The Eucharist, Part 12
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~
Today we continue our twenty part series on the Eucharist. In case you missed the first three, you can find them here. This is in keeping with Archbishop Etienne’s pastoral letter on the Eucharist that you can find here (in case you missed it). Enjoy.
May God Bless You,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
Trent Horn, 20 Answers – The Eucharist. Catholic Answers Press. 2015
Get your own copy from Catholic.com
Question #12:
Under what circumstances can Catholics receive the Eucharist?
According to the Code of Canon Law, “Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to Holy Communion. The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion . . . . A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession.”
Why does the Church prohibit receiving the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin? St. Paul issued a stern warning to any who might receive the Eucharist in a unworthy or sinful way. He wrote, “Whoever therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died” (1 Cor. 11:27-30).
Although the Eucharist does have the power to wipe away venial sin and minor imperfections in the soul [if the penitent is truly repentant and makes a good act of contrition], the Church teaches that anyone who is conscious of mortal sin (i.e., sin that is grave, freely chosen, and separates one from God’s grace) should not receive the Eucharist. While in a state of mortal sin, the person brings judgment upon himself when he consumes the very Savior he has forsaken through his sins. The Code of Canon Law says this person may not “receive the body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is
present [example: death] and there is no opportunity for confession; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.”
The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is distinct from the obligation to receive the Eucharist. The Church requires a person to receive the Eucharist only once a year, usually during the Easter season. No one is obligated to receive the Eucharist at any particular Mass, because a person may be in a state of mortal sin or otherwise unprepared to receive. However, even if a person cannot receive the Eucharist physically, he can still make an act of spiritual communion and pray to receive Jesus into his heart. St Teresa of Avila said, “When you do not receive Communion and your do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.”
It is also not required that a person attend Mass in order to receive the Eucharist. There are many reasons why people may be physically unable to attend Mass, and it would be unjust to deny them the grace of the sacrament just because of their inability to attend the liturgy. Sick or homebound people, for example, may have the Eucharist brought to them by a priest, deacon, acolyte, or other qualified person [if one is available].
However, even if a person is not in the proper state to receive the Eucharist, he or she is still obligated to attend Mass. The Church “requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration” (CCC 2042).
