Who Can Participate in Communion?

The Church has specific guidelines that direct Christians in the ways of preparation regarding the receiving of Christ’s body and blood in Communion. For starters, to be worthy, one must be in “a state of grace.” An examination of self is also required. Other guidelines, as well as scripture related to Communion are included in this article.

Since their last mortal sin (any sin that has been committed deliberately and with knowledge that it was a serious offense), a Christian must make a decent confession. Such sins include having an abortion, committing murder, and having pre-marital sex. It is said: “But first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one.”

They must also believe in transubstantiation, which means much more than the real presence of Christ. As stated: “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” According to the belief, the bread and wine are actually transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, but still keep the appearance of the two substances.

According to: “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,” participating in the Eucharistic fast is required for a Christian observing Communion. Those excused from this type of fast includes sick and elderly people.

Additionally, Christians who have been excommunicated cannot participate in Communion. When upholding the above requirements, Catholics are allowed to receive Communion.

Scriptures Related to Communion

If you are interested in studying scriptures associated with Communion, consider the following passages that have come from the New International Version (created during the 1960’s):

·    While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

·    While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” Mark 14:22-24

·    And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:19-20

·    Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

·    Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53-54