For many Catholics, receiving the Holy Eucharist is the most intimate encounter they have with Christ each week. However, amidst the beauty and reverence, many of us unintentionally approach the Eucharist in ways that are less than fitting. While these practices may not always result in mortal sin, they can detract from the sacredness and the grace we are meant to receive through this great sacrament. Below are three common mistakes often made by well-intentioned Catholics during Holy Communion.
Not Observing the Eucharistic Fast
One of the basic requirements for receiving the Holy Eucharist is to observe a fast. Now, it’s not an elaborate or complicated fast; the Church simply asks us to abstain from food and drink for one hour before receiving Communion. This excludes water and medicine.
What Does the Church Say?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.” (CCC 1387)
Why is this Important?
The Eucharistic fast serves as a simple but effective way of preparing ourselves to meet the Lord. By temporarily abstaining from earthly sustenance, we focus more keenly on the heavenly sustenance we receive in the Eucharist.
Receiving the Eucharist in a State of Mortal Sin
Another commonly overlooked requirement is the state of our soul when approaching Communion. Many Catholics, perhaps out of habit or societal pressure, go up to receive the Eucharist even when they are conscious of having committed a mortal sin.
What Does the Church Say?
The Catechism is clear on this matter: “Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.” (CCC 1457)
Why is this Important?
Receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is a grave matter and itself constitutes a mortal sin (1 Corinthians 11:27). In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he warns, “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.”
Not Demonstrating Due Reverence
Lastly, and perhaps most subtly, is the matter of how we receive the Eucharist. While practices vary depending on local custom and individual instruction, the Church prescribes certain universal norms that demonstrate reverence.
What Does the Church Say?
In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, it states that the faithful “should not go up to receive Holy Communion without reverence.” In terms of posture, one may receive either on the tongue or in the hand, as permitted by local norms, but both methods require a reverential attitude.
Why is this Important?
The manner in which we receive the Eucharist is not simply an individual preference; it is a public act of worship and should signify our reverence and awe for the Sacrament. In the words of St. Augustine, “If you receive worthily, you are what you have received.”
Final Thoughts
While the Eucharist is a gift of immeasurable grace, it is not a casual event. As Catholics, we should strive to receive the Eucharist in a way that honors both its sacredness and its transformative power. By avoiding these common mistakes, we can better prepare ourselves for this profound meeting with Christ.
It’s crucial to remember that these guidelines are not mere human rules but are based on the teachings of the Church that Christ himself instituted. Each of these points reflects a universal teaching of the Church, not merely a theological opinion.
By conforming our actions to the wisdom of the Church, we allow ourselves to be transformed by what we receive. We allow the Eucharist to be what it truly is: a meeting point between heaven and earth, where we come as we are but leave changed, renewed, and sanctified.