[Steve_Seattle]

I am a lapsed Catholic, but I respect the Church’s right to insist that Catholics respect church teaching. Every Christmas, I attend church with my elderly Catholic mother, because it makes her happy for her children to be there. I do not receive communion, but my lapsed Catholic sister (a liberal), and her non-Catholic husband (also a liberal), both receive communion every year. I regard that as liberal entitlement.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you for the gracious words. I think in my case it was grave matter but not mortal sin.

Any offense against God Himself or the things of God is objectively grave, simply because of "what it is" --- in this case, the Blessed Sacrament, the most Holy Object in the visible Universe. In a way, the Eucharist is the purpose for which the Universe was created in the first place: for a Communion of Love.

However I did not have the consciousness at the time that this was a sin of desecration/sacrilege. I think the Psalmist prays for God to free him from his unknown faults. I believe God looks mercifully on my ignorance.

Hope I hope I hope.