Holy Communion is an opportunity for Catholics to renew and strengthen their union with Jesus and with each other in the Church.
Catholics who receive Holy Communion are declaring Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist. Receiving Holy Communion affirms and binds them to the Church’s teaching and tradition.
Non-Catholics who do not share the same beliefs or do not have the same appreciation or respect for the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist should not present themselves for Holy Communion at a Catholic Mass.
Even Catholics should be fully inititated in the Church, be free from a state of mortal sin, have fasted, and approach the Blessed Sacrament with genuine love and devotion before receiving.
Reserved for its members from the earliest days of the Church:
Intended for those in union with God and one another:
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
The highest visible sign of our unity:
The ultimate act of worship:
Certainly, due to disagreements in matters of faith, it is not yet possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic Liturgy. And yet we do have a burning desire to join in celebrating the one Eucharist of the Lord, and this desire itself is already a common prayer of praise, a single supplication. Together we speak to the Father and increasingly we do so “with one heart”. At times it seems that we are closer to being able finally to seal this “real although not yet full” communion. A century ago who could even have imagined such a thing?
Pope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, May 25, 1995
Our vision is not the reality:
We are divided and that hurts:
The Eucharist and the unity of Christians. Before the greatness of this mystery St. Augustine exclaims, “O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!” The more painful the experience of the divisions in the Church which break the common participation in the table of the Lord, the more urgent are our prayers to the Lord that the time of complete unity among all who believe in Him may return.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1398
Not being in full union is a problem:
The way to experience this special intimacy:
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