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HOLY COMMUNION
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist "ex rei natura", after the Mass Itself which is the greatest Gift from God after the Gift of Life and of Jesus Himself and from which this Sacrament flows, is the most wonderful Gift the Lord has given to us. For in this Gift, our Lord God shares with us His very being as He sits now in glory at the right hand of the Father. How much must God love us? Look at all He has given to us! He has given us the Gift of Life! The Gift of His only-begotten Son Who earned our salvation and more! And this Gift of His very Self in the Eucharist! God gives us this Gift so that He can become one with us, and we can become one with Him and with one another. Because of this forming us into a community with Him and with one another, we call this great Sacrament: Holy Comm-union.
This Sacrament is not merely a symbol of Jesus. Nor is It merely something holy. Rather, the Eucharist is Jesus Himself. Because Jesus loves each of us and cares so deeply for each one of us, He comes to us in this most precious and wonderful Gift of His Body and His Blood. Let us daily remember what this Gift is. That It is the same Jesus Who once hung upon the cross for us to save us from our sins, Whose Blood flowed down from His side to make us His People, His Church. That It is the same Jesus Who now sits in glory with the Father. And, the very same Spirit Who united the Son of God to the ovum supplied by Mary to form the person Jesus, unites us now with Jesus. It is Jesus that we are becoming ever more and more, as we pilgrimage through life. For through Baptism, the power of the Spirit unites us to Jesus to become the Body of Christ in the world today. And since we become what we consume, by consuming the Body and the Blood of Christ we become more intimately the Body of the Christ in the world. Truly, we can say with St. Paul: "I live now, not I, but Christ He lives in me!" (Galatians 2:20).
Thus, we should take and eat this Body as often as possible, so that our bond of unity with Jesus may grow ever more deeply and may never be broken. We should take and drink this Blood, so that we may never lose heart on our pilgrim way to the Father because of our sinfulness.
Regarding who can receive Holy Communion? Any baptized Catholic Christian who has made his/her First Holy Communion has the right to receive Holy Communion throughout his/her life unless impeded by having committed serious sin and not yet having been reconciled in the Sacrament of Penance. To receive Holy Communion in the state of serious sin, is to commit the most serious sin of sacrilege.
In addition, baptized Orthodox Christians and Polish National Catholic Christians may also receive this Gift, though they should do this only with the permission of their local Hierarchy or their local Pastor, whether that permission is explicit or implicit.
Children should begin their preparation to receive Holy Communion for the first time at the age of six (6), as this preparatory period takes two school years. If a parent considers his/her child ready earlier, that parent should talk to the pastor.
Regarding Conditions for Receiving Holy Communion? All baptized Catholic Christians are invited and encouraged to receive the Sacrament of the Body and the Blood of Christ at each and every Eucharist in which they participate. All that is necessary, is that the communicant:
must be free from all serious sin;
should be fasting from food and drink for at least one hour;
should have the prayerful intention and attitude of receiving Christ Jesus
Himself and of becoming ever more intimately united to Him so as to be
the Body of Christ, the Church, in the world today.
should spend some time after receiving the Lord talking intimately with
Jesus within him/her.
Regarding Serious Sin? Any person who has knowingly committed even one serious sin, must first present any and all serious sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before approaching the altar. Some examples of serious sins are: having missed Sunday Mass, being married outside the Catholic Church or living with someone, getting high on drugs or alcohol, gravely hurting or offended another whether by word or deed, committing fornication or adultery or sodomy, stealing gravely, murdering someone or participating in an abortion, attempting suicide, failing to share with the poor (miserliness). As St. Paul writes in his I Letter to the Corinthians 6:9-10, such persons will never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven without having been forgiven such sins.
Regarding Fasting before Communion? A person should fast from food and drink for one hour. Water does not break the fast, nor does any form of medication. E.g., for a diabetic, the need to take orange juice or whatever when taking insulin, would be considered to take a medication.
Regarding Fasting and Sick Persons, and also their caregivers? All who are seriously ill need only to fast from food and drink for fifteen minutes when Holy Communion is brought to their home. Care-givers also need only fast fifteen minutes.
Regarding How Often One Should Receive Holy Communion? Holy Communion must be received at least once a year during the Easter Season. However, Holy Communion may be received as often as possible, daily is best. Even twice daily provided the second time is at a Mass in which one fully participates.
Regarding Receiving Holy Communion More Than Once a Day? Holy Communion may be received a second time in the same day, provided It is received during a Mass in which the communicant fully participates.
Regarding How to Receive Holy Communion? Holy Communion in the form of the Sacred Host may be received "on the tongue" or "in the hand". If "on the tongue", the tongue should be well extended. If "on the hand", the hand should be open flat. The communicant does not grab the Sacred Host. Nor should there be anything in the hand, not even a rosary or a prayer book. It is a serious sign of disrespect to have a hanky or Kleenex or whatever in your hand, whether clean or dirty. If Holy Communion is administered by Intinction, as has been done since the earliest years of Christianity in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches, It must be received on the tongue.
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