To receive communion is to receive Christ

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To receive communion is to receive Christ
Raphael (1483-1520) The Mass at Bolsena Fresco,
1512 Stanza della Segnatura, Palazzi Pontifici,
Vatican

• 30

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Compendium of the Catechism

• 291. What is required to receive Holy Communion?
• 1385-13891415
• To receive Holy Communion one must be fully
  incorporated into the Catholic Church and be in
  the state of grace, that is, not conscious of
  being in mortal sin. Anyone who is conscious of
  having committed a grave sin must first receive
  the sacrament of Reconciliation before going to
  Communion. Also important for those receiving
  Holy Communion are a spirit of recollection and
  prayer, observance of the fast prescribed by the
  Church, and an appropriate disposition of the
  body (gestures and dress) as a sign of respect
  for Christ.

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Introduction

• The first Christians found in the Eucharist the
  reason to be heroic. Holy Communion gave them
  encouragement and strength to defend their faith
  even unto martyrdom.
• We should show the same love and respect which
  the first Christians had for the Eucharist.

JANMOT, Anne-François-Louis (1814-1892) Le Poème
de l'âme - Première communion The Poem of the
Soul - First Communion Oil on canvas, c.1851 44
3/8 x 57 inches (113 x 145 cm) Musée des
Beaux-Arts, Lyon
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Main ideas
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1. The Eucharist as a Sacrifice and Communion

• The Eucharistic Sacrifice or Holy Mass is both
• the memorial which perpetuates the offering of
  Christ to the Father on the cross,
• and also a sacrificial banquet of the Body and
  Blood of Jesus Christ.
• The Eucharistic celebration also has as its aim
  the intimate union of the faithful with Christ
  through Holy Communion. To receive Communion is
  to receive the same Christ who offers Himself for
  us on the cross.

TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista (1696-1770) Last
Communion of St Lucy Oil on canvas, 1747-1748 87
3/8 x 39 3/4 inches (222 x 101 cm) Santi
Apostoli, Venice
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2. Christ instituted the Eucharist as nourishment
for our souls

• Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
  has eternal life, and I shall raise that person
  up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and
  my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and
  drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that
  person (John 654-56).
• In the Last Supper, when Our Lord instituted the
  Eucharist Take it and eat it, this is my body
  (Mathew 2626). These words clearly show that the
  body of Christ is really present in the Eucharist
  and that He gives Himself to us as nourishment.

COELLO, Claudio Communion of St. Teresa of
Avila Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid
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3. The fruits of Communion

• Communion nourishes our spiritual life in a
  similar way as material food nourishes the life
  of our body. What are the fruits of sacramental
  communion?
• It increases our union with Christ present in the
  sacrament.
• It increases graces and virtues in those who
  receive communion worthily.
• It keeps us away from sin purifies us from
  venial sins and failings, because it increases
  our charity.
• It strengthens the unity of the Church, the
  mystical body of Christ.
• In the Eucharist, Christ gives us a foretaste of
  eternal life.

GILLICK, James Study for a portrait of Pope John
Paul II Private Collection
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4. Dispositions for a good Communion

• The dispositions to receive Christ worthily are
• To be in a state of grace.
• To observe the Eucharistic fast.
• To be conscious of whom we receive.
• Even our external appearance should reflect the
  piety and respect with which we receive Our Lord.
  

BOUTS, Dirck Christ Blessing, detail from the
Altarpiece of the Last Supper 1464-68 St.
Peter's, Lovaina, Belgium
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5. Thanksgiving after Communion

• Jesus remains in the Eucharist out of His love
  for us. The best way to receive Him is to prepare
  well for Communion, and, conscious of the gift we
  receive, to thank Him, not only in the moment of
  Communion, but also during the day.
• After Communion we should stay in the church or
  chapel giving Him thanks, at least for a few
  minutes.

DA VARALLO, Tanzio (1580-1635) St. Carlo Borromeo
Giving Communion To The Plague Victims Oil on
canvas, 1611-1612 Private collection
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6. The obligation of receiving Communion and the
need to do it frequently

• Christ said If you do not eat the flesh of the
  Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life
  in you (John 653). Consequently, the Church
  stipulates in its third precept that all
  Christians who have attained the use of reason
  have to receive Communion at least once a year
  and during Easter time.
• It is also an obligation to receive Communion in
  danger of death. In this case, Communion is
  received as Viaticum, which means as
  preparation for the journey to eternal life.
• This is no more than the least we can do, and
  should be understood as such. That is why the
  Church encourages us to receive Our Lord
  frequently, even daily. If some day we cannot
  receive Communion, it is good to make a Spiritual
  Communion.

Jean Béraud (1849-1936) First Communion Oil on
canvas 21 3/4 x 25 7/8 inches (55.3 x 66
cm) Private collection
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Resolutions for Christian life
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Resolutions to move forward

• Make a firm resolution to always receive
  Communion with the due dispositions.
• Remain a few minutes after Mass giving thanks for
  having received Jesus.