Confession Question

Kepha15 · #1 Sep 23, '06, 11:29 pm

I have a question about the sacrament of confession, if someone would care to answer.

I know that before one goes to confession but after one commits a mortal sin, one is in a state of sin and cannot recieve the eucharist. However, let's say I am in a state of sin, and intend to go to confession on Saturday night right before mass. If for some reason I am not able to actually recieve the sacrament (the priest has to leave, time crunch...some other extenuating circumstance) even though I intended to, am I still not allowed to receive the eucharist?

It just doesn't seem right that even though I tried and intended with all my heart to cleanse myself of my sins, I am still deprived of receiving my savior at mass just because of worldly circumstances. Does it even matter what my intentions were? In fact, what is the point of depriving oneself of Jesus Christ at all? Isn't His body and blood supposed to strengthen us to not sin and to help guide us? Wouldn't this be the most critical time that we would need Him? I guess I just really don't understand this.

(if anyone is wondering, yes, this situation did happen to me, it's not just a hypothetical)

And furthermore, if I were now to die before actually getting a chance to go back to confession to actually make one, would I die in a state of sin and go to hell?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

DCD · #2 Sep 23, '06, 11:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kepha15

I have a question about the sacrament of confession, if someone would care to answer.

I know that before one goes to confession but after one commits a mortal sin, one is in a state of sin and cannot recieve the eucharist. However, let's say I am in a state of sin, and intend to go to confession on Saturday night right before mass. If for some reason I am not able to actually recieve the sacrament (the priest has to leave, time crunch...some other extenuating circumstance) even though I intended to, am I still not allowed to receive the eucharist?

It just doesn't seem right that even though I tried and intended with all my heart to cleanse myself of my sins, I am still deprived of receiving my savior at mass just because of worldly circumstances. Does it even matter what my intentions were? In fact, what is the point of depriving oneself of Jesus Christ at all? Isn't His body and blood supposed to strengthen us to not sin and to help guide us? Wouldn't this be the most critical time that we would need Him? I guess I just really don't understand this.

(if anyone is wondering, yes, this situation did happen to me, it's not just a hypothetical)

And furthermore, if I were now to die before actually getting a chance to go back to confession to actually make one, would I die in a state of sin and go to hell?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

You would have to refrain from the Sacrament. Perhaps this is your cross to carry for another week? Maybe Our Lord is trying to tell you something by denying you the Blessed Sacrament awhile longer. We have many accounts of Christ not healing the sick immediately some had to wait because he wanted to draw more out of them Faith is interior and exterior.
In the event of death.
If you had true contrition for your sins you would be forgiven and be on your way to Purgatory. It seems you love the Blessed Sacrament. Mortal sins are never nescessarry they are a matter of personal choice with Gods grace you have the ability to never put youself in this situation again.

demerzel85 · #3 Sep 23, '06, 11:59 pm

In the very first place the fulfilment of the Sunday Mass Obligation does not in any way require the reception of Holy Communion. If for any reason, one is unable to receive Communion, one does Spiritual Communion.

Yet the central conception of the 'Eucharistic Fast' is because one is in a state of mortal sin. And for one to be in a state of mortal sin the 3 conditions have to be fulfilled.

It is different for venial sins. The reason why there even is a Penitenial Rite in the Mass itself, is for venial sins to be forgiven. If one has committed venial sins, one can still receive Holy Communion.

So is the Sacrament of Penance only for mortal sins? No. One confesses both mortal and venial sins. Why is the Sacrament of Penance important? Aside from the Priest being in persona Christi to forgive the sins, he also representing the Church who has been wounded by these sins and grants the forgiveness.

Is it just a wordly circumstance that's preventing one from receiving Holy Communion? No. The Eucharist really becomes the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Following the Consecration, the wafer really becomes the Body of Christ. It may still look like a wafer, but its substance has been changed. Hence the whole concept of trans-substantiation. If one is to receive the Body of the Lord, then he must first prepare himself to do so.

Our Lord is a Lord who became who uses human ways. Because it is only through what we can sense through are 5 senses that we can understand things around us. Man is both body and soul, and our Lord attends to both.

For myself, I have found it very helpful in growing spiritually by the practise of frequent confession and at times abstaining from Communion because I am in a state of mortal sin. Unlocking the depths of the practise is more wonderful than one can ever imagine.

Kepha15 · #4 Sep 24, '06, 12:10 am

Could you please be specific as to what the difference is between mortal and venial sins and give examples please?

demerzel85 · #5 Sep 24, '06, 12:22 am

Quote:

From Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church...

392. What is sin?
CCC1849-1851, 1871-1872
Sin is “a word, an act, or a desire contrary to the eternal Law” (Saint Augustine). It is an offense against God in disobedience to his love. It wounds human nature and injures human solidarity. Christ in his passion fully revealed the seriousness of sin and overcame it with his mercy.

393. Is there a variety of sins?
CCC1852-1853, 1873
There are a great many kinds of sins. They can be distinguished according to their object or according to the virtues or commandments which they violate. They can directly concern God, neighbor, or ourselves. They can also be divided into sins of thought, of word, of deed, or of omission.

394. How are sins distinguished according to their gravity?
CCC1854
A distinction is made between mortal and venial sin.

395. When does one commit a mortal sin?
CCC1855-1861,1874
One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.

396. When does one commit a venial sin?
CCC1862-1864, 1875
One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

Tietjen · #6 Sep 24, '06, 12:27 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kepha15

Could you please be specific as to what the difference is between mortal and venial sins and give examples please?

Click here for a good explaination.

**LilyM** · #7 Sep 24, '06, 12:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by demerzel85

Yet the central conception of the 'Eucharistic Fast' is because one is in a state of mortal sin.

The term 'Eucharistic Fast' refers to the requirement to abstain from eating or drinking for an hour before receiving Communion. It doesn't have anything to do with sin, certainly not mortal sin, since no one in a state of mortal sin would be receiving Communion anyway. You may be mistakenly thinking that this term refers to the requirement to abstain from Communion if one is in a state of mortal sin.

demerzel85 · #8 Sep 24, '06, 12:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilyM

The 'Eucharistic Fast' (the requirement to abstain from eating or drinking for an hour before receiving Communion) doesn't have anything to do with sin, certainly not mortal sin, since no one in a state of mortal sin would be receiving Communion anyway.

Rather it's one of two reasons. The first is spiritual purification and a minor penance to make ourselves more conscious of the importance of the Eucharist we are about to receive.

The second (at least in the days when the fast was for three hours or more) was to physically have an empty stomach - and avoid the risk of the Eucharistic food mixing with ordinary food in the stomach. For the same reason normal practice is to abstain from eating for fifteen minutes or so AFTER Communion.

Hmm...looks like I got the term wrong. There should be a term for abstaining from Communion (because of mortal sin or not fasting for 1 hr before communion).

**LilyM** · #9 Sep 24, '06, 3:41 am

Hehe, I've got to learn not to edit my posts so much

Cristiano · #10 Sep 24, '06, 4:48 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kepha15

It just doesn't seem right that even though I tried and intended with all my heart to cleanse myself of my sins, I am still deprived of receiving my savior at mass just because of worldly circumstances. Does it even matter what my intentions were? In fact, what is the point of depriving oneself of Jesus Christ at all? Isn't His body and blood supposed to strengthen us to not sin and to help guide us? Wouldn't this be the most critical time that we would need Him? I guess I just really don't understand this.

(if anyone is wondering, yes, this situation did happen to me, it's not just a hypothetical)

And furthermore, if I were now to die before actually getting a chance to go back to confession to actually make one, would I die in a state of sin and go to hell?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

If you were to die after a being truly sorry for what you did and having apologized to the Lord because you truly love him then you would not go to hell. The sacrament of confession is necessary to reconcile yourself with the Church too.

Receiving Communion is not the main goal of the Mass. The main goal is to participate to the mistery of the sacrifice of Christ with our presence at Mass. Before Vatican II it appeared to be only about the sacrifice, after Vatican II it appears to be only about receiving communion. Just remember that communion is not just between God and you but it also includes the whole Church. That is why you need to reconcile with the Church through the sacrament of confession.

I undrestand that your question is not hypothetical, it happens to a lot of us.

Fergal · #11 Sep 24, '06, 5:28 am

Well now Folks!

If we read the above question carefully, the answer to the question posed is yes. Let me explain.

If there is a deep desire to go to Confession, and one cannot through no fault of their own receive the sacrament, and along with this they have an internal state of, and make an act of, perfect contrition, they may receive the Eucharist on the strictest condition that they go to the sacrament of Confession at the earliest available opportunity.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law indicates that the same requirement applies today. "A person who is conscious of a grave sin is not to . . . receive the body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible" (CIC 916).

In my opinion, it is better that they refrain from receiving in order to understand that it is their own actions that have prevented them from receiving, and not simply the Church's demand that they stay away.

We finds it so easy to say No to God when we want to commit sin and yet find it so difficult to say No to ourselves when it comes to receiving the Holiest of Sacraments when we know we are in a state of mortal sin.

Out of love for the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist if we are aware that we are in the state of Mortal sin we repeat the words of St Peter "Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful Man" and understand our refraining from Communion is an act of Love. It shows we dare not bring Christ, he who is fulness of Man and fulness of God into Squalor. It shows respect for 'who' we receive.

I sincerely believe that a soul in mortal sin who attends Holy Mass and respectfully refrains from receiving the Sacred Host, out of a desire not to bring God into his own deep squalor, performs a wonderful act of love for God even though the soul has rebelled against Him.

As for the prevalent irreverence of those who dare to receive the Eucharist while in a state of grievous sin, when confession is readily available, it is most pertinent that such Catholics realise that without a sense of sin, it would be impossible to appreciate how Jesus, the Son of God and a member of the human race, by his death on Calvary redeemed us through his victory over death and sin.

Harsalter · #12 Nov 3, '07, 5:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergal

Well now Folks!

If we read the above question carefully, the answer to the question posed is yes. Let me explain.

If there is a deep desire to go to Confession, and one cannot through no fault of their own receive the sacrament, and along with this they have an internal state of, and make an act of, perfect contrition, they may receive the Eucharist on the strictest condition that they go to the sacrament of Confession at the earliest available opportunity.

Actually as I understand it, the act of perfect contrition is as good as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The rub is, it is very difficult and hard to achieve perfect contrition. It has to be PERFECT! To some, this is impossible. That is why Christ gave us the gift of the sacrament of confession.

In regards to the OP's question, IMO if one is in mortal sin and even if they intended to go to confession but could not for various reasons, they would be fine if they died and would be in Grace. Heaven (or more than likely purgatory) shouldn't be a problem for their soul. But they should abstain from receiving the Eucharist until they went to confession. But this is only my opinion.