Those in Mortal Sin Can't Go to Communion, Says Pope

Zenit.org ^ | 03-14-05 | Pope John Paul II

[Salvation]

Date: 2005-03-14

Those in Mortal Sin Can't Go to Communion, Says Pope

In a Message to Priests at Course on "Internal Forum"

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 14, 2005 (Zenit.org).- In keeping with Church teaching, John Paul II issued a reminder that no one who is aware of being in a state of mortal sin can go to Communion.

The Pope confirmed the traditional teaching of the magisterium in a message published by the Holy See on Saturday. The message was addressed to young priests who attended a course last week on the "internal forum" -- questions of conscience -- organized by the tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

The Holy Father dedicated his letter, signed March 8 in the Gemelli Polyclinic where he was hospitalized, to the relationship that exists between the Eucharist and confession.

"We live in a society that seems frequently to have lost the sense of God and of sin," writes John Paul II. "In this context, therefore, Christ's invitation to conversion is that much more urgent, which implies the conscious confession of one's sins and the relative request for forgiveness and salvation.

"In the exercise of his ministry, the priest knows that he acts 'in the person of Christ and under the action of the Holy Spirit,' and for this reason he must nourish [Christ's] sentiments in his inner being, increase within himself the charity of Jesus, teacher and shepherd, physician of souls and bodies, spiritual guide, just and merciful judge."

The Pope continues: "In the tradition of the Church, sacramental reconciliation has always been considered in profound relationship with the banquet of the sacrifice of the Eucharist, memorial of our redemption.

"Already in the first Christian communities the need was felt to prepare oneself, with a worthy conduct of life, to celebrate the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, which is 'Communion' with the body and blood of the Lord and 'communion' ('koinonia') with believers who form only one body, as they are nourished with the same body of Christ."

Because of this, the Pontiff recalls St. Paul's warning to the Corinthians when he said: "Whoever 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" (1 Corinthians 11:27).

"In the rite of the Holy Mass," notes the Pope, "many elements underline this exigency of purification and conversion: from the initial penitential act to the prayers for forgiveness; from the gesture of peace to the prayers that the priests and faithful recite before Communion."

"Only someone who is sincerely conscious of not having committed a mortal sin can receive the Body of Christ," states the papal message, recalling the doctrine of the Council of Trent. "And this continues to be the teaching of the Church also today."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the difference between mortal and venial sin in Nos. 1854 to 1864.

email this article

[Salvation]

**In a Message to Priests at Course on "Internal Foru

Hopefully this will get out to the Bishops of the world!

[Salvation]

Oops,
Didn't get the entire line there!

In a Message to Priests at Course on "Internal Forum"

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

[Salvation]

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."

Catechism of the Catholic Church Search for Mortal Sin -- 3 pages

[radiohead]

I may no longer be a Catholic and all, but can any practicing Catholic honestly think they can receive Communion while they are in Mortal Sin? It's hard to believe the Pope would even find a reminder necessary.

Perhaps the Baltimore Catechism is no longer taught?

[Salvation]

Unfortunately it isn't. There are several good series out there right now. But some are quite lacking in content.

[Just Lori]

That isn't new. Well, since I've been a Catholic anyway. I was born in 19** (nevermind), and it's been that way since I came into the world. If Catholics actually have to be REMINDED of this very basic rule, I guess I have to say I'm concerned....and confused....

[Salvation]

I don't think most Catholics have to be reminded. However, their are those Catholics in Name Only (John Kerry comes to mind here.)who openly support abortion, and yet still receive Communion.

[Coleus]

kudos to our pope! My new bishop just banned general absolution services during lent, his first pastoral letter, and right on target. And what is the new bishop doing holy week? One particular night during holy week, he will be at one of the larger churches who violated this canon law that gave general absolution to thousands and the bishop will conduct a penance service showing his priests and flock the right way to conduct and participate in the sacrament of reconciliation.

[P-Marlowe]

Because of this, the Pontiff recalls St. Paul's warning to the Corinthians when he said: "Whoever 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" (1 Corinthians 11:27).

I don't get it. Paul warns us not to take communion in an "unworthy manner". He does not tell us to take it if we are unworthy, as we are all unworthy. It is the manner in which one takes it that brings danger of profanity. It is a warning aimed at the attitude of those who approach the communion table.

BTW, I'm not sure what a "mortal sin" is. What sin can we commit that Jesus did not die to forgive?

[Jeff Chandler]

27 Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the chalice.

BTW, I'm not sure what a "mortal sin" is. What sin can we commit that Jesus did not die to forgive?

Jesus died to forgive all the sins of which we repent. No repentance, no forgiveness.

A mortal sin is a sin so grievous that the sinner is no longer in a state of grace, e.g.: a man commits murder and dies without repentance, he will spend eternity in Hell.

[P-Marlowe]

27 Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.

It still refers to attitude. Unworthily is an adverb and it describes the manner in which you partake of the bread, i.e., your attitude, not your own condition of sinlessness or worthyness.

A mortal sin is a sin so grievous that the sinner is no longer in a state of grace...

Where does it say that in the bible?

[Sparticus]

It still refers to attitude. Unworthily is an adverb and it describes the manner in which you partake of the bread, i.e., your attitude, not your own condition of sinlessness or worthyness.

You're correct in your interpretation. Contextually, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, most of whom had just recently been involved in the worship of Aphrodite. Their pagan religion involved temple prostitution, drunkenness and debauchery. At the time of the first epistle to Corinth, the church there is in major crisis, with infighting and some members slipping back into their pagan practices. Rich people were making a party out of the communion gathering, getting drunk and feasting in front of other believers who were too poor bring their own.(I Corinthians 11:19-22) Paul is telling them to be reverent about communion, and that it is a time to judge oneself. It was not about satisfying their bellies, but remembering together the body and blood of our Lord. He ends the chapter by basically telling them "No more parties, and I straighten the rest of this out personally when I get there." (vs 33-34)

Where does it say that in the bible?

Good question. Sola Scriptura

[NYer]

John Paul II issued a reminder that no one who is aware of being in a state of mortal sin can go to Communion.

There's the catch! Secularism, combined with poor catechesis and lackluster homiletics, has eroded the catholic's conscience. And, those who still have a conscience, oftentimes don't believe their sins are grave enough to constitute a mortal sin, regardless of what the church teaches. If one priest takes them to task, they'll look for another who agrees with their position or simply stop going to Mass. Heck, they don't believe that missing Mass is a sin either.

Good for the Holy Father! While the MSM reported on his 'frailities', the pope used his hospital stay to carry out his duties as Shepherd to the flock.

[CouncilofTrent]

I learned out of the Baltimore Catechism 3 and im only a college student. It's such a great source of material on the rudiments of the Faith.

[CouncilofTrent]

This doesn't seem relevent to the topic at hand. Isn't this thread a Catholic issue?

[R. Scott]

A mortal sin is a sin so grievous that the sinner is no longer in a state of grace, e.g.: a man commits murder and dies without repentance, he will spend eternity in Hell.

First, I am not Catholic, but I see the difference between mortal and venal sin as one of intent:
The classical definition of mortal sin is given by St. Thomas: "When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object...whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery."
Even more obtuse is the definition given by St. Augustine (Contra Faustum, XXII, xxvii) “as something said, done or desired contrary to the eternal law, or a thought, word, or deed contrary to the eternal law.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1857 has “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."
In modern parlance, if a sin is committed with full knowledge that it is a sin it is mortal. If a sin is committed through blind passion or accident it is venal. Even a lie can be a mortal sin if it is told under oath.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, “Hence the wickedness of invoking the Divine testimony to confirm an untruth is specially criminal. Prescinding from cases of ignorance or insufficient deliberation this sin is reputed to be always mortal. When in doubt one cannot without perjury swear to a thing as certain. When mental reservation is permissible it is lawful to corroborate one's utterance by an oath, if there be an adequate cause.”
With such a definition we have a whole lot of people living in mortal sin. If the Church’s rules are followed to the letter, there would be few people at the communion rail.

[GrannyML]

It is a matter not only of intent, but it must be grave as well. That is, if you tell your wife that her awful new dress looks lovely, that is a venial sin, while lying under oath is a mortal sin.

[murphE]

No the Baltimore Catechism is no longer taught, and in my experience sin is hardly ever mentioned. I would also say that in my experience most people in their 30's and younger do not know what mortal sin is, because it was never taught to them, unless they sought to educate themselves about their faith.

A priest responsible for the teaching of other priests and laity for pastoral duties instructed a whole class (that I was a part of ) "if you don't believe that something is a sin then it is not", which of course is false when it comes to things pertaining to natural law.