Q. Why is it that only those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church can receive Communion?
A. This is a very good question because, in our culture today, barring anyone from Communion can seem somewhat antisocial to downright rude. As a prelude: Any answer to this question should keep in mind the wisdom of Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The Eucharist, he says, “is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”
In my experience as a pastor, and as a human being, I believe what Pope Francis said is true. If we were without sin, we wouldn’t need Jesus, let alone his full presence in the Blessed Sacrament. So, why then, are some welcome to receive Communion and others told to receive a blessing instead?
The basic reason comes from the word “communion” itself. The very word implies that the one receiving the sacrament is in communion with the Body of Christ, the Church. This is because we believe that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist — body, blood, soul and divinity. It takes time to understand what this means for us as individuals, as part of a community, and why the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.
When we say “Amen,” we are agreeing with what the Church teaches, professes and believes. This has implications on how we are to live. Indeed, it was the practice from the earliest centuries, and continues to be to this day, that catechumens spend sufficient time preparing for their entry in the Catholic Church before they receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. By way of analogy: Just like it takes time to understand the laws and culture of the United States before being welcomed as a United States citizen, it takes time before one is ready to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Having said that, anyone who comes to church should be welcomed with open arms. They should be allowed to participate in our worship as appropriate and in the life of the community. They should be celebrated, not discouraged.
The other requirement for receiving holy Communion is to be in a state of grace. This means being free of serious sin, which we refer to as mortal sin. Many do not know that the Eucharist has the power to forgive less serious sins, which we refer to as venial sins. For them, the Eucharist is the medicine they need as the Holy Father encourages us. However, by its nature, mortal sin takes us away from full communion and, thus, away from Communion at Mass for a time. Praise God for the sacrament of reconciliation that offers us the grace of forgiveness, restoring our place in the body of Christ so to receive holy Communion again as a believer who is in communion with the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church.
I wish I had more space to type, but I hope this offers some insight into this very good question.
Bishop Frank Schuster is an auxiliary bishop of Seattle, also appointed regional bishop serving the southern region of the archdiocese. Have a question about the Catholic faith for Bishop Schuster? Email it to [email protected].