Can I take communion?

[rayodeluz]

I’ve been baptized and received my first communion long ago, but I’ve never been confirmed. For the past couple of years I’ve been attending mass in Mexico, and I was wondering if it’s permissible for me to take communion. Thank you!

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Assuming that you’re in a state of grace, yes you can receive communion. If you’re not in a state of grace then go to confession first. And check into what kind of preparation your parish has for adults who need confirmation.

 

[Monica4316]

I’ve been baptized and received my first communion long ago, but I’ve never been confirmed. For the past couple of years I’ve been attending mass in Mexico, and I was wondering if it’s permissible for me to take communion. Thank you!

If you have not been to Confession for this time, - then after Confession, yes you may receive Communion. I would talk to a priest about this though and ask to be confirmed…

God bless

 

[otjm]

One of my pet peeves is the use of the word “take”. One does not take; one receives - whether that is Communion on the Tongue or Communion in the Hand. Sorry, don’t mean to pick, but there is a significance in the words we use, and language has become sloppy in general.

As a back-up to that, the rubrics specifically say than no one except a concelebrating priest may reach into the ciborium or onto the paten and take the Host; it is to be given to them.

 

[PiousTemplar]

You need to be confirmed?

 

[bduch]

If you are not catholic, what do you do during Holy Communion??? I always feel out of place.

 

[Little_One0307]

If you are not catholic, what do you do during Holy Communion??? I always feel out of place.

Hi,

Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of communion. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, 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 encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of 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 (canon 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 common 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 may all 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 worship, 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 (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).

For those not receiving Holy Communion

All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

For non-Christians

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.

Email us at bcl@usccb.org
Secretariat for Divine Worship | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3060 © USCCB. All rights reserved.

God Bless.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

You need to be confirmed?

Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. In order to be a fully initiated Catholic, yes you need to be confirmed. If you were not confirmed as a child or teen, check with your parish to see what type of preparation they provide for adults who want to be confirmed.

 

[Stylites]

I’ve been baptized and received my first communion long ago, but I’ve never been confirmed. For the past couple of years I’ve been attending mass in Mexico, and I was wondering if it’s permissible for me to take communion. Thank you!

Yes, you may receive Holy Communion while in a state of grace, even though you haven’t been confirmed yet. What is not allowed you until you are confirmed: Being a baptism sponsor or receiving the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

 

[Stylites]

One of my pet peeves is the use of the word “take”. One does not take; one receives - whether that is Communion on the Tongue or Communion in the Hand. Sorry, don’t mean to pick, but there is a significance in the words we use, and language has become sloppy in general.

“And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.”

-Matthew 26:26

.

 

[Stylites]

If you are not catholic, what do you do during Holy Communion??? I always feel out of place.

That could be a holy desire, or maybe not. People don’t convert in order to feel like they belong to something, and yet there’s the human desire to want to join something greater than themselves, which is really the universal desire to join with their Creator.

Come forward for your blessing, and go back and pray.

 

[otjm]

“And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.”

-Matthew 26:26

.

I am quite aware of the Gospel passages. I would refer you to the rules of the Church, in which one receives, and in which taking - reaching out and removing the Host by one’s self - is forbidden. The Church ahs the authority to determine the means of reception of Communion as it is a disciplinary issue, and has done so. One does not “take”. And that is not a violation of the Gospel mandate - and it could be legitimately argued that the statement was directed to the Apostles - those who were to be ordained - and that the same rule applies to those ordained - in that when concelebrating, they literally “take”.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve been baptized and received my first communion long ago, but I’ve never been confirmed. For the past couple of years I’ve been attending mass in Mexico, and I was wondering if it’s permissible for me to take communion. Thank you!

yes as long as you have confessed any mortal sin you are aware of you may receive communion. You should ask your pastor about joining a confirmation class so that your Christian Initiation may be completed.

 

[redrosetea]

If you are not catholic, what do you do during Holy Communion??? I always feel out of place.

Make a spiritual communion…tell God you love him, and ask Him to guide your ways…YOU may get a blessing from Fr if you cross your arms in the communion line …Fr will know to give you a blessing ,but not the host

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes, you may receive Holy Communion while in a state of grace, even though you haven’t been confirmed yet. What is not allowed you until you are confirmed: Being a baptism sponsor or receiving the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

You do not need to be Confirmed to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony. It is important, and it should be done, and priests should make the effort to see it’s done, and people should make the effort, but it is not mandatory. The requirement for a Sacramental marriage is Baptism.