Addiction and Communion

sodaboy · Jul 8, 2019

Hi all,

My first post here was regarding getting into the Catholic Church. Since then, my wife and I have completed RCIA, and we just have some loose ends to tie up before we can be confirmed (a marriage annulment on her part, and a baptism certificate from a previous church on my part).

Other than these things, I also have 2 bad habits I'm struggling with: addiction to vaping (nicotine) and to kratom.

If you're unaware of what the second substance is, you're probably not alone, as it is still fairly unknown. It's a plant, primarily grown in Indonesia, which mimics a mild opiate when made into tea and ingested. I began using this substance as a safer alternative to methadone, in order to kick a pill habit I used to have, and it worked. However, it is also quite addictive (albeit less dangerous, and not nearly as much an interference in work and life), and I have not yet been able to quit use of it.

My question is, until I am able to quit, should I postpone reception of my first communion? Does this, and/or the nicotine, constitute a mortal sin, which would make it wrong for me to receive the Host, as long as I am still wrestling with it? I do plan on asking my priest, but I thought I'd hear your thoughts on it as well.

Thanks, and God bless

Monk Brendan · Jul 8, 2019

sodaboy said:
Hi all,

My first post here was regarding getting into the Catholic Church. Since then, my wife and I have completed RCIA, and we just have some loose ends to tie up before we can be confirmed (a marriage annulment on her part, and a baptism certificate from a previous church on my part).

Other than these things, I also have 2 bad habits I'm struggling with: addiction to vaping (nicotine) and to kratom.

If you're unaware of what the second substance is, you're probably not alone, as it is still fairly unknown. It's a plant, primarily grown in Indonesia, which mimics a mild opiate when made into tea and ingested. I began using this substance as a safer alternative to methadone, in order to kick a pill habit I used to have, and it worked. However, it is also quite addictive (albeit less dangerous, and not nearly as much an interference in work and life), and I have not yet been able to quit use of it.

My question is, until I am able to quit, should I postpone reception of my first communion? Does this, and/or the nicotine, constitute a mortal sin, which would make it wrong for me to receive the Host, as long as I am still wrestling with it? I do plan on asking my priest, but I thought I'd hear your thoughts on it as well.

Thanks, and God bless

Just how can we overcome our sins and weaknesses without the Body and Blood of Christ?

Have you discussed this issue with your pastor?

Michie · Jul 8, 2019

You really should discuss your concerns with your priest sodaboy. None of us are qualified to answer this question except your priest.

zippy2006 · Jul 8, 2019

sodaboy said:
Does this, and/or the nicotine, constitute a mortal sin, which would make it wrong for me to receive the Host, as long as I am still wrestling with it?

No, I don't think it is a mortal sin from what you've told us. I don't think grave matter is even present, but beyond that true addictions mitigate freedom and culpability. It is likely that these are venial sins that you need to continue to work on.

pdudgeon · Jul 8, 2019

yep, definitely talk to your priest.
I think that one of the things you might want to ask about is the matter of your physical/mental state if say you were to receive while in am altered state of corporal existence (i.e. high) or perhaps get a referral to a Catholic drug rehab program.

There are some out there, but it might need some input from your diocese to find one.
I know that there is a very good new program that has just started up at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, NY run by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.
WWW.AtonementFriars.org

Best wishes to both of you. :wave:

Stabat Mater dolorosa · Jul 8, 2019

How could this possibly qualify as a mortal sin? Is it a violation of any of the ten commandments somehow and is it done purposely to offend God somehow?
This is clearly a sin, but not a mortal one in any way which makes reception of holy communion for the strengthening of your soul and you mind not just allowed, but highly recommendable.
The reply: "ask your priest" is the most frequent and dear I say tedious reply to faith related questions and concerns. Sadly most people just ignore such advices because they're awkward to ask the priest about such things.
IMHO this is a sin that you need to be accompanied by Christ in the eucharist in order to fight off.

Which one of us are truely sinfree and truely prepared for the reception of Christ in the blessed sacrament? We confess and we struggle on in our lives, but we keep on falling which leads us back to confession. We're imperfect and should seek our perfection only in and through Christ our Lord.

Pelagianism is dangerously close at times...

pdudgeon · Jul 9, 2019

Stabat Mater said:
......Which one of us are truely sinfree and truely prepared for the reception of Christ in the blessed sacrament? We confess and we struggle on in our lives, but we keep on falling which leads us back to confession. We're imperfect and should seek our perfection only in and through Christ our Lord....

(NB, the above is a partial quote. Please refer to the above post #6 for the entire post.)

When we make a good confession and our present and past sins are forgiven us, then for that time we are sin free, and we can receive Christ in the Eucharist. Those sins that we purposely don't confess are retained, and those sins that we sincerely forgot to confess, the confessor can request that they be forgiven by grace in his absolution.

Yes, I agree, it's a tall order as they say. But Our God is worthy of such devotion, and His Son, Jesus, is also most worthy of such love and the sacrifice that we make in order to be worthy of such a great gift.

Anhelyna · Jul 9, 2019

As an Orthodox Christian who was an Eastern Catholic, I'm going to jump in here backing up the comments from Michie and Monk Brendan.

The only person whose advice you should be seeking over this, is your priest. He needs to know you, as you are one of his flock and he will be giving you advice during Confession in the future. If he doesn't know the facts [ re your addictions] then he cannot help and guide you to lead the life that God wants you to do.

Please make an appointment to see him as soon as is possible

joymercy · Jul 9, 2019

my 2 cents worth:

My rcia instructor, if my memory serves me correctly, told us all in class that receiving only the host is perfectly fine. No wine is needed, bc the wafer IS the body
and the body has blood in it as well.

No wine from the cup is necessary, he said.

Also, he informed us that many people who are not addicts or alcoholics at all, receive only the host for various personal reasons, one of them being that they do not like the common cup due to concern over germs.

Yes, talking honestly and openly with your priest is always a great thing to do. Its amazing how much love and acceptance you will receive from your priest!

Hes accepted a call from God to serve you my dear friend, so step out in faith and talk over your fears with Him.

God bless you

pdudgeon · Jul 9, 2019

Remembering that this will be your first experience of confession will also help you.

Hopefully your RCIA instructor will think to spend some time on helping your whole class to become familiar with what confession is, isn't, and help all of you by showing you examples of what happens in a confession before you have to go through it for real.

Yes, there's a lot to remember, but your priest can help you through it because he is probably very familiar with how those who are approaching their First Confession feel. Best Wishes.

Gnarwhal · Jul 9, 2019

IIRC, there are mitigating factors in cases of addiction. A sin has to meet three criteria to be a mortal sin: 1) You have full knowledge of the sin, 2) You give your full consent to commit the sin, 3) The sin is a grave matter.

I think addiction means a person fails to meet the second requirement. But, I could be wrong, and if I am someone like @Davidnic would be able to speak on that.

Davidnic · Jul 9, 2019

There are definitely mitigating factors but as many have said you should talk to your priest.

But in cases of addiction and struggling with sin the Church does not bar you from the Eucharist. Rather the Eucharist is our strength and consolation. there's a difference between an addiction you are trying to overcome and unrepentant sin.

But it is a matter that your priest should be informed about, and counsel you on.

joymercy · Jul 9, 2019

Davidnic said:
There are definitely mitigating factors but as many have said you should talk to your priest.

But in cases of addiction and struggling with sin the Church does not bar you from the Eucharist. Rather the Eucharist is our strength and consolation. there's a difference between an addiction you are trying to overcome and unrepentant sin.

But it is a matter that your priest should be informed about, and counsel you on.

was I right about it being Ok to just receive the host?

zippy2006 · Jul 9, 2019

joymercy said:
was I right about it being Ok to just receive the host?

That is right, but he is not addicted to alcohol.

joymercy · Jul 9, 2019

zippy2006 said:
That is right, but he is not addicted to alcohol.

Yes, you are right, I don't see any mention of alcohol.

I think my knee jerk reaction has to do with what my former hubby was taught in AA and in his treatment program as an inpatient: that all mind altering substances are to be avoided.

Many times when my former couldn't get to any scheduled AA meetings, he went to a NA meeting, because they taught him that alcohol is a drug too, its just in liquid form.

So they welcomed him.

My understanding is that a drug is a drug is a drug.

one can change around the names, make it into powder, change it into liquid, make it into a pill, smoke it, inject it , snort it, drink it...it doesn't matter. the point is to alter oneself and when a certain point is reached, one becomes an addict.

so my automatic thinking on that was this: drinking the wine could cause him to fall back into addiction with just the taste or smell of it and the buzz he could get from the wine setting things off regarding his using in particular, Kratom.

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