Frequent communion

[Orthodoxjay1]

anyone else have trouble with this?

 

[Anhelyna]

In what way ?

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

very recent? I mentioned my doubts to my priest, and he said there priests in parts of Greece, and Romania who still are against it.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

very recent? I mentioned my doubts to my priest, and he said there priests in parts of Greece, and Romania who still are against it.

Yes, I have also heard of this in the past. I think it is so Communion does not become a common mundane thing. Definitely not something taught in the US. It should be prepared for so as not to condemn the communicant by taking it casually. .

 

[gzt]

I guess some people do have worries that people ought to prepare more and are skimping on that.

 

[Jesus4Madrid]

There is a great Appendix in Alexander Schmemann’s Great Lent that talks about the importance of frequent communion. The ROC is changing with regard to this practice, I think, and frequent communion is becoming more common. But I have heard that it is still rather infrequent in Romania—maybe twice a year.

When I was on Mt. Athos, the practice was more like twice per week, on Thursday morning (after a day of fasting) and, oddly, on Saturday (again, after a day of fasting). But on Sunday, few monks communed. Still, they commune frequently.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Father Schmemann and Hopko and Meyendorff were instrumental in the modern era in bringing a Eucharistic renewal to the Church. We need to have frequent communion as long as we:

a) go to Confession and are keeping on the path to holiness
b) observing the fasts
c) fast before Communion
d) aren’t currently in a state of refusing to forgive someone
e) aren’t missing out on the liturgical life and prayer life of the Church

I thank the Lord that my priest went to St. Vlad’s in the 1980’s and was influenced by the aforementioned devout, inspirational priests!!

 

[~Anastasia~]

I find it a great blessing any time I am able to commune frequently. I would love to have an opportunity several times a week but that is rare for us.

As long as you don't become casual about it, or commune more than once in a day, there are no actual restrictions.

 

[ArmyMatt]

you should commune as frequent as possible, but that also implies active participation in the Church. so you should confess, pray, read Scripture, give alms, forgive others, etc.

 

[PittBullMom]

I had seen something last Tuesday that I've never seen or thought I'd see in my life. The priest went through the whole liturgy and not a single soul received communion that day. I asked someone about it Sunday. She was sad and said it was heartbreaking but there was no one present clean enough to receive. She was really hurt by it because she said he is truly present and no one prepared for him.

 

[rusmeister]

Shmemann was very helpful to me. He shows the knife's edge we ought to live on: afraid to partake, and afraid NOT to. He DOESN'T say, "Commune every time; don't worry, be happy".

I do everything badly. I pray badly, I fast badly, my "holiness" is mainly in trying not to sin - anger and selfishness are especially easy these days; an unexpected bad thing happens, cuss words fly, followed by "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!". You. Can. Never. Be. Worthy. Of. The. Eucharist. Thinking that you did everything on "the checklist" and you're 'good to go' is a bad way of looking at it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I had seen something last Tuesday that I've never seen or thought I'd see in my life. The priest went through the whole liturgy and not a single soul received communion that day. I asked someone about it Sunday. She was sad and said it was heartbreaking but there was no one present clean enough to receive. She was really hurt by it because she said he is truly present and no one prepared for him.

that's pretty tragic, I am sorry to hear that

 

[ArmyMatt]

Shmemann was very helpful to me. He shows the knife's edge we ought to live on: afraid to partake, and afraid NOT to. He DOESN'T say, "Commune every time; don't worry, be happy".

I do everything badly. I pray badly, I fast badly, my "holiness" is mainly in trying not to sin - anger and selfishness are especially easy these days; an unexpected bad thing happens, cuss words fly, followed by "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!". You. Can. Never. Be. Worthy. Of. The. Eucharist. Thinking that you did everything on "the checklist" and you're 'good to go' is a bad way of looking at it.

yeah, I think that is probably the most positive aspect of Fr Alexander's legacy, is he got Orthodox in America communing and coming to Church again. which, from what I hear from some of the older generation, was no small task

 

[~Anastasia~]

yeah, I think that is probably the most positive aspect of Fr Alexander's legacy, is he got Orthodox in America communing and coming to Church again. which, from what I hear from some of the older generation, was no small task

I still have yiayias fussing at me about it. Father said (and their stories agree) that because of the persecution, they were often only able to go to Church once or twice a year, so they undertook something like Holy Week except stricter (minus being in Church) to prepare. So some now still think that level of preparation is necessary to receive at any time.

 

[Bessie]

Shmemann was very helpful to me. He shows the knife's edge we ought to live on: afraid to partake, and afraid NOT to. He DOESN'T say, "Commune every time; don't worry, be happy".

I do everything badly. I pray badly, I fast badly, my "holiness" is mainly in trying not to sin - anger and selfishness are especially easy these days; an unexpected bad thing happens, cuss words fly, followed by "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!". You. Can. Never. Be. Worthy. Of. The. Eucharist. Thinking that you did everything on "the checklist" and you're 'good to go' is a bad way of looking at it.

That's the thing, nothing we do can make us worthy, no matter how carefully we prepare. My priest had Schmemann as a teacher in seminary so I am sure he is heavily influenced by him, but he actually says that if you're active in the life of the church and not excommunicated, you should commune every time, unless you haven't kept the fast. He says we are commanded to draw near, period. It is the sacrament of our Christian community. If you don't receive communion at liturgy for some reason it essentially means you have excommunicated yourself, and should confess before you receive next. He even told me I could ask to confess right after liturgy if this happens. I am sure this is the kind of thing that is very dependent on specific instructions and specific situations, but he's serious about it - it isn't an indicator that he takes preparation lightly.

 

[Lukaris]

Communion has not been offered consistently in America. I think the layperson has rightful discernment to know by the Spirit what is right in accordance with the four time yearly minimum prescribed in church publications I have read.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Communion has not been offered consistently in America. I think the layperson has rightful discernment to know by the Spirit what is right in accordance with the four time yearly minimum prescribed in church publications I have read.

Do you mean there are parishes with priests that did not offer Communion regularly?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Do you mean there are parishes with priests that did not offer Communion regularly?

back in the day, the priest would come out with the gifts, say draw near, and then turn around and go back in.

 

[~Anastasia~]

back in the day, the priest would come out with the gifts, say draw near, and then turn around and go back in.

Ok, if you don't mind, this is really confusing to me. If you have a chance I'd like to know more. When, why? For how long? Etc.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Ok, if you don't mind, this is really confusing to me. If you have a chance I'd like to know more. When, why? For how long? Etc.

when? early to mid 20th century.
why? because Orthodox were struggling to stay together as a community, and too many didn't know the faith.
for how long? until folks came around and started teaching the need for the chalice, which began in the mid 20th century.