Michael Brooks
Communion is an important aspect of the Catholic faith, and there are several requirements that must be met to receive it. Firstly, one must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which states that the bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Catholics are also required to fast for an hour before taking Communion, refraining from eating or drinking anything except water and medicine. This practice, known as the Eucharistic Fast, is a demonstration of faith and devotion. Additionally, those who have committed grave sins, such as abortion or euthanasia, must first go to Confession and repent before receiving Communion. While non-Catholics are generally not permitted to receive Communion, in rare emergency situations, such as the danger of death, they may be administered the sacrament if they manifest Catholic faith and are properly disposed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can receive communion? | Catholics who are not in a state of grave sin and have confessed. |
| Non-Catholics in emergency situations, such as danger of death, may be received into the Church and given communion. | |
| Eastern Orthodox Christians may receive communion from Catholic priests. | |
| Protestants may receive communion under specific circumstances. | |
| Non-Christians cannot receive communion. | |
| Catholics with intellectual disabilities may be admitted to Holy Communion if they can distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food. | |
| How to receive communion? | Communion may be received in the hand or on the tongue. |
| If not receiving communion, one may go up and cross their arms to be blessed by the priest or prayed over by a layman. | |
| Beliefs about communion | Catholics believe that the bread and wine are physically transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. |
| Lutherans believe in Consubstantiation, where Christ is present in the bread and wine, but it is still physically bread and wine. | |
| Some Protestant churches believe that the bread and wine only represent Christ. |
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What You'll Learn
Communion is only for practicing Catholics in a state of grace
Communion is a sacred ritual in the Catholic Church, and there are specific guidelines regarding who can receive it. The Catholic Church teaches that only those who are practising Catholics in a state of grace can receive Communion. This means that individuals must be free of unconfessed or mortal sin and must have undergone sacramental confession.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law states that "a person who is conscious of a grave sin is not to... receive the body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present". This indicates that Communion is not to be received by those who are not in a state of grace, which can be achieved through perfect contrition and the intention of confessing as soon as possible.
For Catholics, the consecrated bread and wine are believed to be the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, a doctrine known as transubstantiation. This belief sets the Catholic Church apart from other Christian denominations, such as Lutheranism, which holds to the doctrine of consubstantiation, where Christ is present in the bread and wine but they still retain their physical substance. As such, non-Catholics are generally not permitted to receive Communion during a Catholic Mass, as their "amen" would lack authenticity.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. In rare circumstances, non-Catholics may receive Communion from a Catholic priest, particularly in the case of Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share a similar faith concerning the nature of the sacraments. Additionally, in emergency situations where there is a danger of death, Catholic ministers may administer Communion to other Christians who are properly disposed and manifest Catholic faith in the sacraments.
It is important to note that the decision to receive Communion is a matter of individual conscience and one's relationship with God. Those who do not meet the requirements for receiving Communion, whether Catholic or non-Catholic, can still participate in the Mass by going up for a blessing or prayer instead.
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Non-Catholics may receive communion in emergency situations
Communion is a holy act in the Catholic Church, and there are several requirements that must be met before one can receive Holy Communion. According to the Bible, those who take communion must be humble, born again, free of unconfessed sin, and living in obedience to God. The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ, and by taking communion, one agrees with all Catholic Church teachings.
However, there are certain emergency situations in which non-Catholics may receive communion from a Catholic priest. This is permitted by the Code of Canon Law, which states that "if the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church". This applies to situations where non-Catholics cannot approach a minister of their own community and must ask for it themselves, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed.
The circumstances in which Protestants are permitted to receive Communion are more limited, though it is still possible for them to do so under certain specifically defined circumstances. This is especially true for Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share a similar faith concerning the nature of the sacraments. In these cases, Catholic ministers may administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick to members of the Oriental Churches.
It is important to note that even in these rare circumstances, the same requirements apply to non-Catholics as to Catholics. Non-Christians, however, cannot receive Communion as they have not received baptism, which is the gateway to the other sacraments. In emergency situations, they can be received into the Church via baptism, even if no priest is present, and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may bring them Communion.
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Communion can be received in the hand or on the tongue
Communion is a significant religious action in Christianity, specifically in the Catholic Church. Communion, or Holy Communion, is a sacred meal where members of the community receive the Body and Blood of Christ, which is believed to be the sign and source of their unity.
Receiving Communion on the tongue involves placing the right hand over the left, with both hands raised towards the mouth as a sign of reverence. This method was mandated by a local council in Rouen in 878, and it was the conventional way of receiving Communion for many centuries. St. Thomas Aquinas also explains that only the consecrated fingers of a priest should touch the host. During the COVID outbreak, some priests encouraged people to refrain from receiving Communion on the tongue to prevent the spread of the virus. However, there is no scientific evidence that this method of distribution increases the risk of transmitting diseases.
While there is no Church law forbidding either method of receiving Communion, individuals should be mindful of proper and improper ways of receiving. Ultimately, the choice of how to receive Communion should be respected, as it is a personal decision that carries spiritual significance for the individual.
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You must fast for an hour before taking communion
To receive communion in the Catholic Church, one must adhere to certain requirements. The Catholic Church teaches that communion is a sign, symbol, and expression of communion with God. Therefore, a person who is conscious of grave sin should not ordinarily receive the Eucharist without first making a sacramental confession. Canon Law No. 919 states that one must fast for at least one hour before receiving communion. This means abstaining from all food and drink except water and medicine.
The discipline of fasting before communion has a long history in the Catholic Church. In 1953, Pope Pius XII, in his Apostolic Constitution Christus Dominus, reminded Catholics that fasting in preparation for Communion pays "due honor to our Divine Redeemer, it fosters piety...and it can help to increase in us most salutary fruits of holiness." In 1957, Pope Pius XII reduced the fast to three hours, and in 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced the fast to the current requirement of one hour.
The purpose of the fast is to prepare oneself mentally and spiritually to receive Communion. As Pope Pius XII stated, "when the body is not weighted down by food, the mind more easily is lifted up" so that we can "meditate upon that hidden and transcendent Mystery that works in the soul, as in a temple, to the increase of divine charity." The fast is also intended to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.
It is important to note that the canon stipulates "at least one hour," indicating that Catholics are encouraged to fast for longer periods if they feel called to do so. Additionally, the same fasting requirements apply to non-Catholics who receive Communion in the Catholic Church, which is possible in certain circumstances, especially for Eastern Orthodox Christians.
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After communion, stay after Mass and thank Jesus
Holy Communion is a sacred practice in the Catholic Church, and partaking in it is a profound spiritual experience. It is a time when Catholics receive the very body and blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, as they believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation. This is a time for Catholics to deepen their unity with the Church and be more fully assimilated into Christ.
After receiving Communion, it is customary for Catholics to stay after Mass and express their gratitude to Jesus for coming to them in the Holy Eucharist. This is a time for personal prayer and reflection, giving thanks for the gift of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
- "Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Separated from Thee let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me, and close to Thee bid me. That with Thy saints I may be praising Thee forever and ever. Amen."
- "Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation."
- "Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by communion, at least by grace and love. Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, for I do not merit it, but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You! Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I seek, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen."
- "Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son in the Holy Eucharist. I humbly adore You and offer my praise for this unfathomable mystery that continually nourishes and strengthens me to live in imitation of Christ. Through participation in the Eucharist, deepen my faith, hope, and love. Draw me into greater communion with You and Your Church. Help me live courageously as Your disciple, now sent forth into the world to walk in Your light. I ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
These prayers provide an opportunity for Catholics to express their love, gratitude, and devotion to Jesus after receiving Communion.
While Holy Communion is a sacred practice in the Catholic Church, there may be circumstances where non-Catholics are permitted to receive Communion. This is particularly true for Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share similar beliefs about the nature of the sacraments. In certain situations, Protestant Christians may also be allowed to receive Communion under specific conditions. However, non-Christians cannot receive Communion unless they are baptised in an emergency situation.
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Frequently asked questions
Non-Catholics cannot receive communion. However, in emergency situations, they can be received into the Church via baptism, and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may bring them Communion.
Catholics must be in a state of grace and believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation to receive communion. This means that they must not have committed any mortal sins or, if they have, they must have gone to confession and repented before receiving communion.
Communion may be received either in the hand or on the tongue. If receiving in the hand, hold out your hands with the left on top of the right. If receiving on the tongue, extend your tongue so the priest can place the host on it. After receiving the host, you may choose to receive the Blood of Christ by taking a small sip from the chalice. Then, return to your seat and kneel in prayer.
