Confession & the eucharist

[DJ B.K.]

Well I've got a question that needs to be asked about like the title says confession and the eucharist. Well my problem is simple, I believe I had commited a mortal sin before last Sunday's mass. I had heard from someone from OBOB before that when we are in this situation we obviously don't take the eucharist but instead we just go up to the priest with out arms crossed and ask for a blessing. Well the thing was I was kinda worried about getting asked questions because this seemingly barely happens, at least at the churches I've been to, so I simply just decided to stay back while the eucharist was given. Another problem was that i ended up sitting in a seat that when you went up to an EME, not the priest. So basically I want to know if it was alright for me to do what i did and what is the normal thing to do when you think you shouldn't partake in the eucharist. Thanks.

 

[Paul S]

You don't have to go up for a blessing, nor may an EMHC give one. Staying in your pew and praying is perfectly fine. Offer up watching everyone else go up and receive while you can't as penance for your sins, and a reminder to not do it again.

I love your avatar, by the way.

 

[ZooMom]

You did fine, POD. But get thee to Confession...quickly. You're in my prayers!


Peace be with you.

Sandy

 

[stray bullet]

I stay seated every mass too, as do a few others in the parish sometimes.

 

[AMDG]

Oh gosh, there's these rare times like these where I wish we still had the procedure we had before Vatican II--you know, no confession--no Communion and the WHOLE parish didn't necessarily feel the pressure to receive EVERY time they went to Mass. (Please don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating NOT receiving EVERY time--I think it's quite proper that we receive frequently. I just don't think it right for a person to be pressured into it and pressure can come from the thought "well everbody else is and they will think bad of me if I don't too".) No you don't HAVE to "lock-step" to receive with everyone else--you CAN remain in the pew. And although crossing arms to receive a blessing is nice (no one will know why you haven't left your pew but the priest and he won't talk), some don't know or follow that particular sign of just wanting a blessing--not Communion.

 

[hannabl]

That's the right thing to do, and the thing I did wrong for a lot of years.

 

[Paul S]

Oh gosh, there's these rare times like these where I wish we still had the procedure we had before Vatican II--you know, no confession--no Communion and the WHOLE parish didn't necessarily feel the pressure to receive EVERY time they went to Mass. (Please don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating NOT receiving EVERY time--I think it's quite proper that we receive frequently. I just don't think it right for a person to be pressured into it and pressure can come from the thought "well everbody else is and they will think bad of me if I don't too".) No you don't HAVE to "lock-step" to receive with everyone else--you CAN remain in the pew. And although crossing arms to receive a blessing is nice (no one will know why you haven't left your pew but the priest and he won't talk), some don't know or follow that particular sign of just wanting a blessing--not Communion.

No confession, no Communion is still the rule. We just don't hear about it much anymore.

The big change, though, was the fasting. It used to be from midnight, so if you had a noon Mass, a lot of people couldn't receive. With the change to one hour, driving to and attending Mass take care of most of the time.

 

[stray bullet]

No confession, no Communion is still the rule.

I thought it was confession if mortal and mass took care of the rest, allowing you to take communion in the proper state.
Are you suggesting confession is needed before every communion, regardless of lacking mortal sin?

 

[EllenMoran]

No, stray, your understanding is correct -- but if someone is sitting at Mass with a mortal sin that is unconfessed then it is imperative that they not receive at that time, and confess it prior to receiving the Eucharist.

 

[Brother Simon]

I have a related question, and I didn't want to start a new thread.

I just missed the last opportunity, as far as I know, for confession this month. I had a really time-consuming weekend, and it completely skipped my mind. :-(

Can I just call the office and set an appointment with the priest to hear my confession so I can be nice and clean for Christmas?

Peace and all Good!!
Simon

 

[hannabl]

Probably, I think it depends on whether the priest are free or not. But can't see why not.

 

[EllenMoran]

You could also see if other parishes in your area have confession times set between now and then.

 

[ps139]

So basically I want to know if it was alright for me to do what i did and what is the normal thing to do when you think you shouldn't partake in the eucharist.

I think you did the right thing here Brian.

Can I just call the office and set an appointment with the priest to hear my confession so I can be nice and clean for Christmas?

Yes, definitely! I've done this before and aside from it being the job of the priest to always be available to hear confession, many times they are excited that someone has the desire to come in and repent, also these situations are usually more personal than the confessional and you will probably get more out of it in terms of advice and direction in life.

 

[frettr00]

Wow now I feel bad...I've had mortal sin plenty of times, but I've never sat out recieving communion. I usually confess my sins in my mind while waiting to go up and just ask for forgiveness so I can recieve communion.

 

[Carrye]

When I saw the title of your thread, these lyrics instantly came to mind: "you can't have one without the other".

 

[Paul S]

I thought it was confession if mortal and mass took care of the rest, allowing you to take communion in the proper state.
Are you suggesting confession is needed before every communion, regardless of lacking mortal sin?

You're right - venial sins are forgiven by sacramentals, including the devout use of holy water and the penitential rite during Mass. I meant mortal sins - you can't receive Communion and confess later (or not at all) if you've committed an unconfessed mortal sin. To receive in a state of mortal sin is itself a sin, the sin of sacrilege. It can, of course, be forgiven during through Confession like any other sin.

 

[ps139]

You're right - venial sins are forgiven by sacramentals, including the devout use of holy water and the penitential rite during Mass. I meant mortal sins - you can't receive Communion and confess later (or not at all) if you've committed an unconfessed mortal sin.

Actually, this is not an absolute law, there are some very rare cases when this is allowed provided you will confess ASAP. But its NOT to be taken lightly, not whatsoever.

To receive in a state of mortal sin is itself a sin, the sin of sacrilege. It can, of course, be forgiven during through Confession like any other sin.

Yes this is a sin, that Paul warns against in 1 Cor 11. Alcuadr I saw above that you have done this before - so have I, before I knew better. Receiving unworthily out of ignorance is not a mortal sin, because for something to be a mortal sin you must have full knowledge that it is a mortal sin. I used to think that the "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, only say the word and I shall be healed" was like a substitute for confession but I was totally wrong! So, before you receive Communion again you should go and confess your sins and receive absolution.

 

[Paul S]

Actually, this is not an absolute law, there are some very rare cases when this is allowed provided you will confess ASAP. But its NOT to be taken lightly, not whatsoever.

Don't you have to have made an act of perfect contrition? If so, we can never know whether fear of hell isn't part of our sorrow; only God knows that.

Do you have a link to where this is allowed? I've heard this, but I'm not sure if it's actually the case or one of those rumours floating around, like Friday penance being dropped.

 

[ps139]

Don't you have to have made an act of perfect contrition? If so, we can never know whether fear of hell isn't part of our sorrow; only God knows that.

Yes, I believe you do, I should have included that important detail!

Do you have a link to where this is allowed? I've heard this, but I'm not sure if it's actually the case or one of those rumours floating around, like Friday penance being dropped.

Well, no, I do not have a link, but next time you're at Mass, look at the inside front cover of the missal and it should outline the guidelines for receiving Communion. (Assuming you have the same missal in your parish). I think Aaron-Aggie might have a link to where this is in canon law, I remember this came up a few months ago.

 

[Paul S]

Hmm... Canon 916 (and the guidelines) say this:

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

I'm not sure what qualifies as a grave reason, but I'd think it would be if you were in danger of death. I don't think wanting to fit in at Mass and not having to stay in the pew would qualify.