www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Other Sacramental Mysteries reception of Holy Eucharist twice in a day

I'm very familiar with the canons of the Latin Church regarding the reception of Eucharist more than once in a day. But before today I hadn't questioned it re the Eastern Churches.

I went to an 8:00AM Mass for a particular reason this morning near my EC parish and I received Holy Eucharist in the Mass. Our celebrant today in my EC parish is relatively new to the EC and when I asked him before DL whether one can receive a second time in one day he was unsure if it's permitted. It happened we also had a visiting Romanian priest whom I asked this question after DL and he was uncertain also.

I did not receive during Divine Liturgy because I was unsure and felt it might not be appropriate. I know that reception of Holy Eucharist in some Orthodox Churches at least historically has be infrequent, so the emphasis of frequent reception found in the Latin Church isn't present in the East. Logical or not I also related it to the rubric that the DL may not be celebrated twice in a day on the same altar.

Anything in the Russian Orthodox and Russian Greek Catholic teaching related to this would be appreciated. I'd like to be pointed to any CCEO related to this if possible, also.

I could see how they would be uncertain since the norm is only 1 DL on Sunday...My experiences in the Eastern Catholic Churches have differed from priest to priest...I have had priests tell me, yes...you should receive anytime you are at the DL...and no...only 1x per day...

I have never heard a Byzantine Catholic priest say that you can receive Communion only once a day; however, I have heard several say that there is no restriction.

Our particular law (Pittsburgh Metropolia) has no restriction.

Fr Deacon Paul

The CCEO simply does not address it. I can only say that at the Uniontown Pilgrimage I remember the people being told they could commune twice a day if they attended two Liturgies, which is in conformity with the Latin Code.

I find it hard to understand why any Believer would even want to receive the Eucharist more than once a day? The Eucharist should not be taken as some elixer or medicine for the soul.

Think, "Mary has chosen what is better,and it is not to be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:42)

In malankara, in general people do not receive Eucharist unless holy confession is done. In some churches especially orthodox the priest may know who has really confessed and may decline Eucharist. But mostly people are self disciplined and would not recieve Eucharist without confession. And it is less likely that people confess every week.

Of course, in some churches especially where it is very less people these rules are overridden.

ppj:

Christ is in our midst!!

I haven't had a chance to welcome you to the forum. We're glad you're here.

Bob
Moderator