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HOLY COMMUNION
The Eucharist, when received
sacramentally is called Holy
Communion. The name is
appropriate, since-as the word
‘communion’ indicates - it is
a sharing of a gift which God
has given to all. It is a
coming into close union with
Christ and with our fellowmen.
Jesus Himself unequivocally
points to the necessity of
receiving Holy Communion: “I
am telling you the truth: if
you do not eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink His
Blood, you will not have life
in yourselves” (Jn. 6, 53).
Jesus, however, does not say
how often one must receive
Holy communion. The Church
requires the faithful to
receive communion at least
once a year-during the Easter
season. However the good
Christian would not content
himself with receiving Holy
communion only once a year. He
will want to receive our Lord
as often as he can, so that he
may live in intimate union
with the Lord, If he cannot
receive the Eucharist
sacramentally he at least
fosters his desire for it by
spiritual communion. Besides,
the reception of Holy
Communion as Viaticum is urged
on anyone who is in danger of
death.
A worthy reception of the
sacrament requires that the
recipient be a baptized
Christian in the state of
grace. It is also required
that the recipient abstain
from solid food and strong
drinks at least during the
hour preceding the reception
of the Holy Communion. In this
connection it is good to
recall the words of St. Paul:
“If anyone eats the Lords’
bread or drinks from His cup
in a way that dishonours Him,
he is guilty of sin against
the Lord’s Body and Blood. So
then everyone should examine
himself first and then eat the
bread and drink from the cup.
For if he does not recognize
the Lord’s Body when he eats
the bread and drinks from the
cup, he is eating and drinking
his own condemnation” (I Cor.
11,27-29).
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
The Christian believes in the
Eucharist with his heart and
soul. He knows that it is the
Body and Blood of the Lord
Jesus offered in sacrifice to
the Father. He also believes
that it is a t the same time
the spiritual food of his soul
in its journey to heaven. He
is not content to follow the
Eucharistic sacrifice in a
mere mechanical way; rather he
tries to understand it, to
love it and to live it.
The Christian takes an active
part in the Mass, This means,
in the first place, that he
gives his full attention to
the Mass, uniting himself with
Christ’s sacrifice, sharing
with the whole assembly in
prayer and hymns.
Active participation means
that we become together with
Christ, priests and victims at
the same time. What we offer
is, first and foremost, Christ
Himself, the perfect Victim.
But we also bring to the altar
all the good things that we do
during the day; we offer our
works, our joys’, and our
sorrows and we join this
offering with that of Christ.
Full and active participation
requires that we receive holy
communion.
Active participation means
praying for all people. From
the depth of our hearts we
pray not only for ourselves,
our parents and dear ones, but
also for the whole world.
Active participation means
determination to ‘live’ the
Mass. It is up to us to make
our offering real in every
detail of our lives. We must
obey cheerfully, work hard,
suffer patiently and be kind
and generous to all. In other
words, we must become
witnesses and apostles of
Christ. The Mass entrusts us
with the mission of bringing
all those around us to the
knowledge and love of our
Lord, and of leading all men
into the one fold of the true
Shepherd. Our mission as
participants in the Mass is to
spread the kingdom of God, to
work for the greater glory of
the Church so that she may
offer still worthier praise to
the Father.
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