PSA & Common Question
Over the past couple months, parishioners have told me
that they have received text messages or emails from
“me” requesting iTunes gift cards for a hospitalized friend.
This is a scam. I will never request fundraising through
text message or email. Unfortunately these scammers
are taking advantage of how much people trust their
priests. This particular scam has happened all over the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati and across the United States.
I spoke with a law enforcement officer about this and he
surmised that this is probably an overseas operation. Our
best guess is that the scammers go through our bulletin
online and contact any number or email address that
they find. This week I sent a letter to all of our bulletin
advertisers to alert them about the scam. It doesn’t
appear that they have hacked my cell phone or email
contacts because they contacted parishioners who aren’t
in my address book.
I am sorry for the inconvenience and frustration that
you may experience from this episode. It is sickening
that people prey upon the trust between a priest and
the flock. Also please be careful about any request for
money. There are hundreds of different scams concocted
each day.
On a different note, I thought I would answer a question
that I’ve received on numerous occasions: how many
times can we receive Holy Communion in a day?
The Code of Canon Law (basically the Ohio Revised
Code for the Catholic Church) in canon 917 states,
“A person who has already received the Most Holy
Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day
only within the Eucharistic celebration in which the
person participates…” Basically a person can receive
Holy Communion twice in one day as long as the second
occurrence is during Mass. We can only receive twice in
one day, not three or more.
A couple examples might be helpful. If you attend Mass
twice in a day, you can receive Holy Communion twice.
If you are at the hospital, nursing home, or communion
service and receive Holy Communion and then attend
Mass, you can receive Holy Communion both times.
However if the order is reversed, and you go to Mass
first, you can’t receive Holy Communion at the hospital,
nursing home, communion service or other location.
Many people believe that we can only receive once in
a day. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, Catholics could
only receive Holy Communion once a day. However
when the Code was updated in 1983, the law was
changed to the current practice.
One final caveat, canon 921 states, “The Christian
faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are
to be nourished by Holy Communion.” If you or your
loved one are in danger of death, you can receive Holy
Communion no matter the times or locations that you
already received Holy Communion that day.
The reason for having limits to the number of times that
we receive Holy Communion is for our own good. As
someone who regularly celebrates three Masses in a day,
there is a danger of losing fervor and devotion toward
the Eucharist. The incredible gift and mystery of the
Eucharist can become ordinary and it is possible to lose
the awe and wonder toward the Body and Blood of Jesus
Christ.
Keep the fire of love alive in your heart. Jesus is truly
present in the Eucharist!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Sean Wilson
