Can one receive the Eucharist...

[Ziggamafu]

So I was given five things to do for penence. I did the first four immediately. But my conscience and prudential judgement tell me that the fifth one needs careful planning and patience, or else several people could be hurt (some people indirectly) or traumatized, emotionally. Basically, I have to fess up to something I did a long time ago to those who were on the unfortunate end of my actions. Some of these people don't even know what happened, however, or maybe don't even know that anything happened at all. And there is currently a fairly complicated mess that networks all those involved closely together. Since I've set a date for completion of this fifth aspect of my penence, but I don't think I should immediately do it, can I still take communion? Am I still in mortal sin?

Is absolution and restoration to full communion conditional upon the timely completion of penence? And what is "timely"?

Thanks.

[cappie]

My answer would be based on the following Canons you would not be precluded from communion

Can. 912 Any baptised person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

Can. 987 In order that the faithful may receive the saving remedy of the sacrament of penance, they must be so disposed that, repudiating the sins they have committed and having the purpose of amending their lives, they turn back to God.

Can. 988 §1 The faithful are bound to confess, in kind and in number, all grave sins committed after baptism, of which after careful examination of conscience they are aware, which have not yet been directly pardoned by the keys of the Church, and which have not been confessed in an individual confession.
§2 The faithful are recommended to confess also venial sins.

Edited July 27, 2005 by cappie

[cappie]

sorry I forgot "timley" completion should be understood as convienant. If something can not be completed before going to HC then the good will suffices. Particularly I would thing the priest wold not assign a penance with the thought of excluding you from communion