When you're late for mass are you unworthy of receiving Holy Communion?

[504Katrin]

I’m so afraid! I was late for mass today, only three minutes, but thing is that I had just confessed about this issue - which is being late for mass often - last week. I decided to line up though and ask the Priest if I was worthy to receive, and when I did, the Priest said “Don’t let it happen again”, and I received. My question is, did the Priest do the right thing, or should he better have denied communion to me?

At home I had looked at the clock and it said that it was 10 mins prior to mass all of a sudden, so I knew that I might not make it in time but should I have stayed away from mass completely because of that?

I want to add that I’ve always been late for everything all my life. I even need a job with flexible hours as I just cannot make it to arrive in time anywhere somehow. Missed a plane also once.

Thank you very much in advance,
Katrin

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Being late for Mass does not exclude you from receiving Holy Communion. But you do need to learn why you are late for everything. I suggest that you get some counseling.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.