Do I have to receive Communion when I go to Mass?

[seagal]

This happened this past Sunday and I’m not sure what I should do about it. I play guitar for the Sunday evening Mass, and usually the cantor and I have a system for who will go to receive when. This time there was some confusion because the cantor was filling in for the regular person, and the line for Communion was much shorter than usual. Consequently, I accidentally missed going up to receive. I fully intended to, but by the time I realized I should go, the distributers were headed back to the altar. Does that mean I invalidated the Mass (for myself) somehow? Is there something I can or need to do to make up for it?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Please relax. There is no requirement that you must receive Communion every time you go to Mass. The Sunday and holy day obligation is to attend Mass. The requirement for Communion is that you must receive it at least once per year during the Easter season:

The third precept [of the Church] (“You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season”) guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s body and blood in connection with the paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy (CCC 2042).