Raphael (1483-1520)
The Mass at Bolsena
Fresco, 1512
Stanza della Segnatura,
Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican
30
To receive communion is to receive Christ
Compendium of the Catechism
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291. What is required to receive
Holy Communion?
1385-1389
1415
To receive Holy Communion one
must be fully incorporated into the
Catholic Church and be in the state
of grace, that is, not conscious of
being in mortal sin. Anyone who is
conscious of having committed a
grave sin must first receive the
sacrament of Reconciliation before
going to Communion. Also
important for those receiving Holy
Communion are a spirit of
recollection and prayer,
observance of the fast prescribed
by the Church, and an appropriate
disposition of the body (gestures
and dress) as a sign of respect for
Christ.
Introduction
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The first Christians found
in the Eucharist the
reason to be heroic. Holy
Communion gave them
encouragement and
strength to defend their
faith even unto
martyrdom.
We should show the
same love and respect
which the first Christians
had for the Eucharist.
JANMOT, Anne-François-Louis (1814-1892)
Le Poème de l'âme - Première communion [The Poem of the
Soul - First Communion]
Oil on canvas, c.1851
44 3/8 x 57 inches (113 x 145 cm)
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon
Main ideas
1. The Eucharist as a Sacrifice and Communion
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The Eucharistic Sacrifice or Holy
Mass is both
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the memorial which perpetuates
the offering of Christ to the Father
on the cross,
 and also a sacrificial banquet of
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
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The Eucharistic celebration also
has as its aim the intimate union of
the faithful with Christ through Holy
Communion. To receive
Communion is to receive the same
Christ who offers Himself for us on
the cross.
TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista (1696-1770)
Last Communion of St Lucy
Oil on canvas, 1747-1748
87 3/8 x 39 3/4 inches (222 x 101 cm)
Santi Apostoli, Venice
2. Christ instituted the Eucharist as nourishment for
our souls
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Anyone who does eat my flesh
and drink my blood has eternal
life, and I shall raise that person
up on the last day. For my flesh is
real food and my blood is real
drink. Whoever eats my flesh and
drinks my blood lives in me and I
live in that person” (John 6:54-56).
In the Last Supper, when Our
Lord instituted the Eucharist:
“Take it and eat it, this is my
body” (Mathew 26:26). These
words clearly show that the body
of Christ is really present in the
Eucharist and that He gives
Himself to us as nourishment.
COELLO, Claudio
Communion of St. Teresa of Avila
Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid
3. The fruits of Communion
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Communion nourishes our spiritual
life in a similar way as material
food nourishes the life of our body.
What are the fruits of sacramental
communion?
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It increases our union with Christ
present in the sacrament.
It increases graces and virtues in
those who receive communion
worthily.
It keeps us away from sin; purifies
us from venial sins and failings,
because it increases our charity.
It strengthens the unity of the
Church, the mystical body of
Christ.
In the Eucharist, Christ gives us a
foretaste of eternal life.
GILLICK, James
Study for a portrait of Pope John Paul II
Private Collection
4. Dispositions for a good Communion
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The dispositions to receive
Christ worthily are:
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To be in a state of grace.
 To observe the Eucharistic
fast.
 To be conscious of whom we
receive.
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Even our external appearance
should reflect the piety and
respect with which we receive
Our Lord.
BOUTS, Dirck
Christ Blessing, detail from the Altarpiece of the Last Supper
1464-68
St. Peter's, Lovaina, Belgium
5. Thanksgiving after Communion
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Jesus remains in the
Eucharist out of His love for
us. The best way to receive
Him is to prepare well for
Communion, and, conscious
of the gift we receive, to
thank Him, not only in the
moment of Communion, but
also during the day.
After Communion we should
stay in the church or chapel
giving Him thanks, at least for
a few minutes.
DA VARALLO, Tanzio (1580-1635)
St. Carlo Borromeo Giving Communion To The Plague Victims
Oil on canvas, 1611-1612
Private collection
6. The obligation of receiving Communion and the
need to do it frequently
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Christ said: “If you do not eat the flesh
of the Son of man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you” (John 6:53).
Consequently, the Church stipulates in
its third precept that all Christians who
have attained the use of reason have to
receive Communion at least once a
year and during Easter time.
It is also an obligation to receive
Communion in danger of death. In this
case, Communion is received as
“Viaticum”, which means as preparation
for the “journey” to eternal life.
This is no more than the least we can
do, and should be understood as such.
That is why the Church encourages us
to receive Our Lord frequently, even
daily. If some day we cannot receive
Communion, it is good to make a
Spiritual Communion.
Jean Béraud (1849-1936)
First Communion
Oil on canvas
21 3/4 x 25 7/8 inches (55.3 x 66 cm)
Private collection
Resolutions for Christian life
Resolutions to move forward
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Make a firm resolution to
always receive Communion
with the due dispositions.
Remain a few minutes after
Mass giving thanks for having
received Jesus.