Christmas and Holy Communion

Fr Z has some timely reminders about going to Holy Communion and our attendance at Mass. Here are some of them.

First, if you are not in the state of grace, don’t just go to Holy Communion anyway. That’s a sacrilege and a mortal sin. Those of you who are lax about Mass attendance need to remember that not going to Holy Mass on Sundays and other days of obligation, when you could go, is a mortal sin. Go to confession and then make your good Holy Communion. We all know the bit about making a perfect act of contrition… maybe you can do that and maybe you can’t. That’s up to you. But God cannot be fooled. If you know you shouldn’t receive then don’t.

Second, if you know you cannot go to Holy Communion that does not mean you are excused from going to Mass. You still have the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and days of obligation even if you can’t receive. That’s why they are called days of obligation. It is your attendance that is obligatory, not Communion.

Third, observe the Eucharistic Fast, which is one hour before Communion not one hour before the beginning of Mass. If you want to fast longer, fine. One hour is the law, unless you are sick, etc. etc. Remember, to receive Communion we have to be disposed in our souls (by being in the state of grace) and in our bodies (by observation of the fast which pertains to our state in life).

The full post can be read here:

//wdtprs.com/blog/