Preparing For Communion

[mexmickey]

:unsure:

I want to receive communion at every mass.... but i am not how to prepare for it. I dont usually go to mass but i have made it my goal to start going ever Sunday if not more often. I don't always go to confession, but they have told me its ok to receive communion as long as i confess by myself. Is this true?

I have heard about the 1hr fast... but is is obligatory? Some ppl dont eat breakfast at all? What are the other obligations?

I want to know everything!

:D

[cappie]

Since the beginning of the reign of Pope Pius X frequent communion at Mass has been encouraged.

If you have deliberately committed a Mortal or serious sin then you have to go to confession, if possible before receiving Communion.

You must fast for at least one hour before Communion. The relevant Canons or rules are set out below.

One would expect that to receive communion one would be in a state of grace, would have fasted for at least one hour and have participated fully in the Mass by saying the responses and listened to the readings, one would also hope that private prayer would play a part in the leadup to communion.

TITLE III: THE BLESSED EUCHARIST (Cann. 897 - 958)

Can. 897 The most venerable sacrament is the blessed Eucharist, in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the Sacrifice of the cross is forever perpetuated, is the summit and the source of all worship and christian life. By means of it the unity of God's people is signified and brought about, and the building up of the body of Christ is perfected. The other sacraments and all the apostolic works of Christ are bound up with, and directed to, the blessed Eucharist.

Can. 898 Christ's faithful are to hold the blessed Eucharist in the highest honour. They should take an active part in the celebration of the most august Sacrifice of the Mass; they should receive the sacrament with great devotion and frequently, and should reverence it with the greatest adoration. In explaining the doctrine of this sacrament, pastors of souls are assiduously to instruct the faithful about their obligation in this regard.

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to 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 resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

Can. 917 One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates,

Can. 918 It is most strongly recommended that the faithful receive holy communion in the course of a eucharistic celebration. If, however, for good reason they ask for it apart from the Mass, it is to be administered to them, observing the liturgical rites.

Can. 919 §1 Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine.