Is confession still necessary before receiving communion

johnnyjones · #1 Jun 25, '12, 1:29 pm

If we have sinned and want to receive communion we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I believe catholic doctrine supports this but we say with a priest at mass, ..."Lord I am not worthy to receive you (his body) but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." That sounds like we are put in a state of forgiveness to receive communion.

bilop · #2 Jun 25, '12, 1:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

If we have sinned and want to receive communion we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I believe catholic doctrine supports this but we say with a priest at mass, ..."Lord I am not worthy to receive you (his body) but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." That sounds like we are put in a state of forgiveness to receive communion.

That does not suffice to remove mortal sins. It is a statement of our unworthiness, not part of an absolution. If you don't hear "I absolve you/Te Absolvo" from the priest, you haven't been absolved. The Eucharist itself absolves venial sins.

If you've comitted mortal sins, you need to go to confession before receiving communion, otherwise you commit another mortal sin.

God Bless

YoungTradCath · #3 Jun 25, '12, 1:54 pm

It is required that you go to confession before receiving Holy Communion if you are in a state of mortal sin. In fact, this is something that cannot be changed.

sweetpetunia · #4 Jun 25, '12, 4:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

If we have sinned and want to receive communion we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I believe catholic doctrine supports this but we say with a priest at mass, ..."Lord I am not worthy to receive you (his body) but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." That sounds like we are put in a state of forgiveness to receive communion.

He says the word...in confession

From what I understand, the Eucharist will remit VENIAL sins, if we are fully repentant of them

But as the other posters have mentioned, confession is necessary for the big stuff (mortal sins) prior to receiving the Eucharist.

AndrewAugustine · #5 Jun 25, '12, 4:34 pm

Quote:

1384 The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

1386 Before so great a sacrament, the faithful can only echo humbly and with ardent faith the words of the Centurion: "Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea" ("Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed."). And in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom the faithful pray in the same spirit:

O Son of God, bring me into communion today with your mystical supper. I shall not tell your enemies the secret, nor kiss you with Judas' kiss. But like the good thief I cry, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

1387 To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P42.HTM

Used2beSherryG · #6 Jun 26, '12, 12:53 am

Confession and absolution is necessary for the remittance of mortal sins. And, of course, Jesus forgives our venial sins if we are truly repentant and have a firm purpose of amendment, BUT............we need to go to confession regularly to confess those venieal sins, keeping our conscience fully engaged through a full examination of conscience. How else can we receive enough grace to be able to overcome repeating our venieal sins. If we become blase' about venial sins, we will soon be falling into bigger mortal sins. I know this from sad experience. Put confession on your "to do" list at least once a month, if not more often. Jesus wants to meet with you in this sacrament just as much as He does in His Body and Blood.

AthenaC · #7 Jun 26, '12, 7:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

If we have sinned and want to receive communion we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I believe catholic doctrine supports this but we say with a priest at mass, ..."Lord I am not worthy to receive you (his body) but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." That sounds like we are put in a state of forgiveness to receive communion.

Other posters have made the point about mortal vs. venial sins.

But just to nitpick - the new translation is, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof ...." or some such, rather than the deeper, more appropriate word "receive." But I'm sure that issue has been done to death ....

ConstantineTG · #8 Jun 26, '12, 10:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungTradCath

It is required that you go to confession before receiving Holy Communion if you are in a state of mortal sin. In fact, this is something that cannot be changed.

Really? It doesn't seem to be the case in the early Church as I have found.

ImmaBV · #9 Jun 27, '12, 1:58 am

My priest says that if you intend to go to confession after Mass, then you skip communicating during Mass. This gives me trouble, when one is not in mortal sin, because the main goal of me going to Mass is to receive Holy Eucharist. I should mention that our daily Mass starts too early for the priest to be able to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass. So we get the Sacrament after Mass. Usually it is scheduled for every Saturday afternoon, but any day anytime after morning Mass Father will oblige to confess you if you request it. So, my problem is, what if I am not aware of any mortal sins, and I am attending mornign Mass? Father says, do not receive the Eucharist on that day. (There is only one Mass per workday, early in the morning!). Well, I remember that St Faustina was told by the Lord Jesus and her superiors, that she should never miss receiving the Eucharist unless she is well aware of mortal sin. The Lord said that His desire to unite Himself with us is much greater than our venial sins and His entrance into our soul would burn out any traces of sin in us like a string of cotton is burned in the furnance. And that, our refusal to receive Him when we can, hurts Him more than our venial sins (which he can heal by His coming).
So, once, after my monthly confession which I could not make it on Saturday afternoon but on a workday after Mass, I requested father for Holy Communion, without realising what a big request it was on his part too, for he had to go to the Tabernacle, open it, bring the Eucharist, and not give to me immediately, but we recited several prayers (starting with the"Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world..." Although I was beaming with joy, I could not help feel a little guilty for the trouble I gave Father as several people were awaiting his service for various issues.. However, the memory of this event is very dear to me.

**thistle** · #10 Jun 27, '12, 6:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyjones

If we have sinned and want to receive communion we must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. I believe catholic doctrine supports this but we say with a priest at mass, ..."Lord I am not worthy to receive you (his body) but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." That sounds like we are put in a state of forgiveness to receive communion.

YES it is necessary to confess any mortal sins before receiving Communion. If you receive while in a state of mortal sin you commit a further mortal sin.
During Mass only venial sins are removed.

johndoe100 · #11 Jun 27, '12, 2:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thistle

YES it is necessary to confess any mortal sins before receiving Communion. If you receive while in a state of mortal sin you commit a further mortal sin.
During Mass only venial sins are removed.

Is that just for Sunday and Holy Days? What about midweek mornings?

**thistle** · #12 Jun 27, '12, 4:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndoe100

Is that just for Sunday and Holy Days? What about midweek mornings?

You must not receive Communion at any Mass, whatever the day, if you are in a state of mortal sin.