Hi, Karen —

Thanks for the good question.

As you stated in your question, Canon 916 reads:

This canon is aimed at both the priests and the parishioners. Yes, the priest celebrates the Mass, but through our universal priesthood we join in and assist him in offering all our prayers, works, joys and suffering from the previous week and week to come to the Lord, so we celebrate with Him in Christ. Attending Sunday Mass is an obligation that the Church always requires from us for our own good. The question we have to ask ourselves is:

• Are we properly disposed to receive the Eucharist?
• Have we committed any mortal sins that have not been confessed in the Sacrament of Confession?
  • If we have, we should still go to Mass but because we are not properly disposed to receive the Eucharist, we should refrain from receiving the Eucharist and take the period during which the Eucharist is distributed as a time of prayer, which can include a perfect contrition.
    
    If someone asks us why we didn't receive, we should just tell them we were not properly disposed. Beyond that, it's none of their business!
    
    
  • If we have not, we can and should attend Mass and receive Holy Communion.
    
    The Act of Contrition we say at the beginning of Mass removes all venial sins from our souls.

The confusion, as you stated, and we discussed among ourselves, deals with the exception mentioned in this canon.

Although this canon does not explicitly say this, the implication is, if a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing one may receive the Eucharist, even if one is mindful of mortal sin, if:

1. they make a act of perfect contrition, which can be very hard to make, and
2. they have the intention of confessing as soon as possible.

The problem in understanding this canon, is it does not tell us what a grave reason is. Because as Vatican II states, receiving the Eucharist is the source and submit of our salvation, I believe my team would agree with me that a grave reason would be something like being in danger of death or in a battle field situation for a soldier.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Hi, Karen —

Thanks for the question.

The Canon is quite clear. If you are in the state of grave sin — go to Confession before attending Mass.

If this is not possible, make an act of perfect contrition and go to Confession as soon as possible.

The Canon does not say: "If one is conscious of mortal sin, they shouldn't even attend Mass."

Fr. Jonathan

Karen —

The grave reason aspect really isn't a gray area. It is what is left to the individual conscience, with some guidance.

For instance, a grave reason could be:

• that there is no other priest to say Mass, and saying Mass requires the priest to receive, or
• one is getting married at a Nuptial Mass and could not collar the priest for a Confession and dare not make a scene and scandalize people at Communion time.

Mary Ann