Frequent Communion Because of
Self-conceit...
By Hieromartyr Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky). "Spiritual Diary".
Once I was told about the following case concerning frequent Communion.
One woman used to receive Communion every day. She attracted attention
of the clergy authority. A confessor was instructed to check her.
By Hieromartyr Bishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky). "Spiritual Diary".
Once I was told about the following case concerning frequent Communion.
One woman used to receive Communion every day. She attracted attention
of the clergy authority. A confessor was instructed to check her.
In view of
the internal state of this lady he asked her to confess before every
Communion and when he considered it inconvenient, he advised her not to
approach the Holy Chalice. But such a spiritual guidance was too late for her.
She did not hesitate and continued to receive the Communion every day, going
from one church to another. Then she was traced and never admitted to the Holy
Communion.
And this lady came to not seeking to receive the Communion in the church and
imagined that she had already been given the Divine right to consecrate bread
and wine herself, and took the Communion every day at home, making so-called
Liturgy with prosphora and wine. Her case, however, ended sadly. She lost her
mind and she is currently in the mental hospital.
Thus, Holy Communion should be treated with great reverence; it should be taken
with a humble feeling every time, otherwise a frequent and unworthy taking of Holy
Communion may be a ground for self-delusion. Once a woman came to me in the
church and began reprimand me for she was not admitted to the Holy Communion
imagined that she had already been given the Divine right to consecrate bread
and wine herself, and took the Communion every day at home, making so-called
Liturgy with prosphora and wine. Her case, however, ended sadly. She lost her
mind and she is currently in the mental hospital.
Thus, Holy Communion should be treated with great reverence; it should be taken
with a humble feeling every time, otherwise a frequent and unworthy taking of Holy
Communion may be a ground for self-delusion. Once a woman came to me in the
church and began reprimand me for she was not admitted to the Holy Communion
every day, and by the way, on my question, whether she confessed her sins and
whether she deserved every day, as a woman, to take the Holy Communion, she
replied that she had no sins. Another woman required the daily Communion, while
she reeked of tobacco.
The Holy Communion is great, but its greatness requires great preparation, the great
dignity for its taking. "For it is a coal that burns the unworthy".
The Holy Communion is great, but its greatness requires great preparation, the great
dignity for its taking. "For it is a coal that burns the unworthy".
(Prayer before the Holy Communion.)
