Receiving Holy Communion

Receiving Holy Communion Question from on 06-19-2007:

On Sundays, at what point in coming late to church does it qualify for not fulfilling your Sunday obligation? To be able to receive Holy Communion on weekdays is it necessary to attend Mass, or is it okay to come in right before or right at Communion time and walk up and recieve Holy communion? We see a lot of this at our parish church and nothing is said about it.

Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 06-20-2007:

There is nothing in canon law that permits a person to arrive late for Mass. There are circumstances that excuse a person from Mass (e.g., sickness). Similarly, there might also be legitimate reasons why a person is late (e.g., lost car keys and there is no later Mass that day). If there is a legitimate reason for coming late, I don't see a problem with going to Holy Communion. Because we don't know the circumstances, we cannot judge individuals. However, I would tend to think that the vast majority of people who come late have no legitimate reason and have not properly fulfilled their Sunday Mass obligation and should not be receiving Holy Communion.

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