I grew up believing that if you skipped a Sunday mass, which is a holiday of obligation, you had committed a mortal sin, because it’s like turning your back against Jesus Christ. It is a grave sin and thus you could not receive communion unless you went to confession.
Our family used to regularly attend either the Sunday mass or the anticipated mass. But ever since the pandemic hit, we no longer have it in our calendar. We go when we go. And since Oyen is already married, they have their own schedule, and I don’t want to require her to come with us to church. In other words, I in particular have committed a lot of mortal sins according to Catholic teachings.
Atty. Leo and Atty. Kat were married in a glass chapel inside Hamilo Coast. The structure doesn’t have a semblance of a traditional Catholic church but a priest celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony with a Holy Mass.
When the communion time came, all the wedding sponsors stood up to receive the holy host. For split seconds, I thought of not receiving the communion because I have a pile of mortal sins enough to fill an extra large shoe box. But I didn’t want to be the center of attention by being the only one who didn’t receive the communion. AHA! MAKASALANAN KA PALA! So I joined in the fray. Naki communion na rin ako. In my mind, nanay ko po, nadagdagan pa ang kasalanan ko. Kasi It’s a sin to receive the holy host if you have a mortal sin.
I stood up, lined up and pretended I was in a state of grace but said sorry to God for this violation. Nag communion na rin ako. When it was my turn, the hosts got stuck. There were two pieces stuck together and the priest didn’t have time to flick one off. He saw it, he tried to move it but no time because many were behind me. I ended up with two pieces of hosts stuck together. Of course I have to subo both, hindi naman pwede I will separate them, and what will I do with the extra one?
No choice, isinubo ko pareho. Ang tigas kasi ang kapal. I was very thirsty and my mouth was very dry. Ayaw matunaw. I had difficulty melting the two pieces of hosts, this time, nakadikit sa ngala-ngala ko. Ano ba sa English ang ngala-ngala? Nahirapan ako lunukin, ang tigas. I needed water.
Tubig!!!! Akala ko macho-choke ako. Ayaw ko umeksena, kasi magagalit sa akin lahat ng tao sa chapel. Aagaw pa ako ng pansin. But honestly, I got worried mahimatay ako.
