Sadly many Catholics are receiving the Holy Communion in these 3 improper ways
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Not Being In A State of Grace at The Time of Reception of the Eucharist.
What does it mean to be in a state of grace?
The Catholic Dictionary defines State Of Grace as Condition of a person who is free from mortal sin and pleasing to God. It is the state of being in God’s friendship and the necessary condition of the soul at death in order to attain heaven.
In 1 Corinthians 11:27 Apostle Paul wrote “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”
So we see that it is a sin actually it is a mortal sin to receive the Holy Eucharist when we have some form of mortal sin attached to us. The Church teaches that it is a sacrilege.
- Not Bowing Before Receiving.
The United States Conference of Catholics Bishops in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that “When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence… The sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.” Though the norm in the United States is to receive while standing (after bowing your head), individuals are also allowed to receive while kneeling if they so choose (GIRM 160).
So we see that it is a sign of reverence to bow before we receive the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ which is Jesus Himself.
- Not Saying “Amen” After Reception of Holy Communion.
In the Order of Mass, it is written “After the priest has reverently consumed the Body and Blood of Christ the communicants come forward in reverent procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by bowing their head in honour of Christ’s presence in the Sacrament. They receive Holy Communion standing.”
The Priest says:
The Body (Blood) of Christ.
The communicant replies:
Amen.
So next time you receive the Body and Blood of Our LORD Jesus Christ at the Mass, please remember to say Amen if you had not been doing so.
Have I forgotten to add anything, use the comment section to let us know.
November 26, 2022 at 3:12 am
I’m a Priest and Choirmonk of the Carthusian Order in Italy, and I believe, and I know also probably wrong by most, that if a person truly examines his conscience and promises God that he will go to Confession heard by Our Lord through His Priest at the very first opportunity during the week and tells Our Lord with sincere compunction all the sins he has committed since his or her last Confession and honestly tells Our Lord his sins and makes a good Act of Contrition, he will be safe in taking Communion. I would rather have someone honestly and sincerely confess to God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ than risk being seriously hurt or killed in any kind of accident than not having received Holy Communion. I would like to think the Priest would hear his Confession before Mass but I also see that most Priests say they’re too busy and to make a good Spiritual Communion instead. But Our Lord is indeed merciful and very understanding. He put up with me and my horrifying transgressions before my Conversion and he saw I was received into the Carthusians despite being passed the age requirement and was in the Monastery for almost 14 years before the Department of State contacted the Vatican and said I had to be released from the Cloister to be debriefed by the Government Agencies I was hired to be a Private Counsel through the Law firm that paid me a lot of money to be head of their Litigation department. No one knew I would be hit by a car and hurt so bad I would be away from the Cloister for 16 years while having several surgeries. It was Our Lord’s will and no one should second guess Him. I’m a better person and Priest for it. If my belief is against the Church teachings than I must here it from the Bishop of the diocese where I currently reside, my Prior and even the Bishop in Italy. My Prior agrees with me but qualify’s it with teachings of the Church. I have not heard from the Bishop in Italy or where I currently reside.