259 / 665
Chapter 17. The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Christian Life • 231
Guidelines for the Reception of Communion
On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops (now the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops) approved the following guidelines on the reception of
Communion. The guidelines seek to remind all those who may
attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church
with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic communion.
For Catholics
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the
Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encour-
aged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order
to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants
should be conscious of no grave sin and normally should have
fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is
not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior
sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is
no opportunity for confession. 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,
can. 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is
encouraged for all.
For Our Fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the
Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our com-
mon baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist
will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad
divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and
finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that
they all may be one” (Jn 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist
is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life and wor-
ship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet
fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion.
Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other
Christians requires permission according to the directives of the
diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (CIC, can. 844