Why should you not receive the eucharist if you have sinned?

[TheRealJuliane]

This is an excellent analogy… thank you for sharing it.

I’m a convert so there’s still a LOT for me to learn…

If Jesus came to visit, and you had been working out in the garden and were filthy, would you take a shower before going to spend time with the Lord? Or would you simply walk in, with manure all over you, and present yourself to your Savior as is?

 

[phil_alton]

The way I’ve always thought of it is like this:

Part of what sin is about rejecting God’s grace (if we were completely open to the fullness of God’s grace, and always, then we would never sin! Not even venialy!) - and mortal sin, is a complete and utter rejection of all of God’s grace, for all eternity. It is a free choice, and a choice made with full knowledge.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of all grace. Therefore, when if we receive communion in a state of rejection of God’s grace, then we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, only to reject i! - and this is Sin in its own right.

Perhaps this analogy might work: let’s say, I’m completely dependent, financially, on a friend of mine. One day, I say “Friend, I no longer want your money, any more.”, well, my friend turns to me and says:

“Are you sure? Okay - well, I’m not going to make you take my money, but I want you to know that I’ll be here when you need me! Just go to the bank, and set up that standing order again”

So, because I don’t want any money ever again from him, I close my bank account. A few days later, I’m at my friends house, and I see a cheque written out to me, to be paid into my now closed account. So, I take the cheque (receive communion), and cash it in… into a closed account! So the money is wasted, I need to open the account again before I can put any money into it! (i.e Go to Confession)

This might help shed some light too: the sacraments of Matrimony, Holy Orders and Confirmation do not become efficacious whilst received in a state of mortal sin - you don’t experience any of the graces given in these sacraments until you have gone to confession. But when you do go, all the graces are restored to you. It’s like your benefactor has purchased a house for you, and transferred the deeds into your name. All that is needed is for you to sign the deeds (go to confession!), and the house becomes yours.

If you then fall into mortal sin, then it’s like you abandon the house and leave. Going to confession moves you back into the house though!

Anyhow, hope this is of some help!

 

[MarjannaS]

Alright, so let’s be honest… how many people out there are taking communion that shouldn’t be? We’re all sinners, we hear that all the time. 99% of people that are going up for communion probably need to be crossing their arms and taking a blessing, not taking the Eucharist.

I used to all the time, though I guess I didn’t fully understand the Church’s teaching on this concept. Now, I go up and cross my arms to receive a blessing, unless I’ve attended mass just after confession.

Be honest, how often do you take the Eucharist when you’re not supposed to?

Excuse me, but have you forgotten the rules? Taking Communion while in a state of sin is a sin. By STATE OF SIN is meant a state of MORTAL sin. We are all guilty of venial sins, and they will not prevent our taking Communion and benefitting from God’s grace to avoid those venial sins in the future. The Old Baltimore Catechism (the precursor to the CCC) taught that the sacraments (all of 'em) were outward signs, instituted by Christ, to give grace. To gain the efficacious gifts of God, the recipient is to be in the state of grace - meaning, no mortal sin. The exceptions are of course, baptism and penance, which clears the slate, as it were, making the soul more receptive to the grace of God. If you are not receiving communion because you are a sinner (venial only) (what, 99% of the time?), you’re missing the greatest beneficence which Christ has given us to gain closeness to Him. Venial sin should NEVER keep you from Communion. Mortal sin must ALWAYS keep you from the Eucharist UNTIL you clean the soul through penance (or, confession, or reconciliation. Whatever)
I suggest you go back to the catechism and re-read the beliefs we share, in this one Mystical Body of Christ.
I will pray for you, for an increase of faith, hope and charity, and for understanding of what is meant by repentance. To ignore God’s Rule is insulting to Him. We can offend Him in so many thoughtless ways, we must be very careful to be faithful in the major issues.

 

[smorin1487]

Excuse me, but have you forgotten the rules? Taking Communion while in a state of sin is a sin. By STATE OF SIN is meant a state of MORTAL sin. We are all guilty of venial sins, and they will not prevent our taking Communion and benefitting from God’s grace to avoid those venial sins in the future. The Old Baltimore Catechism (the precursor to the CCC) taught that the sacraments (all of 'em) were outward signs, instituted by Christ, to give grace. To gain the efficacious gifts of God, the recipient is to be in the state of grace - meaning, no mortal sin. The exceptions are of course, baptism and penance, which clears the slate, as it were, making the soul more receptive to the grace of God. If you are not receiving communion because you are a sinner (venial only) (what, 99% of the time?), you’re missing the greatest beneficence which Christ has given us to gain closeness to Him. Venial sin should NEVER keep you from Communion. Mortal sin must ALWAYS keep you from the Eucharist UNTIL you clean the soul through penance (or, confession, or reconciliation. Whatever)
I suggest you go back to the catechism and re-read the beliefs we share, in this one Mystical Body of Christ.
I will pray for you, for an increase of faith, hope and charity, and for understanding of what is meant by repentance. To ignore God’s Rule is insulting to Him. We can offend Him in so many thoughtless ways, we must be very careful to be faithful in the major issues.

I am scratching my head at reading your post. I guess I wasn’t clear in my post. I was genuinely asking how often we all, myself included, as Catholics, receive the Eucharist when we shouldn’t. Because I’d wager 99% of every Catholic I know and every Catholic I see in my parish does this. I am asking because I do think it’s a problem, a problem that I will no longer be experiencing now that I’m educated on the subject, and I seek to educate more parishioners. I personally, from now on, will go up with arms crossed to receive a blessing if I haven’t had a chance to get to confession before Mass.

Here, on these forums, I hope to be able to ask this question openly. Honestly, is this something you do or people around you do, and why isn’t the Church speaking to this more often?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Excuse me, but have you forgotten the rules? Taking Communion while in a state of sin is a sin. By STATE OF SIN is meant a state of MORTAL sin. We are all guilty of venial sins, and they will not prevent our taking Communion and benefitting from God’s grace to avoid those venial sins in the future. The Old Baltimore Catechism (the precursor to the CCC) taught that the sacraments (all of 'em) were outward signs, instituted by Christ, to give grace. To gain the efficacious gifts of God, the recipient is to be in the state of grace - meaning, no mortal sin. The exceptions are of course, baptism and penance, which clears the slate, as it were, making the soul more receptive to the grace of God. If you are not receiving communion because you are a sinner (venial only) (what, 99% of the time?), you’re missing the greatest beneficence which Christ has given us to gain closeness to Him. Venial sin should NEVER keep you from Communion. Mortal sin must ALWAYS keep you from the Eucharist UNTIL you clean the soul through penance (or, confession, or reconciliation. Whatever)
I suggest you go back to the catechism and re-read the beliefs we share, in this one Mystical Body of Christ.
I will pray for you, for an increase of faith, hope and charity, and for understanding of what is meant by repentance. To ignore God’s Rule is insulting to Him. We can offend Him in so many thoughtless ways, we must be very careful to be faithful in the major issues.

I was 10 when my mother passed away. That was the end of my catechesis, and what was left of our family fell away from the Church. I finally returned when I was 34. In the years between, I had never heard that I should not receive Christ because I had spent over 20 years in mortal sin. Of course, I only multiplied that sin by receiving Christ, but I honestly did not know. Now, if I am in mortal sin, I do not receive, and I have confessed my previous reception of Christ.

I think there are a lot of people like me, or like my husband, who doesn’t really believe, but fakes it for our sons, and who takes the Eucharist every week. He thinks there aren’t any mortal sins except murder and serious theft. I pray for him, but he makes his own decisions about what he will do. Maybe he’ll stop receiving now that the boys won’t be around all the time.

There’s no need to get so high and mighty about it. We KNOW it’s a mortal sin, or we do now. Some might not know, might not understand, or might not believe it is. That’s the problem with 40 years of terrible catechesis. It shows up in reverence for Christ.

 

[ProVobis]

He thinks there aren’t any mortal sins except murder and serious theft.

That seems to be the problem. Not everyone sees mortal sin, or what exactly makes one sin mortal and another venial, the same way. And even if they steal money or gossip, it takes more than sorrow or communion to wipe away the effects of sin. There is still the matter of restitution. Sometimes the priest reminds you of it in confession.

And it’s not all about mortal sin either. Bishops ask certain individuals to refrain from receiving communion because of the scandal that might be created. You don’t normally hear the words “mortal sin” from a bishop.

 

[ConstantineTG]

my brother, you cannot receive the eucharist when you are sin, cause there is no way Christ will reign or take a place in your life cause you are swimming in sin

Perhaps you can clarify this better, because the way you said it gives me the impression that Christ cannot defeat sin. That is not true if that is the case.

 

[mayb]

Alright, so let’s be honest… how many people out there are taking communion that shouldn’t be? We’re all sinners, we hear that all the time. 99% of people that are going up for communion probably need to be crossing their arms and taking a blessing, not taking the Eucharist.

I used to all the time, though I guess I didn’t fully understand the Church’s teaching on this concept. Now, I go up and cross my arms to receive a blessing, unless I’ve attended mass just after confession.

Be honest, how often do you take the Eucharist when you’re not supposed to?

…yes this is unfortunate. but then the Eucharist becomes a form of judgement, and you are held accountable. per the Lord.

 

[mgoforth]

I was genuinely asking how often we all, myself included, as Catholics, receive the Eucharist when we shouldn’t. Because I’d wager 99% of every Catholic I know and every Catholic I see in my parish does this.

Just going by what we all know about human nature, there are probably some people who do receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin…either knowingly or not. But really you can’t say what the percentage is. And I would hope it’s not 99% Only the individual in question knows for sure whether they’re in mortal sin or not.

I can tell you that I’ve done this in the past …before I really knew the Faith and knew the seriousness of what I was doing. But I would never receive in the state of mortal sin now. I will say, there aren’t many people in my parish who remain in their seats or cross their arms for a blessing, but I can’t just assume that some of them are in mortal sin. We should pray that everyone who chooses to receive has fully examined their conscience and knows what they’re doing, but then let’s try to be charitable and give them the benefit of the doubt.

I am asking because I do think it’s a problem, a problem that I will no longer be experiencing now that I’m educated on the subject, and I seek to educate more parishioners.

This is good. Once we realize the seriousness of this sin, or any other sin - especially if we’ve committed it ourselves in the past - it’s important to encourage our brothers and sisters to avoid it too.

I personally, from now on, will go up with arms crossed to receive a blessing if I haven’t had a chance to get to confession before Mass.

To clarify, you mean “if I’m in a state of mortal sin”, right? If you only have venial sins on your conscience, then you absolutely should NOT wait to receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist itself will forgive venial sins and strengthen you to avoid them in the future.

Honestly, is this something you do or people around you do, and why isn’t the Church speaking to this more often?

My pastor has spoken to this in the past - many times actually. Usually before Christmas and Easter he makes an “observation” in his homily that the lines for Confession haven’t been longer than normal, so logically the line for the Eucharist at Christmas or Easter Mass shouldn’t be longer than normal either. He “knows” in a general sense that people are abusing the Body of Christ.

But back to my first point, even the priest shouldn’t deny someone the Eucharist without a VERY good reason. He might suspect mortal sin or have an idea that some people coming forward aren’t in a state of grace, but he really can’t know for sure in most cases.

 

[mgoforth]

Perhaps you can clarify this better, because the way you said it gives me the impression that Christ cannot defeat sin. That is not true if that is the case.

I would guess that he/she meant mortal sin. We are allowed and encouraged to receive in the state of venial sin, but MUST NOT in the state of mortal sin.

 

[andyp1948]

Please consider my experience. In the confessional after confessing sin of impure thought, word and deed (you men will know what I mean) different roman catholic priest have told me I am making too big a deal about it based on my particular circumstances. Well it’ hard to change your mindset at 64 so it still seemed wrong. So after performing these act I receive holy communion daily. Again different priests have assured me that the benefit of the sacrament is helpful. The body is weak, but my love of god is great. My hope is that, in his mercy God will be just.

 

[smorin1487]

Please consider my experience. In the confessional after confessing sin of impure thought, word and deed (you men will know what I mean) different roman catholic priest have told me I am making too big a deal about it based on my particular circumstances. Well it’ hard to change your mindset at 64 so it still seemed wrong. So after performing these act I receive holy communion daily. Again different priests have assured me that the benefit of the sacrament is helpful. The body is weak, but my love of god is great. My hope is that, in his mercy God will be just.

I think what the priest would be saying is just having a sexual urge or thought enter your mind is not a sin. It’s evolutionary and part of our make up to think those things. As soon as you realize it’s in your mind, you need to stop dwelling on it and move on.

Mortal sin needs Grave Matter (the “sin” part we all think of), Full knowledge of the sin taking place, and full consent to committing the Grave Matter.

So for people that take the Eucharist without actually knowing you’re not supposed to before confession, that wouldn’t be Mortal Sin, because they didn’t know.