Recently, I encountered two instances in parish life that raised the question, “Can non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?” This question deserves a thorough answer. Two particular events where we find a mix of Catholics and non-Catholics are at wedding ceremonies with Mass as well as at funeral Masses. It can sometimes be an awkward or uncomfortable situation for guests when Holy Communion is distributed. While practicing Catholics in a state of grace are asked to come forward to receive Holy Communion, non-Catholics may not receive. But they should be welcomed and given direction, and it is up to the priest-celebrant to do that. Instead, non-Catholics may either sit in the pew to pray for the beloved deceased and the grieving family or come forward with his or her hands crossed over the chest as an indication for a blessing by either a deacon or a priest. If that is the case, then why can’t non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?
The Eucharist isn’t just anything. It’s something, and that something is the person of Jesus Christ who is truly present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist (Catechism #1374) . When a Catholic receives Jesus in the Eucharist, he or she professes and believes everything the Catholic Church teaches. But we know in reality that isn’t true for every Catholic especially when it comes to controversial issues like contraception, abortion, or homosexuality to name a few; hence the phrase, “cafeteria Catholic.” A great example of what we as Catholics believe is found in the Nicene Creed (declared at the Catholic Church’s first Ecumenical Council in the year 325 A.D.) that we profess at Mass every Sunday. While one is in a deep relationship of communion with Jesus in the Eucharist, one is also in communion with everyone else who receives the Eucharist too. The only other Christian faith that believes in the Eucharistic Jesus to the theological depth and teaching that we do as Catholics (as far as I am aware of), is our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Church, in which we share certain sacraments.
When a Catholic goes into a another Christian church (with the exception of the Orthodox in which a Catholic would only receive Holy Communion from the Orthodox on one’s deathbed if one couldn’t obtain the Eucharist from the Catholic Church), it is recommended not to receive their bread or “communion.” Why? Receiving communion bread in another church can give scandal. Also, it’s not the Eucharistic Jesus. Jesus established the Mass at the Last Supper that was carried to its fulfillment at the cross, and from those two yet unifying and historical events, Jesus passed on his power and authority to Peter in giving him the “keys of the kingdom” as well as to the apostles through apostolic succession (our modern-day bishops) in which priests are allowed to share in that mission which includes the forgiveness of sins through Jesus as well as the power to call down the Holy Spirit to turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ (Mt. 16:18-19). But when a Catholic receives bread from another Christian or non-Christian denomination, in a way, one professes not by words, but by actions that one belongs to and believes in everything about that church. It may not always be by what we say but by what we do. Instead, one should refrain out of respect for the people and the service but also to show implicitly that as Catholics we hold fast to the truths that Jesus himself established through his bride, the Catholic Church. We want to avoid further confusion and division, if at all possible, and find common ground through prayer by praying for restored unity between the Christian churches that is often referenced with Jn.17:21 – in which Jesus says, “that they may all be one,” in Scripture, with our faith in Jesus Christ, and his call to love and forgive one another.
Also, one needs catechesis before receiving the Eucharist, even though that first big step of believing has already been taken, which is good. We don’t allow our kids to receive the Eucharist without instruction, do we? No. We help to prepare them through catechesis. Then we allow either our kids who are usually in 2nd grade to receive their first Communion, or people of age, like adults, to be baptized, confirmed and receive their first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. A rare occurrence would be for one to be briefly catechized on their deathbed. Baptism would follow. Then one would receive one’s first and last Holy Communion (a.k.a. as Viaticum) along with Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. This can happen in an emergency situation at the hospital, for example, in which an individual may undergo a conversion and be fully initiated into the Catholic Church before their transition from life into death.
Furthermore, what does a Eucharistic minister do if a non-Catholic (usually instructed with hands crossed over the chest) comes up for a blessing in the communion line? While a deacon or a priest can give a blessing to a non-Catholic/non-Christian who comes up in the communion line, which is an opportunity for outreach and evangelization, an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (EME) can for example, say to the person(s), “God bless you” and simply smile with the love of Jesus.
In addition, one must also examine one’s conscience and be cautious NOT to receive the Lord unworthily in the Eucharist (i.e. mortal sin). From a Scriptural standpoint, what does St. Paul have to say about that? “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying. If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment” (1 Cor. 11:27-31). This is a warning from St. Paul and an education to both Catholics as well as non-Catholics alike about receiving the Eucharist.
Finally, I would like to share an analogy. When a student graduates from college, he or she doesn’t automatically get a job. As you know, there aren’t any guarantees. Rather if you are fortunate enough, you might get an interview. Then through that interview, or a series of them, you might be blessed to be offered a job (after you beat out stiff competition). Similarly, the same interview principle applies in the Church in regards to receiving the Eucharist. The process our beloved Catholic Church already has in place, which is through catechesis for our kids as was already mentioned, but also through catechesis for adults, is the process that we have come to know as RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, which can go by other simple terms like “Becoming Catholic or “Catholicism 101.” Although one may have sincere feelings and emotions, which are good. Nevertheless, there is still a process which non-Catholics must discern, and which we are there to help them with, ultimately guided and led by the Holy Spirit.
In The True Presence of Jesus Christ,
Fr. Jeff
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:
Canons 842 – 844 (from the Code of Canon Law)
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 
Thank you Fr. Jeff for this post.
I have always told my non-Catholic friend, who ask me if they can receive common at Mass, is that to get in line to receive the Eucharist is to say with your body, that you believe EVERYTHING the Catholic Church believes & teaches.
To enter the communion line and NOT believe everything the Church teaches, is to lie with your body.
And the Church doesn’t want you to lie.
They then don’t have a problem sitting in the pews.
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Reblogged this on ray4rail and commented:
Great Article!
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