Joshua Bennett
Communion, or the Eucharist, is a central part of the Mass in the Catholic Church. To receive Communion, one must be a baptized Catholic, free of grave sins, and in a state of grace. This means that a person who is conscious of having committed a grave sin must first make a sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason for receiving Communion and no opportunity to confess beforehand. The Catholic Church encourages frequent Communion, and mandates reception of the Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season. In preparation for Communion, one must observe the Eucharistic fast, abstaining from food and drink (except water and medicine) for at least one hour beforehand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State of grace | One must be in a state of grace to receive Communion. |
| Fasting | One must abstain from food and drink, except water and medicine, for at least one hour before Communion. |
| Eucharistic sharing | Eucharistic sharing by non-Catholics is not permitted unless in exceptional circumstances and with permission from the bishop. |
| Confession | One must have made a sacramental confession, except in cases of grave reasons and no opportunity to confess. |
| Transubstantiation | One must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation. |
| Excommunication | Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted are not to be admitted to Communion. |
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What You'll Learn
You must be a baptised Catholic
To receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, one must be a baptised Catholic. This is because the Church believes that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship. Therefore, members of churches with which the Catholic Church is not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion.
The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. "Communion" comes from the Latin "communio", which means "to be in union with". According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church refers to the Eucharist by this name "because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body".
The Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments, and of these, the Eucharist stands apart. St. Thomas Aquinas called it the “Sacrament of Sacraments”. Catholics are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently, even daily Communion if possible, and it is mandated that they receive the Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season.
First Communion usually takes place for children around seven years old, though some dioceses have recently moved this back a year or two. Catholics with intellectual disabilities may be admitted to Holy Communion if they are able to "distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food, even if this recognition is evidenced through manner, gesture, or reverential silence rather than verbally".
In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour, abstaining from any food or drink except water and medicine. A person who is conscious of grave sin should not receive Communion without prior sacramental confession, except in the case of a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In such a case, the person must be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.
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Believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation
The Catholic Church has several requirements for receiving Holy Communion, or the Eucharist. One of these requirements is to believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation.
Transubstantiation refers to the transformation of the bread and wine used in Communion into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. Only the appearances of bread and wine remain. This is based on the belief that during the Last Supper, Jesus held what appeared to be bread and wine but said, "This is my body".
The doctrine of transubstantiation holds that the bread and wine are not merely symbolic but are truly converted into the body and blood of Christ. This belief is central to the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist as a means of uniting oneself with Christ. By partaking in the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are partaking in the sacrifice of the cross and uniting themselves with Christ's body and blood.
The belief in transubstantiation is so important that the Church requires Catholics to be mindful of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and to receive Communion with faith and devotion. This means understanding that the bread and wine are not just symbols but are truly the body and blood of Christ.
The doctrine of transubstantiation is a key element of Catholic theology and plays a significant role in the Church's understanding of the Eucharist and Communion. It is through this doctrine that Catholics believe they are able to receive the body and blood of Christ and be in union with him.
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Observe the Eucharistic fast
To be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should observe the Eucharistic fast and normally should have fasted for one hour. This means abstaining from any food or drink, except water and medicine, for at least one hour before Holy Communion. This is a requirement that can be dispensed if one is elderly, ill, or a caretaker for someone who is ill. Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them.
The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharist is also referred to as Holy Communion. Communion comes from the Latin "communio", which means "to be in union with". According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church refers to the Eucharist by this name "because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body".
The Catholic Church sets out specific guidelines regarding how one should prepare to receive the Lord's body and blood in Communion. The Church encourages Catholics to receive Communion frequently, even daily if possible, and mandates reception of the Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season. Before going to Communion, one must be in a state of grace. This is an absolute requirement that can never be dispensed.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law emphasizes that a person who is conscious of grave sin should not receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and no opportunity to confess. In this case, the person must be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible. The U.S. bishops, in a document from November 2021, elaborate on this point: "To receive the Body and Blood of Christ while in a state of mortal sin represents a contradiction. The person who, by his or her own action, has broken communion with Christ and his Church but receives the Blessed Sacrament, acts incoherently, both claiming and rejecting communion at the same time."
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Be free of grave sins
To be eligible to receive the Catholic sacrament of Communion, one must be free of any grave sins. This means that an individual must be in a state of sanctifying grace, having confessed and repented for any serious sins.
The Church teaches that grave sins, also known as mortal sins, are those that sever the relationship with God and, if unconfessed, can lead to eternal separation from Him. These sins are committed when three conditions are met: the action or thought is seriously wrong and violates God's law, the person is fully aware of the wrongfulness of the act, and the person nonetheless chooses to engage in the act. Examples of grave sins include murder, adultery, and sacrilege.
To restore one's relationship with God after committing a grave sin, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confession, is necessary. In this sacrament, the penitent confesses their sins to a priest, expresses contrition and a desire to amend their ways, and receives absolution. Through this process, the person is reconciled with God and the Church and is once again worthy to receive Communion.
It is important to note that the Church also recognizes venial sins, which are less serious offenses that do not completely sever the relationship with God. While venial sins do not require the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they should nonetheless be confessed and atoned for through prayer and acts of penance. Regular confession of venial sins is also encouraged as a means of spiritual growth and to prevent them from becoming mortal sins.
Therefore, to be free of grave sins and worthy to receive Communion, Catholics are called to regularly examine their conscience, confess their sins, and seek reconciliation with God and the Church. This process ensures that they are in a state of grace and can fully participate in the sacramental life of the Church.
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Receive Communion at least once a year
The Catholic Church encourages its members to receive Communion frequently, even daily if possible, and mandates reception of the Eucharist at least once a year during the Easter season.
The Church sets out specific guidelines for receiving Communion, which are issued by the U.S. bishops and published in many missalettes. These guidelines remind Catholics of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion.
To be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. Canon law states, "One who is to receive the most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion" (CIC 919 §1).
Elderly people, those who are ill, and their caretakers are excused from the Eucharistic fast (CIC 919 §3). Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them (cf. CIC 89).
The Church tells Catholics not to receive the Eucharist in a state of grave sin, not to punish or shame them, but to protect them from committing that sin. If a person is conscious of grave sin, they should not receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession, unless there is a grave reason and no opportunity to confess. In this case, the person must be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (CIC 916).
The requirement for sacramental confession can be dispensed if four conditions are fulfilled:
- There must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death).
- It must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first.
- The person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition.
- They must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has several requirements for taking communion, or the Eucharist. Firstly, you must be a baptised Catholic. Secondly, you must be free of any grave sins. Thirdly, you must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which means that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. Finally, you must fast for one hour before taking communion, with only water and medicine permitted during this period.
During the Mass, the congregation leaves their pews and proceeds to the front of the church. When you reach the priest, bow and hold out your hands or tongue to receive the host. After the priest says "The Body of Christ", respond with "Amen". After receiving the host, you may also choose to receive the Blood of Christ by taking a sip from the chalice offered to you. After receiving the Blood of Christ, bow and return to your seat to pray.
Elderly people, those who are ill, and their caretakers are exempt from the Eucharistic fast.
Generally, only Catholics can receive communion in the Catholic Church. However, in exceptional circumstances, other Christians may be permitted to receive communion with the permission of the diocesan bishop and according to the provisions of canon law.
