Topic:  When should a Catholic NOT receive Holy Communion?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: July 27, 2004

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:  Once again, I am new here and am very grateful to have found this website..thank you!!!My question deals w/ communion. I wanted to know how would I know not to have communion?? All of my life, I understood that if you have a few little sins then you can still receive communion but how just how many sins constitute little??? Thank you.

Answer: 

The only time that a Catholic ought NOT to receive Holy Communion is when she/he is conscious of having committed a mortal sin.

A sin is "mortal," that is, "deadly," when it meets all three of the following conditions:

1. The sin must be a serious offense against God and neighbor
2. The person who has committed the sin must KNOW that it is a serious offense against God and neighbor
3. The person who has committed the sin must have given the full consent of his/her will to the act of having committed the sin

Only when a person has committed a mortal sin -- that is, a sin which meets all three of the criteria enumerated above -- should that person refrain from receiving Holy Communion. In such a case, a person should immediately seek out the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that he/she can return to a full participation in the Sacramental life of the Church, including the reception of Holy Communion in the Eucharistic celebration.

Venial sins, that is, all sins which are not mortal, should not prevent a Catholic from receiving Holy Communion. Even the aggregation of a vast number of venial sins should not prevent a person from receiving the Eucharist.

In the Eucharistic celebration, the community is invited to participate in a confession of sinfulness which is followed by the Priest Presider pronouncing a prayer of forgiveness. When accompanied by an act of perfect contrition -- that is, a sincere and profound personal prayer for God's mercy, love and forgiveness as well as a prayer to ask God for the grace to stay away from sin -- the Eucharist itself cleanses us from (venial) sin.

So, you should receive Holy Communion every time you go to Mass -- with the exception of when you may be assisting at Liturgy and be aware that you have committed a mortal sin which you have not confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The bottom line is that God WELCOMES us to the Table. We all prayer at every Mass, "Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the Word and I shall be healed." Nobody is "worthy" to receive Holy Communion, but we are ALL made "worthy" because in Christ Jesus God has said the Word!

Blessings!