Denver Catholic

Many priests and bishops advise the faithful to go to confession at least once a month, and it is especially encouraged to go to confession during the season of Lent. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following: According to the Church's command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year." Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GO TO CONFESSION? W H Y C A N'T N O N - C AT H O L I C S R ECE I V E CO M M U N I O N? Outside of very specific, extraordinary circumstances, non-Catholics — even Christians — cannot receive Holy Communion. This is not a judgment on the state of others' souls, but a result of our recognition that the Church is, again, a communion. Jesus seeks personal intimacy with each of us, but he offers it to us precisely in true fellowship with his Body. 10 Receiving Holy Communion is never a merely individual act. Rather, it is a public declaration of fellowship with Christ's Body the Church — a fellowship, we have seen, expressed by our common faith, worship, and life. To receive Holy Communion without sharing in that fellowship would be, in effect, to tell a lie. W H Y M I G H T T H E CH U R CH P R E V E N T A C AT H O L I C FR O M R ECE I V I N G CO M M U N I O N? Bishops may sometimes decide to withhold Commu- nion from Catholics who publicly and persistently speak or act in ways that violate the Church's communion. Once again, this is not a judgment on these individuals' hearts, though that is understandably how it is often perceived. The purpose is not to humiliate the individual in question, but to protect God's flock. Offering Communion to such a person can cause serious scandal by signaling that Christ's gracious gifts of the Church's teaching, worship, and com- munity are unimportant or dispensable. "Scandal" does not mean shocked disapproval; it means leading others into sin. Every soul for which Jesus died is precious to him. His warnings to those who cause scandal are severe 11 , so it is every bishop's duty, when possible, to protect God's people from scandal. By permitting those who cause scandal to receive Holy Communion, it is an implicit acceptance by the Church of this public scandal. This confusion causes harm and can easily lead others to sin. Every good gift should be handled with care, and the Eucharist — the greatest of all gifts — is no exception. Let us all seek deeper fellowship with God and one another, giving thanks for the unimaginable gift of Holy Communion. 1 JOHN 1:3 2 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 766 3 CCC 1239 4 ROMANS 5:5; COLOSSIANS 3:14 5 CCC 815 6 JOHN 6:55–57; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:16–17 7 EVANGELII GAUDIUM 47 8 LUKE 5:32 9 1 CORINTHIANS 11:27–31 10 JOHN 17:20–23; ACTS 2:42; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12–27 11 MARK 9:42 29 DENVER CATHOLIC | FEBRUARY 2021

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