On the Holy Mass: Receiving Communion
Once when I was in third grade, our family attended the funeral of a relative. When my turn came to receive Communion, the priest, as he held the host, asked me: Ano ini? (What is this?) I replied, “Hostia”. And he exclaimed, “Layas!” (Be gone!) and did not give me Communion.
Canon 912 of the Code of Canon Law states, “Any baptized person not impeded by law can and must be admitted to Holy Communion.” The primordial requirement for receiving Communion is the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism because it is the doorway to all other sacraments. Secondly, a baptized person must have attained the use of reason for him/her to be admitted to Holy Communion. One must be able to distinguish from ordinary food that what he/she is receiving, is the Body of Christ.
Needless to say, Communion is given to persons and never to animals. It is grave sacrilege to feed pets with the sacred species. There were cases that hosts were given to roosters (manok na pang-sabong).
Impeded by law and so not to be admitted to Holy Communion are those under excommunication or interdiction including those who obstinately persevere in manifest grave sin. For example, a couple living together as husband and wife outside the sacrament of marriage.
One must be in the state of grace to be admitted to Holy Communion. There are those who say that they are not receiving Communion because they have not gone yet to confession. This is correct but not entirely correct. If one, after careful examination of conscience, is guilty of venial sins but not of a grave sin committed after a previous sacramental confession, he/she can receive Communion. Canon 916 states that “a person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.”
The Eucharist, in reality, because of its healing character, strengthens union with the Lord, forgives venial sins and preserves him/her from grave sins (CCC 1416).
Communion of Children
Of great importance to one’s journey of faith is the reception of First Communion. According to their age and capacity, children are to have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Eucharist so that they receive Communion with faith and devotion (Canon 913-1). Only after adequate and proper preparation including sacramental confession should children be given their First Communion. Pope Francis mentions a two-year preparation of religious education and then a specific catechesis on Communion, usually given in third grade, before a child receives First Communion. In danger of death, however, a child is to be given Communion if he/she believes it is the Body of Christ.
After their First Communion, children must be admonished that by obligation, once a year, they are to confess their sins, preferably during Lent, and receive Communion especially during Easter Time. Albeit, by devotion, frequent confession and Communion is a virtue everyone must aspire to acquire.
Eucharistic Fast
Canon 919-1 states that a person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine. The elderly, infirm and even their caregivers are exempted from this fasting. St. Augustine had said that “to honor so great a Sacrament, the Lord’s Body should enter the mouth of the Christian before any other food.” That is why the custom before was to fast from midnight to the reception of Communion.
Sources: Sacrosanctum Concilium, Missale Romanum, Catechism of the Catholic Church, General Instructions of the Roman Missal, Code of Canon Law.
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