Guidelines for the Reception of Communion [From Novus Ordo Missalette]
".... A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without sacramental confession [editor: now comes the slight of hand, saying the complete opposite] except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make a perfect act of contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (Code of Canon Law, canon 916). ..."
Here is the canon:
"Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible."
This is strange wording: "A PERSON who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass"
What does this mean "a PERSON,"? Does it mean a lay faithful, who is in grave sin MAY NOT go to Mass? Or is it speaking of a priest saying Mass? It seems like it would mean a priest, but that is NOT what it is making clear. Law should be clear, the above makes no distinction between priests and the ordinary faithful.
Canon 807 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law stipulated:
"A PRIEST conscious of having committed a mortal sin, even though he considers himself to have true contrition, may not celebrate Holy Mass without first availing himself of sacramental confession; if, in the absence of a confessor and [simultaneously] in a case of necessity, and after having made a perfect act of contrition, he has indeed celebrated, he will go to sacramental confession as soon as possible."
But even the 1917 Code though making a distinction between Lay Faithful and priest, has a separate canon for the Layman:
In canon 856 of the 1917 Canon Law:
"Anyone having a mortal sin weighing on his conscience must not receive Holy Communion without first having recourse to sacramental confession, even though he considers himself to have true contrition; in the case of necessity and in the absence of a confessor, he must first make a perfect act of contrition."
There were debates even as far back as 1917 of lay people of necessity receiving communion. Some speculated that a layman may have to protect from profanation of the Eucharist.
But both the code of canon law of 1917 and 1983 seem at odds with a de fide proclamation of the council or Trent, that lay people never have a necessity to receive the Eucharist in the state of Mortal Sin.
SESSION THE THIRTEENTH, Pope Julius III., October,11, 1551,
DECREE CONCERNING THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
CHAPTER VII.
On the preparation to be given that one may worthily receive the sacred Eucharist.
If it is unbeseeming for any one to approach to any of the sacred functions, unless he approach holily; assuredly, the more the holiness and divinity of this heavenly sacrament are understood by a Christian, the more diligently ought he to give heed that he approach not to receive it but with great reverence and holiness, especially as we read in the Apostle those WORDS FULL OF TERROR; He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself. Wherefore, he who would communicate, ought to recall to mind the precept of the Apostle; Let a man prove himself. Now ecclesiastical usage declares that necessary proof to be, that NO ONE, conscious to himself of mortal sin, HOW CONTRITE SOEVER HE MAY SEEM TO HIMSELF, ought to approach to the sacred Eucharist WITHOUT PREVIOUS SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION. This the holy Synod hath decreed is to be invariably observed by all Christians, even by those priests on whom it may be incumbent by their office to celebrate, provided the opportunity of a confessor do not fail them; but if, in an urgent necessity, a priest should celebrate without previous confession, let him confess as soon as possible.
CANON XI.-
lf any one saith, that faith alone is a sufficient preparation for receiving the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist; let him be anathema.
And for fear lest so great a sacrament may be received unworthily, and so unto death and condemnation, this holy Synod ordains and declares, that sacramental confession, when a confessor may be had, is of necessity to be made beforehand, by those whose conscience is burdened with mortal sin, HOW CONTRITE EVEN SOEVER THEY MAY THINK THEMSELVES. But if any one shall presume to teach, preach, or obstinately to assert, or even in public disputation to defend the contrary, he shall be thereupon excommunicated.
Both Canon Laws , 1917 and 1983, make exceptions for those who are contriete but Trent says no exceptions for laymen:
"Let a man prove himself. Now ecclesiastical usage declares that necessary proof to be, that NO ONE, conscious to himself of mortal sin, HOW CONTRITE SOEVER HE MAY SEEM TO HIMSELF, ought to approach to the sacred Eucharist WITHOUT PREVIOUS SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION."
The ONLY exception Trent gives, was for priests, of URGENT necessity, who has a mortal sin and cannot get to confession and who must say Mass. That is it. No Layman has the need to receive in mortal sin, according to Trent.
