Why is it ok to recieve the Eucharist twice in one day?

[iumaddog627]

So, I’ve just spent the last hour searching for an answer as to why it is ok. Before you quote the Cannon Law or Catechism to me, I’ve read it all. But, why twice? If we are going to limit the number of times one can recieve the Eucharist, I would think one time would be where it is limited. And, my reasoning for this is greed. Greed is one of the 7 deadly sins, and if you are recieving more than once per day, you are taking a host that could be taken by someone else.

Why not three times? Why limit it at all? At the last supper, Jesus did not say, “do this in memory of me for a maximum of twice a day”.

I can understand the provision of being close to death. That makes sense as you want to be as close to Jesus as you can, and you cannot get any closer than taking his body into yours.

I can also understand if there were some kind of “stupidity” clause. Sometimes, we forget about a celebration later on in the day (such as attending a sacrament like Confirmation) and you go to Mass in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, you “forget” that you already have taken communion at morning mass. But, if you remember that you have already taken communion in the morning, you always have the option of just staying in your seat and not getting up to take the Eucharist again.

I know I’m all over the map on the numbers I’m suggesting. I’m trying to figure this reasoning out and have shared just about everything that have thought of on the subject.

By the way, I teach CCD at my church, and I always get this question every year, and I am sick of giving standard answer of…“that is what the church teaches.” I want to be able to adequately answer their question.

 

[TomD123]

I think that the reason the Church limits the amount one can receive the Eucharist in one day is because they do not want scrupulous people trying to receive it like ten times or something. If people were receiving Communion too many times a day, they would not only be reinforcing their scrupulosity, but they would be not taking time to do other important activities in life.

 

[Belloc_Fan]

The Eucharist is the fulfillment of the manna, which according to Exodus 16 was to be a daily bread. If you kept it until the next day, yours rotted – except on the eve of the Sabbath, where you could collect a double portion. And it was collected once (in the morning) for the entire day.

Christ makes pretty clear in the Lord’s Prayer that He, the Bread come down from Heaven, is now our Daily Bread. The term which Jerome translated into “Daily Bread” he translated in the parallel Gospel account as “Supersubstantial Bread,” making it clear that this was the Eucharist. So the normal max is once per day. except on Saturdays when you can receive a double portion (in morning for Saturday Mass, and in the evening for Sunday Vigil).

But the Church allows you to receive twice, because (as I understand it) there’s just so many occassions on which that would be prudential: you forgot in the morning; you received it in the morning in your hospital bed, but would like to go to Mass proper now that you’re healed; you received it originally at a non-Mass Eucharistic celebration, but have the opportunity to attend Mass now; the first Mass was potentially defective, and you would like to ensure that you receive valid Eucharist; and so on.

As I understand it, the double-portion being allowed every day is to draw you ever closer to God. So if you’ve taken the Eucharist, but not at Mass, it’s encouraged to take it again - at Mass this time! And so on.

Make any sense?

 

[japhy]

The original reason why people were permitted to receive Communion twice in one day was because there were certain days on the calendar which had two distinct liturgical celebrations on them (such as the Chrism Mass* and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, both of which are held on Holy Thursday, the first in the morning, the second in the evening).

The specific permission was generalized so that you could receive twice on any day.

• The Chrism Mass doesn’t have to be on Holy Thursday morning, but that is its customary location.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I don’t know why it’s OK but I’m really glad it is. Sometimes 24 hours just seems so long. Waiting until the next day (even when making many spiritual communions during the day) to receiving Him again is sometimes hard. I’m happy when there’s a late afternoon mass, even if I’ve received Him that morning. Maybe it’s just a phase I’m going through. But I hope not.

 

[choy]

i’ve read that one of the reasons a limit was places was that some people sometimes turn the Eucharist into a superstition and thinks that receiving it would give them some sort of power or protection and thus would try to receive as much as they can in a day

but limiting the times of receiving the Eucharist, we are reminded of its true meaning and purpose

 

[TheRealJuliane]

OK, I’m resurrecting this thread because we went to a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass that bordered on illicit. It was at least irreverent, and left a terrible ache inside all of us. The priest was applauded after the homily. The music was modern and distracting. Of course at this parish we have always done the hand-holding during the Our Father, which is getting on my nerves more and more every time I do it. The whole thing was a PERFORMANCE not a Holy Mass!!!

We have a chance to go to a reverent Mass at 11 p.m. and I am so grateful that we can attend AND receive the Eucharist again…

 

[thistle]

OK, I’m resurrecting this thread because we went to a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass that bordered on illicit. It was at least irreverent, and left a terrible ache inside all of us. The priest was applauded after the homily. The music was modern and distracting. Of course at this parish we have always done the hand-holding during the Our Father, which is getting on my nerves more and more every time I do it. The whole thing was a PERFORMANCE not a Holy Mass!!!

We have a chance to go to a reverent Mass at 11 p.m. and I am so grateful that we can attend AND receive the Eucharist again…

Sorry but what qualifications do you have to say the Mass you attended was illicit or irreverent?? Sounds like your emotions kicking in.
By the way if holding hands gets on your nerves every time you do it then why do you do it. You are not obliged to!!