When can an Eastern Catholic take communion?

[carefullytread]

My understanding is that in Eastern Catholicism there is not the clear distinction between venial and mortal sins, even if there is a sense of increasing gravity.

Consequently, I’m curious, how does an Eastern Catholic decide if they are worthy to receive the Eucharist or whether they need to see their Confessor first?

Even for a Latin Rite Catholic, you might be in doubt, but at least you can find lists of sins that are grave, talk to your priest about which of your usual problems concern grave matter, etc. I think you usually have a pretty good idea of whether you are in a state of grace.

What about for Eastern Catholics?

 

[babochka]

My understanding is that in Eastern Catholicism there is not the clear distinction between venial and mortal sins, even if there is a sense of increasing gravity.

Consequently, I’m curious, how does an Eastern Catholic decide if they are worthy to receive the Eucharist or whether they need to see their Confessor first?

Even for a Latin Rite Catholic, you might be in doubt, but at least you can find lists of sins that are grave, talk to your priest about which of your usual problems concern grave matter, etc. I think you usually have a pretty good idea of whether you are in a state of grace.

What about for Eastern Catholics?

In practice, it works pretty much the same. Some things one just knows are serious and it would not be right to approach for Communion. Sometimes, there might be doubt and it is better to take a conservative approach and consult with one’s confessor.

 

[Catholic4Christ]

I have heard, and I hope someone will explain or correct me, that in some Eastern Churches it is a very common custom to prepare for Sunday communion by participating in confession and vespers every Saturday. Is this as common as I’ve been led to believe?

 

[Vico]

I have heard, and I hope someone will explain or correct me, that in some Eastern Churches it is a very common custom to prepare for Sunday communion by participating in confession and vespers every Saturday. Is this as common as I’ve been led to believe?

Our parish does not have vespers on Saturday but instead the Divine Liturgy.

 

[Vico]

My understanding is that in Eastern Catholicism there is not the clear distinction between venial and mortal sins, even if there is a sense of increasing gravity.

Consequently, I’m curious, how does an Eastern Catholic decide if they are worthy to receive the Eucharist or whether they need to see their Confessor first?

Even for a Latin Rite Catholic, you might be in doubt, but at least you can find lists of sins that are grave, talk to your priest about which of your usual problems concern grave matter, etc. I think you usually have a pretty good idea of whether you are in a state of grace.

What about for Eastern Catholics?

The Sacraments (Holy Mysteries) are the same. In the eastern canon law they are called serious sins and grave sins. CCEO canon law:

Canon 719
Anyone who is aware of serious sin is to receive the sacrament of penance as soon as possible; it is strongly recommended to all the Christian faithful that they receive this sacrament frequently especially during the times of fasts and penance observed in their own Church sui iuris.

Canon 720

1. Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the ordinary way by which the Christian faithful who is aware of a serious sin is reconciled with God and the Church; only physical or moral impossibility excuses one from confession of this type, in which case reconciliation can take place in other ways.
   …

Canon 721

1. For a member of the Christian faithful to enjoy the sacramental absolution given to many at the same time, it is required not only that the person be properly disposed, but also at the same time intend in due time to confess individually the grave sins which at the present time cannot be confessed.
   …

 

[Catholic4Christ]

Our parish does not have vespers on Saturday but instead the Divine Liturgy.

Interesting. Is this a long-standing practice? In the Roman Rite, Saturday evening Masses (or really common evening Masses at all) are a newish thing (broadly speaking).

 

[Vico]

Interesting. Is this a long-standing practice? In the Roman Rite, Saturday evening Masses (or really common evening Masses at all) are a newish thing (broadly speaking).

Pope Pius XII, 1953 for the Latin Church. The practice of vespers on Saturday evening was not a common practice in the Byzantine Catholic Church in the USA in the late twentieth century. It was more common in Europe however. In their 1996 Instruction, the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, in Rome, called for restoration of vespers “without delay”.