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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Voluntarily self-denying the Eucharist	Joseph	Thursday, October 14, 2010
Question: Brother just a couple quick questions. Can one self-deny the Eucharist? Sometimes I feel like I am not appreciating receiving it but I feel a compulsion to always go up. I have heard of some religious that have practiced self-denial for discipline and to offer it up as a form of suffering perhaps as well. I was just sort of thinking of this and wondered what you think. Also I have been told I should keep in the back o my mind I should think about asking a priest about a spiritual director. I asked a priest and he said he does not personally offer that as he is a missionary priest. The only other one I could ask is the parish pastor but the missionary priest said I could go to the Marist house and ask there where they are retired. I figured the pastor would be too busy to be my director. Have you heard of retired priests offering to be spiritual directors? Could I seek a sister? I feel a natural love for traditional sisters who dress in habits as well. Sisters such as the Dominican order in tennisee just appeal to me and I feel their values and way of life is just the way a sister should be if you know what I mean :). No offense to our more liberal sisters out there. Thank you for your time.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Joseph: The Church only requires that we receive the Eucharist once a year during the Easter period. While it is not prudent for one's spiritual health to receive only once-per-year, that is the minimum requirement. Thus, you can choose to not receive the Eucharist anytime you think you need to. Just remain in your pew during communion. In fact, I would suggest to anyone that if they are not in the proper frame of mind to receive the Eucharist with gladness and joy that they should refrain from receiving that day. However, do not refrain from the Eucharist as some form of mortification. That would not be proper. We should never avoid approaching our Lord because we wish to mortify (deny) ourselves. What possible reason can there be to deny ourselves our Lord? unless we are experiencing what could be called "Eucharistic gluttony" (this is where people so want to receive the Eucharist they will be upset if their priest takes a day off and the parish does not have Mass that day, or in some cases, such people will even steal the Eucharist to take home with them). Such "gluttony" is a real problem. The times when we must not receive our Lord is when we are not in a state of grace, of course. The times we might voluntarily not receive our Lord is when our mood or frame of mind is not properly disposed to be going before our Lord. For example, a friend of mine one time did not receive one Sunday because he was angry because the reader changed the words of the scripture to be inclusive language. He was so mad about this that he thought he should not receive due to not being in a proper frame of mind. As for a Spiritual Director, you can choose as your spiritual director anyone who is qualified to be a director and to whom you trust. That can be a priest, Religious brother or sister, or a Catholic lay man or woman. Just be sure who you choose is loyal and obedient to the Pope and the Magisterium. Many people who offer themselves are spiritual directors, especially at retreat houses, are liberal and may steer you in the wrong direction. I recommend to everyone to read the book, Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within, by Father Thomas Dubay. Father Dubay discusses the definition of spiritual direction, what to look for in a spiritual director, and what to do if you cannot find one. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Voluntarily self-denying the Eucharist

Joseph

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Question:

Brother just a couple quick questions. Can one self-deny the Eucharist? Sometimes I feel like I am not appreciating receiving it but I feel a compulsion to always go up. I have heard of some religious that have practiced self-denial for discipline and to offer it up as a form of suffering perhaps as well. I was just sort of thinking of this and wondered what you think.

Also I have been told I should keep in the back o my mind I should think about asking a priest about a spiritual director. I asked a priest and he said he does not personally offer that as he is a missionary priest. The only other one I could ask is the parish pastor but the missionary priest said I could go to the Marist house and ask there where they are retired. I figured the pastor would be too busy to be my director. Have you heard of retired priests offering to be spiritual directors? Could I seek a sister? I feel a natural love for traditional sisters who dress in habits as well. Sisters such as the Dominican order in tennisee just appeal to me and I feel their values and way of life is just the way a sister should be if you know what I mean :). No offense to our more liberal sisters out there.

Thank you for your time.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Joseph:

The Church only requires that we receive the Eucharist once a year during the Easter period. While it is not prudent for one's spiritual health to receive only once-per-year, that is the minimum requirement.

Thus, you can choose to not receive the Eucharist anytime you think you need to. Just remain in your pew during communion.

In fact, I would suggest to anyone that if they are not in the proper frame of mind to receive the Eucharist with gladness and joy that they should refrain from receiving that day.

However, do not refrain from the Eucharist as some form of mortification. That would not be proper. We should never avoid approaching our Lord because we wish to mortify (deny) ourselves. What possible reason can there be to deny ourselves our Lord? unless we are experiencing what could be called "Eucharistic gluttony" (this is where people so want to receive the Eucharist they will be upset if their priest takes a day off and the parish does not have Mass that day, or in some cases, such people will even steal the Eucharist to take home with them). Such "gluttony" is a real problem.

The times when we must not receive our Lord is when we are not in a state of grace, of course. The times we might voluntarily not receive our Lord is when our mood or frame of mind is not properly disposed to be going before our Lord. For example, a friend of mine one time did not receive one Sunday because he was angry because the reader changed the words of the scripture to be inclusive language. He was so mad about this that he thought he should not receive due to not being in a proper frame of mind.

As for a Spiritual Director, you can choose as your spiritual director anyone who is qualified to be a director and to whom you trust. That can be a priest, Religious brother or sister, or a Catholic lay man or woman. Just be sure who you choose is loyal and obedient to the Pope and the Magisterium. Many people who offer themselves are spiritual directors, especially at retreat houses, are liberal and may steer you in the wrong direction.

I recommend to everyone to read the book, Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within, by Father Thomas Dubay. Father Dubay discusses the definition of spiritual direction, what to look for in a spiritual director, and what to do if you cannot find one.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum