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Guidelines for Receiving Communion
For Catholics
Catholics fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when they receive Holy Communion in fulfillment of Christ’s command to eat His Body and drink His Blood. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, communicants should not be conscious of grave sin, have fasted for an hour, and seek to live in charity and love with their neighbors. Persons conscious of grave sin must first be reconciled with God and the Church through the sacrament of Penance. A frequent reception of the sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
For Other Christians
We welcome to this celebration of the Eucharist those Christians who are not fully united with us. It is a consequence of the sad divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend to them a general invitation to receive Communion. Catholics believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying a oneness in faith, life, and worship of the community. Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not yet exist, and for which we must all pray.
For Those Not Receiving Communion
Those not receiving sacramental Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.
For Non-Christians
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus. While we cannot extend to them an invitation to receive Communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.
National Conference of Catholic Bishops Washington, DC November 8, 1986
PUBLISHED BY
SUNDAY MISSAL SERVICE
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New English translations of the Order of Mass, English translations of the responsorial antiphons between the readings, alleluia verse, and Rite of Marriage Copyrighted 1969, 1970, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Scripture texts from “The New American Bible" copyright 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine are used herein by license of said copyright owner. All rights reserved.
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