Dear Parishioners,“The Lord is risen, alleluia!”
With the joy of the Easter season, I would like to extend best wishes to all of you and especially to our newly baptized and those who have completed their Christian initiation.
All of us are renewing our Baptismal promises at this time and we should renew our commitment to live more profoundly our faith, especially our faith in the Eucharist. Pope Benedict XVI’s recent Apostolic Exhortation “The Sacrament of Love” made clear that the Eucharist should be the center of our lives as Catholic Christians.
The reception of Holy Communion at Mass is a very special moment of encounter with Christ, who is truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. Here are some important guidelines to remember that I have taken from our American Bishops Conference.
In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, Catholic participants should be free of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A Catholic who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive Communion without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person must make an act of perfect contrition with the intention of confessing as soon as possible (Code of Canon Law #916).
Non-Catholics are welcome to pray with us at Mass; however non-Catholics are not to receive Co
mmunion. Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, non-Catholics are not admitted to Holy Communion. The very word “communion” implies a full union of mind and assent to everything the Church teaches. Persons belonging to other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions do not share that fullness of unity that would permit them to receive Communion in our Church. Special conditions for receiving Communion apply to the Orthodox and other churches. Members of these churches should approach a priest before receiving Communion in our Church.
Next week I will explain some points of etiquette that govern our reception of Communion, including Communion on the tongue or in the hand.
May the risen Lord bless you and your families.
