Father Kleppner - September 16, 2007
Question and Answer
- I have recently come back to the Church after many years of absence. Is it okay for me to receive Communion?
Welcome back to the Body and good for you for
wanting to be back in true Communion with Christ.
“Those who receive the Eucharist are united more
closely to Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, section 1396).
In order to be properly disposed for the Eucharist,
“A Catholic must be in a state of grace to receive
Holy Communion, and anyone aware of being in a
state of mortal sin must first receive absolution in
the Sacrament of Penance” (CCC, section 1415).
When you were away from the Church, you may
have missed Sunday Mass, for example. That is
considered a serious sin and requires seeking
God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of
Penance.
You may feel anxious or nervous about going to
Confession after a long absence from the Church.
Please remember that the primary purpose of the
Sacrament is to reconcile you to Christ who has
been waiting patiently for you. Remember also,
that one of the great joys of the priesthood is being
able to convey God’s forgiveness to those
sincerely seeking it especially those who have
been away for a long time.
- Are all sins equally bad or
are some worse than others?
Think of it this way: all illnesses make your body
sick. Some can kill you, while others just make you
miserable for a while. All need healing.
The same can be said of sin. Some sins can cause
us to lose our eternal lives while others merely
delay our entry into Heaven.
The Church makes a distinction between mortal
and venial sins. Mortal sin is a deliberate turning
away from God and his laws. To be considered a
mortal sin, it must be a grave or serious choice
against God, and the sinner must be aware of how
bad it is but choose to do it anyway.
On the other hand, venial sin is falling short of our
obligations to God and each other without
completely turning from God. It’s like loitering on
the road to heaven versus taking one that leads
away from it.
The good news is that no matter how lost we get,
God will always take us back through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. (Confession).
- Are you ready for the Eucharist?
If you knew that Jesus was coming to visit you,
you would probably make your home sparkle,
prepare plenty of food for him, and clear the time
so you could give him your full attention. These
activities are similar to the preparations we need to
make every time we receive Jesus in the
Eucharist.
Get ready. Do whatever is necessary to make
sure you are properly disposed for communion
with Christ. If you are not free from serious sin, go
to Confession, do penance, and try to amend your
life.
Fast before the feast. The Eucharistic Fast is an
ancient custom that helps us to receive Holy
Communion with reverence. Abstain from food or
drink, with the exceptions of water and medicine,
for at least one hour before receiving Holy
Communion.
Give him your attention. The rituals of the Mass
help us to focus completely on God’s love for us
and ours for him. Follow along with the prayers
and sing the songs so that you don’t miss a word.
Participate at Mass every Sunday and Holy
Day. If Jesus asked to come over, can you
imagine saying, “I’m too busy this week, how about
coming next week?” Of course not! Then never
miss an opportunity to meet him in the Eucharist.
Prayer for the Success of the Convocation of the Priests
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Gracious and loving God, we entrust to your care
the bishops and priests whom you have called by
name to shepherd your Church of Pittsburgh.
Send your Holy Spirit on them as they gather for
this special time of spiritual renewal and priestly
solidarity.
May they be renewed in the grace of their
vocation and grow in their capacity for loving
generous service and courageous leadership
For the sake of all of us entrusted to their
pastoral care, expand their vision, deepen their
love, and strengthen their commitment to
holiness.
We pray that you will enliven them with fraternal
charity and prophetic witness to which they have
been called by your Son, the Good Shepherd, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever.
Amen
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