‘Easter Duty’

My dear family in Christ,

Those of us of a certain age likely remember Catholics who spoke of having to fulfill their “Easter duty.” For many, this phrase meant that they needed to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession at some point during Lent or the Easter season. I have been thinking of this because the “Easter duty” isn’t something I have heard mentioned recently. So, the questions I want to ask and answer: “Is there an Easter duty for Catholics? If so, what is it?”

Is there an Easter duty? Yes, but it’s not what many people think. What has been seen as a duty to go to confession is really the Church’s prescription that Catholics who have received First Holy Communion are obligated to received Holy Communion at the minimum once a year. This requirement is spelled out in the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 920 §1. After being initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year.

  • 2. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at another time during the year.

The “duty” emphasized by the Church is for Catholics to encounter the Lord in the reception of Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. This is the bare minimum threshold for the reception of the Eucharist.

So why do so many people see the duty as a requirement for going to confession? As noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

The Church obliges the faithful to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season. But the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily (CCC 1389).

In order to receive Holy Communion worthily, we must be free from mortal sins, and for this to happen, we need to go to confession. So, the obligation to receive Holy Communion during the Easter season made people not in a state of grace recognize their duty to celebrate confession prior to presenting themselves for communion. Hence, the “Easter duty” for many was focused on confession and not Holy Communion.

What does this mean for us today?  It means the Church wants us to receive Holy Communion frequently. This most intimate encounter with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which strengthens us in faith, hope, and charity, is something we all should long to receive regularly.  However, the Church also knows that we sometimes stumble in our lives of faith and so extends to us the mercy of Christ in confession. The two sacraments go hand in hand to assist us to grow in holiness.

I encourage us all to examine our consciences regularly (here’s a link to a good examination of conscience Examination-of-Conscience-Ten-Commandments.pdf from usccb.org) and if we are conscious of mortal sin rush to receive Our Lord’s healing in reconciliation. Let’s not wait for a yearly confession but seek this spiritual remedy on a regular basis so that we can receive the Bread of Life on a weekly or even daily basis. Let’s not see this as just a duty but a privilege and grace.

Our Lord wants us to be healed and nourished; why would we intentionally stay away from Him who is our salvation?

In Christ,

Monsignor John J. McDermott

Diocesan Administrator