

Also, one is obliged not to eat or drink anything except medicine or water one hour prior to receiving communion.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

The state of catechesis in the United States is deplorable. And has been for years. People think one can do just about anything and still be worthy of receiving Christ’s Body and Blood. It is a lot of bad influences in our society and in the Church itself that has allowed this abuse to continue. I won’t go into all of that now.

You are right, and your friend is terribly wrong. At least about receiving in a condition of mortal sin.

Of course it is a grave matter to miss Mass. It may not be a mortal sin in all cases, however.

Some parishes are more casual about dress than others. I attend one parish where pretty much anything goes, except stark naked. The priest does not believe in a dress code. The other parish I attend is MUCH more formal and the priest has mentioned dress from the pulpit, as in, “We are getting too casual with coming to God’s house!” I am sure he would never turn anyone away from the Eucharist, unless perhaps the person was wearing a Satanic t-shirt or whatever extreme case.

At that parish, people who are not in a condition to receive do stay in the pew, but at the more casual parish, I notice there are very few who stay in the pew. I guess it’s sort of an atmosphere of, “Good Enough” Catholicism. And, there are Catholics who believe that the Host and Wine are not transformed and that it’s just symbolism.



In early January, I happened to be in Paris and we attended Mass at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I was unconfessed and so I did not receive. Of course I would have loved to receive Holy Communion at the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral! But I could not, as to do so would have been desecration of the Lord’s Body and Blood.

(I had gone to Mass at Lourdes the previous week, so I wasn’t too deprived. )