Receiving Holy Communion

by Fr. John Granato  |  04/14/2024  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

We are moving quickly through the Easter season. On this third Sunday of Easter we continue to rejoice in the Risen Lord and our redemption. As the beginning of the Gospel today says, the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. This is just a way to say that they recognized Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist.

Over the centuries countless men and women (and children) have come to see Jesus and encounter Jesus in the reception of the Eucharist. Every Easter and Christmas, we have many visitors that attend Mass. Many of these are not Catholic or, if they are Catholic, they have not attended Mass in a long time. It is easy to recognize a person who is not Catholic or is a Catholic but who has not come to Mass in a long time, because these people have no idea how to receive Holy Communion. In order to receive Holy Communion, you must be Catholic and you must not be in a state of mortal sin.

The guidelines are on page 330 of the Breaking Bread Missal. “We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. 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. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession.” When it comes to non-Catholics, the guidelines continue, “We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters……Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law. Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches.”

I am aware that there are Catholics who think we should allow all non-Catholics to receive Holy Communion, even those Christians who do not believe that we receive truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Receiving Communion as a Catholic is not only about understanding and believing in the Real Presence; Communion also means that we are in communion with the Holy Father in Rome and in communion with the authentic teachings of our Catholic faith. When a non-Catholic wants to receive communion, to truly receive communion means that this Christian accepts the teachings of our faith. Sadly, many of our own Catholics receive Holy Communion even when they disagree or dissent from Catholic teaching, especially the hot button issues of the male priesthood, sexuality and abortion. In many cases they justify their position because of certain Catholic priests and bishops who openly dissent from these same teachings. God bless.