To receive our Lord Jesus in Holy Communion is the high point of our Catholic life and is the moment in which we experience the most intimate union with our Divine Savior that is possible in this life.

In light of this great privilege, Saint Paul tells us that we must always be careful to receive the Body of Christ worthily and lovingly. He reminds us that if we receive Holy Communion unworthily that we eat and drink the Body of Christ to our own  condemnation. What are the circumstances in which we are unworthy to receive Holy Communion at Mass? There are two that immediately come to mind:

• Lack of Faith: If we do not believe that the Sacred Host is truly the Body of  Christ Jesus then we should not receive Holy Communion! Here I am not talking about simple doubt which most all of us have experienced at one time or another. I am talking about a stubborn, digging in our heals sort of denial where we say to God: “I do not believe and I refuse to believe that the Host at Mass is our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• State of Mortal Sin: If we have missed a Sunday Mass due to our own fault, we are in a state of mortal sin and should not receive our Lord until we first go to Confession. If we are in an irregular marriage or a second marriage outside of the Church, we are in a state of mortal sin and should not receive Holy Communion until we first talk to the priest to make arrangements for Confession and to have our marriage regularized and blessed in the Church. Don’t be discouraged, just give Fr. Carlos or myself a call to begin the process!

If you are unable to receive Holy Communion for the reasons I’ve outlined, I urge you to continue to come to the Holy Mass each Sunday and make a Spiritual Communion. As you approach the altar, fold your arms and the priest will say to you: “Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart.” As the priest says these words, you invite the Eucharistic Lord Jesus to come into your life, stay with you, and prepare you for the day when you can soon receive Holy Communion again. When you return to your place, I encourage you to say the following prayer:

Prayer of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You are already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.