What are the three conditions necessary to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church?

Question

I cant find it anywhere it would be helpful if you could

Answer 1

You don't state whether you mean a Catholic or non-Catholic. There are three conditions that must be met for a non-Catholic to receive ...and are laid out in such a manner that almost all are never met. For Catholics, however, the following applies:

The Church sets out specific guidelines regarding how we should prepare ourselves to receive the Lord’s body and blood in Communion. To receive Communion worthily, you must be in a state of grace, have made a good confession since your last mortal sin, believe in transubstantiation, observe the Eucharistic fast, and, finally, not be under an ecclesiastical censure such as excommunication.

First, you must be in a state of grace. "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" (1 Cor. 11:27–28). This is an absolute requirement which can never be dispensed. To receive the Eucharist without sanctifying grace in your soul profanes the Eucharist in the most grievous manner.

A mortal sin is any sin whose matter is grave and which has been committed willfully and with knowledge of its seriousness. Grave matter includes, but is not limited to, murder, receiving or participating in an abortion, homosexual acts, having sexual intercourse outside of marriage or in an invalid marriage, and deliberately engaging in impure thoughts (Matt. 5:28–29). Scripture contains lists of mortal sins (for example, 1 Cor. 6:9–10 and Gal. 5:19–21). For further information on what constitutes a mortal sin, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Out of habit and out of fear of what those around them will think if they do not receive Communion, some Catholics, in a state of mortal sin, choose to go forward and offend God rather than stay in the pew while others receive the Eucharist. The Church’s ancient teaching on this particular matter is expressed in the Didache, an early Christian document written around A.D. 70, which states: "Whosoever is holy [i.e., in a state of sanctifying grace], let him approach. Whosoever is not, let him repent" (Didache 10).

Second, you must have been to confession since your last mortal sin. The Didache witnesses to this practice of the early Church. "But first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one" (Didache 14).

The 1983 Code of Canon Law indicates that the same requirement applies today. "A person who is conscious of a grave sin is not to . . . receive the body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible" (CIC 916).

The requirement for sacramental confession can be dispensed if four conditions are fulfilled: (1) there must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death), (2) it must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first, (3) the person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition, and (4) he must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

Third, you must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation. "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Cor. 11:29). Transubstantiation means more than the Real Presence. According to transubstantiation, the bread and wine are actually transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. This is why, at the Last Supper, Jesus held what appeared to be bread and wine, yet said: "This is my body. . . . This is my blood" (Mark 14:22-24, cf. Luke 22:14-20). If Christ were merely present along side bread and wine, he would have said "This contains my body. . . . This contains my blood," which he did not say.

Fourth, you must observe the Eucharistic fast. Canon law states, "One who is to receive the most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion" (CIC 919 §1). Elderly people, those who are ill, and their caretakers are excused from the Eucharistic fast (CIC 191 §3). Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them (cf. CIC 89).

Finally, one must not be under an ecclesiastical censure. Canon law mandates, "Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion" (CIC 915).

Provided they are in a state of grace and have met the above requirements, Catholics should receive the Eucharist frequently (cic 898).

Answer 2

First, a definition: "Holy Communion" is the reception of the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) that has been confected by a priest during the Holy Mass. The Blessed Sacrament may only be received sacramentally by one who:


is a living human being

is baptized

has proper intent

has fasted the proper amount of time: 3 hours is the 1962 practice that most traditional Catholics follow (some follow the older practice of a 12-hour fast); 1 hour is what we are canonically bound to by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Viaticum -- the "Food for the Journey" given during Extreme Unction -- may be given at any time.

is in a state of grace, i.e., is not in a state of mortal sin. If one is in a state of mortal sin, he must go to Confession first lest he sin further as St. Paul warns in I Corinthians 11:26-30

Answer 3

28. The Body and the Blood of Christ IS present in Holy Communion. It is not a representation, nor is it consubstantiation. And I'm not sure what is meant by a "secondhand" way. We receive all 4 things when we commune. We don't know how, we don't know why, but we know by faith that this is true. 30. Yep! 31. I woud say the second one. Grace is between God and us, not between our pastor and us. And the sacraments are not symbolic, they are real. A sacrament must have 3 things... The Word of God, Forgiveness of Sins, and an external sign.

Answer 4

You must have received the Sacrament of Baptism in hte Catholic Church and you must be in communion with the Catholic Church (no unforgiven mortal sin).

You can read about the Sacrament of Eucharist (Holy Communion) in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm

Answer 5

Hi, You have to be a baptised Catholic,you have to have made your First holy communion and you should be in a state of grace ie: free from mortal sin, a good confession before communion is always sensible.

Answer 6

"the three"? It's not a list like that. To receive Eucharist in the Catholic Church, one must be a Catholic of good standing (in other words, baptized Catholic, not conscious of any mortal sins, and pretty much not working against the church). I don't know if the one hour of fasting is a LAW or not, but that's a decent rule of thumb out of basic respect.

Reconciliation is not a pre-requisite, but as I said, adults are not to be conscious of any major sin. So one has done something that bad, he or she is to receive the sacrament of reconciliation first.

Answer 7

3 conditions?

Well, baptized, confirmed, and not guilty of mortal sin. You must recognize and believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a symbol. It is Jesus Christ - body, blood, soul and divinity - made truly present to us.

God bless.

Answer 8

The Biblical meaning of Holy Communion (Lords Supper) is to remember Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and ressurection and the sacrifice He paid for us. It wasn't meant to be turned into a ritual that humans can use to manipulate and control people with.

Answer 9

You must go through confession, telling the priest your sins so he can forgive or absolved them. And be baptized of course

Answer 10

Baptized and have your first confession. I think it's just those 2.