Mortal Sin

[Dream]

I believe I may have commited a mortal sin, so I did not recieve Communion today. Not only did I feel bad not recieving Jesus Christ, it was also a humiliating experience when my family asked me after Mass "Why didn't you recieve Communion?"

Unfortunately, it does not look like I will be able to go to Confession at all this upcoming week, so I'll likely have to go through the same experience next Sunday. I'm probablly just getting the humiliating punishment that I deserve. Is there any way that I can recieve the Holy Eucharist next week without confessing my sins to a Priest?

 

[InnerPhyre]

We may not receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. I've had the same issue, as I still go to church with my family, but someone needs to tell your family that it is NONE of their business why you didn't receive communion. That is between you and God and NO ONE ELSE. I was just reading an article written by a priest about the matter and he went as far as to call it sinful to wonder why other people aren't taking communion and especially to ask them about it. Rather than remaining in your seat though, just cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing from your priest. It is uncomfortable....but I suppose it should be. Gives us another reason not to commit mortal sins.

 

[Dream]

We may not receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. I've had the same issue, as I still go to church with my family, but someone needs to tell your family that it is NONE of their business why you didn't receive communion. That is between you and God and NO ONE ELSE. I was just reading an article written by a priest about the matter and he went as far as to call it sinful to wonder why other people aren't taking communion and especially to ask them about it. Rather than remaining in your seat though, just cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing from your priest.

Yea, that's pretty much what I told them. This is not the answer I wanted to hear, but the one I expected.

Thanks InnerPhyre.

 

[garydench]

I did the same thing saturday, I felt I may have a committed a mortal sin friday night, but I touched my heart as a sign that merely wanted a blessing.

I confessed after and my Priest actually said that I had already been forgiven, and that my confession was a celebration of that forgiveness... Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I thought that Priests could forgive sins and did so when they pronounce absolution...

 

[Benedicta00]

I believe I may have commited a mortal sin, so I did not recieve Communion today. Not only did I feel bad not recieving Jesus Christ, it was also a humiliating experience when my family asked me after Mass "Why didn't you recieve Communion?"

Unfortunately, it does not look like I will be able to go to Confession at all this upcoming week, so I'll likely have to go through the same experience next Sunday. I'm probablly just getting the humiliating punishment that I deserve. Is there any way that I can recieve the Holy Eucharist next week without confessing my sins to a Priest?

If it’s a mortal sin and you are conscious of it, you can not receive unless you confess least you incur more sin. Call the parish and set up a time to confess to a priest.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Doesn't your parish have some time set aside for confessions on saturday, DT? Maybe you can go Saturday afternoon or evening?

 

[FullyMT]

We actually ask that people put their hands over their mouths if they don't want to receive Communion and want a blessing instead. We have a Melkite rite near our church and they receive Communion with their arms across their their chest...it get's confusing for our deacon, and it would probably irk someone who usually goes to the Melkite Liturgy.

If you can't make it to Confession at a normal time, I would suggest making an appointment with a priest at your parish, or wherever your regular confessor is.

 

[Benedicta00]

I did the same thing saturday, I felt I may have a committed a mortal sin friday night, but I touched my heart as a sign that merely wanted a blessing.

I confessed after and my Priest actually said that I had already been forgiven, and that my confession was a celebration of that forgiveness... Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I thought that Priests could forgive sins and did so when they pronounce absolution...

I think he was just adding a little embellishing on the fact that Christ died for all our sins, past, present, and future. It does not mean that you don’t have to confess them. Christ died for them but they aren’t forgiven with out contrition, repentance, and confession.

 

[Dream]

Doesn't your parish have some time set aside for confessions on saturday, DT? Maybe you can go Saturday afternoon or evening?

Yes, but I won't be able to attend. I have to work that day, and there's really no way around it.

Right now, I'm trying to find some time where I would be able to attend Reconciliation, but with my schedule practically full and having no access to a car makes it rather difficult. I'm thinking of just going to Confession when I go back to school on the 18th, but like I said: I don't want to go to another Mass without recieveing Communion.

 

[Irenaeus]

Shelb,

True. Just because Christ died for all, you must repent and receive his forgiveness. While you may make an act of perfect contrition, you must complete the contrition by sacramental Confession, as soon as you are able.

 

[garydench]

I think he was just adding a little embellishing on the fact that Christ died for all our sins, past, present, and future. It does not mean that you don’t have to confess them. Christ died for them but they aren’t forgiven with out contrition, repentance, and confession.

I had already sought repentance and had confessed directly to God, but I decided to speak to my Priest as well for advice on the issue.

But does the Priest have the power to forgive sins on behalf of God? And this is something I've often been challenged about: why do we need to go to a priest if we can confess directly to God?

 

[InnerPhyre]

Yes, but I won't be able to attend. I have to work that day, and there's really no way around it.

Right now, I'm trying to find some time where I would be able to attend Reconciliation, but with my schedule practically full and having no access to a car makes it rather difficult. I'm thinking of just going to Confession when I go back to school on the 18th, but like I said: I don't want to go to another Mass without recieveing Communion.

Ah I see. In the meantime, make an examination of conscience and an act of contrition. You'll still have to go to confession before communion, but it's a good thing to do when we can't make it to confession.

 

[Dream]

But does the Priest have the power to forgive sins on behalf of God?

(Joh 20:21 - 23) Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

 

[Irenaeus]

Gary,

Your Priest is somewhat wrong.

We may indeed Confess to God, but EVERY act of Perfect Contrition must include a resolution to go to Sacramental Confession as soon as possible. Then, and only then, after a mortal sin, may you receive the Eucharist.

In a sense Perfect Contrition leads to the celebration of its completion in the Sacrament of Penance, but yet, Perfect Contrition is not valid if it is not completed.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04337a.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02065a.htm

 

[Benedicta00]

Don't she away from Mass just because you can not go to communion. That is not humity but pride telling you to no go.

You still need the Mass said for you, you still can offer the Mass for yourself and others. You can make a spiritual communion, you still will receive graces if you have contrition for your sin. Allow God to make use of this, to show you that it is never worth the sin, to lose communion.

 

[Benedicta00]

Gary,

Your Priest is somewhat wrong.

We may indeed Confess to God, but EVERY act of Perfect Contrition must include a resolution to go to Sacramental Confession as soon as possible. Then, and only then, after a mortal sin, may you receive the Eucharist.

In a sense Perfect Contrition leads to the celebration of its completion in the Sacrament of Penance, but yet, Perfect Contrition is not valid if it is not completed.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04337a.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02065a.htm

Well the deal is, no one truly knows if they have perfect contrition or not, this is why we must confess.

 

[Dream]

Don't she away from Mass just because you can not go to communion. That is not humity but pride telling you to no go.

You still need the Mass said for you, you still can offer the Mass for yourself and others. You can make a spiritual communion, you still will receive graces if you have contrition for your sin. Allow God to make use of this, to show you that it is never worth the sin, to lose communion.

I'm not saying I'm going to skip Mass, I'm just saying that I don't want to attend Mass without recieving the Eucharist.

 

[Benedicta00]

I had already sought repentance and had confessed directly to God, but I decided to speak to my Priest as well for advice on the issue.

But does the Priest have the power to forgive sins on behalf of God? And this is something I've often been challenged about: why do we need to go to a priest if we can confess directly to God?

Yes you must confess to the priest but when he hears your confession, he is acting in Persona Christi, the person of Christ. You really are confessing directly to God when you confess to him.

 

[Benedicta00]

I'm not saying I'm going to skip Mass, I'm just saying that I don't want to attend Mass without recieving the Eucharist.

I understand, I don't like it either.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Shelb, you beat me to it. I was just going to say that I have been a victim of my own sinful pride in the past and being in a state of mortal sin has kept me away from mass before because I didn't want anyone to see that I wasn't taking communion. This is definitely the wrong attitude to have. Firstly, when you see someone at mass who doesn't take communion, do you sit there and think? "Aha! I wonder what HE has done!" I know I dont, and I think that most people who attend mass probably don't even notice. We should be focused on Christ during communion, not those around us. Don't fall into that trap.