I am not a Catholic but I attend Mass every week with my fiance who is a Catholic. I have noticed when we attend Saturday mass with his mother, who I know is also Catholic, that she never receives communion. I though the only reason to not receive it was because your weren't baptized. Are there other reasons you cannot receive communion? Thanks~

-- Emelyn Smith (emyland@yahoo.com), August 10, 2004

Answers

One who is not Catholic should not receive Communion in a Catholic Church, even if they are baptized. Another requirement for receiving Communion is that you have fasted for at least an hour; however that is practically automatic. By the time you leave your home, get to church, and the Mass procedes to the time of Communion, an hour has passed. One may not receive Communion if one has committed a serious (mortal) sin and has not yet confessed it; or if one is in an ongoing situation of overt sin such as an invalid marriage. Another reason some people might refrain would be an allergy to wheat, such as celiac disease. In that case arrangements could be made in one's local parish to receive Communion under the form of the consecrated wine. However, if such arrangements had not been made beforehand, a person with such a medical condition would refrain from receiving.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 10, 2004.

Thanks Paul but I don't think any of those reasons would explain why she doesn't receive it. Is their anything wrong with not receiving Holy Communion according to the faith? Or is it simply a matter of personal choice?

-- Emelyn Smith (emyland@yahoo.com), August 10, 2004.

Catholics are required to receive Holy Communion once a year, during the Easter season. Other than that it is a matter of choice. However, since Jesus Himself said that receiving the Eucharist is necessary for the fullness of spiritual life (John 6:53-56), every Catholic should choose to receive often.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 10, 2004.

"Are there other reasons you cannot receive communion? Thanks~ "

Sometimes Catholics don't feel like they are worthy enough to receive the Holy Eucharist. There doesn't have to be anything carved in stone about why one is not. Even though you are not Catholic you can still make a spiirtual communion. You don't have to be Catholic to do this.

I don't receive Holy Communion unless I go to Confession with in the past week before because I know what a sinner I am in my eyes, thoughts, temper, laziness etc.......... ..St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "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. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion. (CCC 1385)

Translation: taking this Sacrament with serious, unconfessed sin on the soul brings condemnation rather than salvation!

We are also required to fast for just one hour before receiving. Water and medicine do not break a fast. Catholics are obliged to receive this sacrament at least once per year, if possible during Easter (CCC 1388).

Thanks for asking and please feel free to ask questions to learn about the Catholic Church started over 2000 years ago by Jesus Christ our Lord.

May God bless you&your fiance with a healthy Catholic family.

-- - (David@excite.com), August 10, 2004.

Dear Paul, I noticed you brought up the matter of fasting for one hour, stating that it's almost automatic. I just wanted to ask something concerning this. Does "fasting" according the the Catholic teaching mean simply the state of not eating food, or does it carry the intentions of the heart?

For example, if someone just happens to not eat within the hour without even thinking about going to mass later, does this qualify as fasting? My understanding of it is that fasting is something that flows from the intentions of the heart. In short, I believe that praying and not eating is quite differrent from praying and fasting.

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), August 10, 2004.

Yes Oliver, you have a valid point. Actually the wording of the regulation in canon law regarding reception of the Eucharist does not mention "fasting" specifically. It only requires "abstaining" from food and drink, except water and required medication, for at least one hour before Holy Communion. However, true fasting is indeed a matter of the heart and the spirit, not just a physical act. The Bible tells us that genuine fasting can have great spiritual effect. The Apostles prayed and fasted before making important decisions, to help them be more open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus said that some kinds of evil can be driven out only by prayer and fasting. True fasting is always accompanied by prayer, and is actually a form of prayer itself. So I guess one could say that something less than genuine fasting is sufficient to meet "the letter of the law" regarding reception of the Eucharist, but approaching the Eucharist in "the spirit of the law", preparing onesself spiritually by confession, fasting and prayer, is certainly preferable, and makes us more receptive to the unique graces of the Eucharist in their fullness.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 10, 2004.

I would go to a few Masses and actually time it from beginning to Communion--in our area, most Masses only run an hour at most total, so if you live very close by, you may actually not have fasted for the entire hour if you have coffee say, while you're getting ready.

Maybe that's why some people prefer early Mass--they go to breakfast (no pun intended) afterwards....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), August 11, 2004.

Actually GT, I think that's where the word breakfast came from, so it might not be a pun after all... 8-)

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), August 14, 2004.