In the recent past, I read quite a bit about Eastern Catholic and Orthodox praxis. In doing so, I discovered a some ideas regarding the reception of Holy Communion that we would do well to consider as Roman Catholics.
One Confession, One Communion; Saturday Preparation; & Frequent Communion
There is an idea prevalent in the Orthodox world that one must go to Confession before each Holy Communion. That is to say, many would submit that one must either go to Confession every week or one should not receive Communion at each Divine Liturgy. This idea is based on what we know about the Eucharist and the gift of Holy Communion, as well as the idea that "Holy Things are for the Holy" as announced in the Divine Liturgy at roughly the point Latin Catholics would hear the "Ecce Agnus Dei..."
Our Roman Patrimony does not currently favor the idea of one Confession, one Communion. But, that is not to say that this does not have a basis in Roman Catholicism. Pope St. Pius X, in the early 20th Century, in a document called Sacra Tridentina, set out the idea that those in a state of grace should receive Holy Communion. He also sets out other conditions of soul to which we should strive in order to approach Communion daily or frequently. Most importantly, we should not receive Communion "out of routine."
Since 1905, when Pope St. Pius wrote those suggestions for frequent Communion, times have changed significantly. Many now approach our Lord in Holy Communion on a weekly basis "out of routine" without having examined their consciences and not in a state of grace. This happens even to those of us who, through the grace of God, have not given into to the temptation to lukewarmness.
Therefore, I suggest that we examine our consciences and try to make a greater effort to approach our Lord worthily each Sunday we receive Him in Holy Communion. Not only should we go to Confession on a regular basis, at least every two weeks, we should spend time on Saturday preparing our hearts through prayer so that we may have a fruitful Communion. In this regard, we can learn from the Eastern Churches, who admonish their adherents to spend time in prayer on Saturday evening preparing to receive the great gift of the Eucharist on Sunday morning.
As for those who have fallen into routine or who receive our Lord while not in a state of grace, we should pray for them that they will perhaps consider the one Confession, one Communion way of thinking in order to get back on track with the spiritual life. We should also do our part by making sure we receive our Lord as worthily as possible in Holy Communion so as to make reparation for so many who do not bother to do so.
Finally, let us remember that we need not receive Holy Communion at every Mass at which we assist. If we are doubtful about our worthiness to receive, let us remember that we receive grace from being present at Mass (although not the same grace we would receive if we could worthily partake of Holy Communion, to be sure).
1 comment:
Yes, Marc, you and I discussed this over supper...you know, the one to which we invited Buck only to have him snub us, doubtless to go home and submerge himself in some unspeakable Goth fugue...
But, I digress...I think I pretty much do the "one Confession/one Communion" in practice. Given my Calvinist background amd their strong emphasis on our sinfulness, I tend to be somewhat Augustinian in that regard. I often do not receive when I had intended to because of my mindset during Mass...I'll think about my neighbor I do not like, or some attractive woman will come in who might as well be dressed for the beach and that kinda' wrecks my plans. LOL! Seriously, I often look at the horde going down and wonder if all these people are really in a state of Grace. The lines at the Confessional should be as long as the lines to receive.
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