Question:
Answer:
If a Catholic has committed a mortal sin and cannot get to Confession to have that mortal sin absolved before fulfilling their Sunday Mass obligation, they should not receive the Eucharist in fulfilling that obligation. Which is a reminder that fulfilling the Lord’s Day means participating in or assisting at Sunday Mass, not necessarily receiving the Eucharist in doing so.
If your mortal sins are absolved in Confession after Sunday Mass, and then you commit a mortal sin before the subsequent Sunday and can’t get to Confession before that next Sunday, yes, you should abstain from receiving the Eucharist in fulfilling your Lord’s Day Mass obligation on that subsequent Sunday.
However, most parishes have regular Confession times sometime during the week before their weekly Sunday Masses, which would include the Saturday vigil Mass. Check the Confession times at other area parishes if your parish only offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation after its Sunday Masses. In addition, most parish priests will make Confession available by appointment outside of the prescribed weekly time(s). So check with your pastor and other area parishes in this regard. If needed, you can identify area parishes through your diocesan website, and then access the websites of respective area parishes to find their weekly Confession schedule and parish contact info.
Abstaining from the Eucharist until our mortal sins are absolved will give us a greater appreciation and hunger for the Eucharist, and thus enable us to better profit when we do receive our Lord in this most intimate, sacramental encounter.