Receiving Communion I
Who can receive Communion in a Catholic church? Let’s
In order to properly receive Communion, a Catholic must be in a
state of grace. This means that the person receiving Communion
should not be conscious of any grave, or mortal, sin and have
fasted for one hour. If the recipient has committed mortal sin, they
should refrain from receiving the Eucharist until after they have
gone to the Sacrament of Confession, also called Penance or Reconciliation.
If for some grave reason there is no opportunity for the
Sacrament of Confession, then the faithful should make a perfect
act of contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as
possible. If one has committed venial sins, then confession is not
required. The Church teaches that reception of the Eucharist, along
with true repentance, wipes away venial sins.
The Church encourages frequent reception of the Sacrament of
Penance. If a Catholic has committed mortal sin, he or she is
required to go to Confession at least once per year. This helps us to
get back in a state of grace so that we can once again receive our
Blessed Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
For further study:
Code of Canon Law – Canon 916
Canon 988, 989 • CCC 1385-1387, 1393-1395
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talk about Catholics.
Notes