Tuesday 5 August 2014

Holy Communion


Holy Communion


http://fisheaters.com/holycommunion.html

Last Communion of St. Joseph of Calasanz, by Goya, 1819


John 6:32, 51-52: "Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven... I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is My Flesh, for the life of the world."


First, a definition: "Holy Communion" is the reception of the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) that has been confected by a priest during the Holy Mass. The Blessed Sacrament may only be received sacramentally by one who:
  • is a living human being
     
  • is baptized
     
  • has proper intent
     
  • has fasted the proper amount of time: 3 hours is the 1962 practice that most traditional Catholics follow (some follow the older practice of a 12-hour fast); 1 hour is what we are canonically bound to by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Viaticum -- the "Food for the Journey" given during Extreme Unction -- may be given at any time. 
     
  • is in a state of grace, i.e., is not in a state of mortal sin. If one is in a state of mortal sin, he must go to Confession first lest he sin further as St. Paul warns in I Corinthians 11:26-30:
    Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep.
    In addition, because Communion is also a sign of Christian unity, those who receive are declaring to the world that they accept all of the dogmas of the Church. Canon 915 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law affirms the Apostolic practice of the Church in insisting that priests refuse Communion to those who are "manifest, obstinate, persistent sinners" -- i.e., those who are public sinners (which includes those who publicly disagree with Church teaching) who refuse to publicly repent -- lest they cause scandal and confuse others as to what Church teaching is. Those who disagree with what the Church teaches should not try to receive Communion.

    Summary:
    one in grave sin is to police himself and refrain from receiving Communion until he's received the Sacrament of Penance. If he fails to, his spiritual father is to advise him in order to make him aware of his sin and of the added sin of receiving Communion while not in a state of grace. If, after being advised by his spiritual father, he still fails to police himself, he is to be prevented from receiving the Eucharist, especially if the grave sin is a public one.
The Eucharist must be received at least once a year, during the Easter Season, by those who've reached the age of reason, though frequent -- even daily -- Communion is encouraged. Traditionally, the Eucharist shouldn't be received more than once a day unless it is given as Viaticum during Extreme Unction (the 1983 Code of Canon Law strangely allows for a second reception of the Eucharist "only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates.")

The matter of the Sacrament itself are wheat bread made only of flour and water, with nothing added (no honey, no spices, etc; nothing may be added. The use of leavening in the Latin Church is illicit) and wine fermented from grape juice. The former is confected by God through a true priest using the words:
This is My Body

Latin:
Hoc est enim Corpus Meum.
The latter is confected by the words "this is the Chalice of My Blood," which are spoken in the below context in the traditional Mass:
For this is the Chalice of My Blood, of the new and eternal Testament: the Mystery of Faith: which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins

Latin:
Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis mei, novi et aeterni testamenti: mysterium fidei: qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.
After the substance of bread and wine are changed into His Body and Blood, the accidents -- the appearance, taste, texture of bread and wine -- remain, but what looks like "bread" and "wine" are, in substance, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. In other words, outside of Eucharistic miracles which have taken place over 2,000 years, what the eyes and mouth see and taste are the accidents of "bread" and "wine," but what is truly received is Christ and remains Christ until and unless the accidents change such that they are no longer compatible with the species of "bread" and "wine." By this we know, for example, that once the Host goes into one's stomach and is digested, or if a liquid were added to the Precious Blood such that the accidents are no longer recognizable as the accidents of "wine," the Sacrament is no longer there.

Because of the above, it is not okay to refer to the Blessed Sacrament as "bread" or to the Precious Blood as "wine." Once the bread and wine have been consecrated, they are no longer "bread" and "wine"; they are Christ -- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, and the proper words to use to speak of them are "Blessed Sacrament," "Eucharist," "Precious Blood," "Sacred Host" ("Host" comes from the Latin word "hostia" meaning "victim"), etc. The consecrated Hosts and Precious Blood are and will remain Christ regardless of the faith of the people in the pews. They are and will remain Christ whether on the Altar or in the tabernacle or in your mouth or, God forbid, on the floor. They are and will remain Christ for ten years or a thousand years, as long as the accidents of bread and wine remain.

The Precious Blood is always consumed totally by the priest at the Mass, and the priest will always consume one Sacred Host, distributing others to the people, if present. Remaining Hosts are kept in a ciborium inside the tabernacle between Masses, and this Divine Presence is signalled to us by the sanctuary lamps that burn always outside the tabernacles of our churches and invite us to adore Him and be in His Presence to pray.

The effects of receiving the Sacrament are: 
  • union, by love, with Christ 
     
  • an increase in sanctifying grace in the soul when received by a "living member of the Church" (i.e., one who is in a state of grace) 
     
  • the blotting out venial sin and preserving the soul from mortal sin, in proportion to the communicant's devotion 
     
  • the rewards promised by Christ in His words, "He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up on the last day." 
The proper way to receive the Blessed Eucharist at the altar rail at Mass is to kneel and fold one's hands in the "prayer" gesture (or place them under the houseling cloth at the altar rail, if such a cloth is used; don't touch the cloth or the rail in either case). An acolyte or altar boy will hold a paten underneath your chin so that no precious particles will fall to the floor. The priest will bless you by making a Sign of the Cross with the Sacrament (a small one in the air) and then place the Sacrament on your tongue, all while saying these words:
Corpus Dómini nostri Jesu Christi custódiat ánimam tuam in vitam æternam. Amen.
May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting. Amen.
Open your mouth wide enough and stick out your tongue far enough to easily receive the Sacrament (once received, don't respond "Amen" as is done in the Novus Ordo Rite). Many priests recommend closing your eyes when receiving so that you're not tempted to follow his hand; it's best to not move at all. And, of course, don't close your mouth until the Host is safely on your tongue and the priest's hand is out of the way! Make the Sign of the Cross after receiving Communion, then return to your pew and kneel in thanksgiving (many people cover their faces with their hands or veils at this time to increase a sense of intimacy).

Please note that the Eucharist is not chewed, but is allowed to soften in the mouth and then swallowed. 1 This is to avoid having the smallest particle stuck in one's teeth where it might be desecrated later by coming into contact with the profane. Having the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ mingle with a gulp of Mountain Dew is hardly the treatment He deserves -- but pondering the very possibility of such a thing is to induce gratitude for the amazing humility with which He comes to us under the appearance of bread; why, if He were to come to us in a way that revealed His glory to our senses, we would no doubt die from being in the Presence of such obvious Holiness.

The Eucharist should never be touched but by consecrated hands (i.e., the hands of a priest, who is the ordinary minister of the Sacrament, or of a delegated deacon, who is the extraordinary minister of the Sacrament) unless emergency or truecharity dictate otherwise, and women should have their heads covered whenever they are in His Presence -- whether during simple visits to a church where the tabernacle is, during sick calls or Unction, and when receiving the Eucharist at Mass.

A beautiful, traditional, partially indulgenced prayer to pray after receiving Communion is the "Anima Christi" (Soul of Christ) -- a favorite prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The origins of this ancient prayer are unknown, but it dates to at leastA.D. 1334.
 
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
To come to Thee, bid me,
That I may praise Thee in the company
Of Thy Saints, for all eternity. Amen.
   Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Iesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te
in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
When offering the Eucharist outside of the Mass (such as during sick calls or Unction), the priest should wear a surplice and stole. If the communicant (the one receiving Communion) is able to kneel, he should; if he is bedridden, a white linen cloth should be laid over his breast to ensure no particles fall and are desecrated. If one is unable to receive the Host, the priest may arrange for some of the Precious Blood to be given instead. Under either species -- i.e., either the Host or the Precious Blood -- the Sacrament is "the entire Christ" -- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, so one should never feel as though one is being "deprived" by receiving Christ in one form rather than the other.

Also note the language used in reference to Holy Communion: while many Protestants speak of "taking Communion," Catholics use the phrase "receiving Communion" -- a more passive terminology that emphasizes humility, that reminds us that it is by grace that we are saved, and that emphasizes the role of the ordained priesthood.

First Communion

If one enters the Church as an adult, First Communion is usually given on the same day of Baptism and Confirmation(which both take place, typically but not necessarily, during the Easter Vigil). 

If one grows up in the Church, First Communion is offered at the discretion of one's priest. It may be given to a lone child after the priest has discerned that the child understands the Sacrament and is able to form proper intent, or it may be given to a group of children who've been properly prepared together, such as a first grade class. In either case, theSacrament of Confession is received first before Communion.

Little boys will dress in their finest suits, and little girls will often wear special white First Communion dresses and veils (their dresses should fit the rules of feminine modesty in Church -- nothing sleeveless, etc.).
While a child's First Communion should be memorable and very beautiful, it should, above all, be holy and with all priorities in place. On the more fundamental and profound level, First Communion is an initiation into one of the Great Mysteries. Parents should prepare the child by firmly grounding him in basic catechesis. While it's the priest's decision as to whether or not your child is adequately prepared, it is your job as a parent or godparent to do the preparing; it is the parents and godparents who are ultimately responsible for the Catholic education of the child. The child should understand what transubstantiation is. He should know that God, Who created all things -- the Sun and Moon and Stars -- is able to speak things into reality, and that at the Mass, this is what God, through His priest does. The child should understand that though the accidents of bread and wine remain, what the bread and wine truly become is Sacrament. They will learn all of this best by watching the adults around them, especially parents and godparents, who should ask themselves: 
  • Do I treat and speak of the Blessed Sacrament with reverence?
  • Do I kneel toward the tabernacle when I enter a church?
  • Do I bow my head and cross myself when passing by a church to honor the Real Presence of Christ in the tabernacle?
  • Do I fast before receiving Communion?
  • Am I sure to never receive the Sacrament in a state of mortal sin?
  • Do I make visits to the Blessed Sacrament?
  • Do I allow the children to attend a parish in which lay people sacrilegiously handle the Sacrament as "extraordinary Eucharistic ministers"?
  • Do I allow the children to attend Masses wherein the rubrics and prayers after consecration destroy faith in the Real Presence?
  • Do I attend Protestant worship services? If I do, for the cause of charity, do I go through the motions of receiving "communion" at the services of Protestant faith communities? (Catholics may not attend Protestant services except for attending weddings in which neither of the couple had ever been Catholic, and attending funerals, which Catholics may certainly attend out of charity. Never may a Catholic eat the bread/crackers or drink the wine/juice offered during the services, and in no case may he join in prayers that are in no way Catholic.)
Your children will learn more from your example than anything else.

As to preparation for the Rite itself, parents and godparents should consider the natural intimidation that most children experience in such formal circumstances (especially if the child is receiving his First Communion alone)
 and affirm their child emotionally, letting them know it's OK to be nervous. A "practice-run" with everyday, ordinary bread might be helpful, 2 with the parent or godparent showing the child the proper posture and gesture. Anticipate the child's questions ("What will it taste like?" for example) and encourage the child to express any concerns and fears he might have. Teach him to pray the sentiments expressed in the Anima Christi prayer, if not the prayer itself, after receiving the Host. Perhaps getting a holy card that contains this prayer, or writing the prayer out for him on a small piece of paper so he can refer to it after Communion will help.

I'll note here, too, that Pope St. Pius X, the "Pope of the Eucharist," is one of the patrons of First Communicants as it was he who especially encouraged frequent and early Communion -- as soon as a child is able to understand the Sacrament -- in the Latin Church. Teach your child about this great Pope and encourage him to pray to him, asking St. Pius X to intercede in making your child's First Communion most fruitful. One standard prayer to this holy man is this one, the first part of which is most appropriate to the day:
Glorious Pope of the Eucharist, St. Pius X, who sought to restore all things in Christ, obtain for me a true love of Jesus that I may live only for Him. Help me, that, with lively fervour and a sincere will to strive for sanctity of life, I may daily avail myself of the riches of the Holy Eucharist in Sacrifice and Sacrament. By your love for Mary Mother and Queen of all, inflame my heart with tender devotion to her.

Blessed model of the priesthood, obtain for us holy and zealous priests and increase vocations to the religious life. Dispel heresy and incline hearts to peace and concord, that all nations may place themselves under the sweet reign of Christ. Amen.

St. Pius X, pray for me.
Another patron of First Communicants is Blessed Imelda Lambertini (A.D. 1322-1333), who died while receiving her First Holy Communion. Very much in love with Jesus, she'd begged her family to let her live at the Dominican convent at the age of nine. Her family relented, as did the Dominicans, but she still could not yet receive Communion. She longed for it, however, would watch the Sisters receive Our Lord, and would pray for spiritual Communion. One day -- it was the Vigil ofthe Ascension -- she was making her spiritual Communion, and the Sisters saw a beautiful light glowing over her, and a Host at the center of it, hovering above her head. The priest was summoned, and Imelda received the Eucharist at once -- but in such an ecstasy that she literally died of love. Her relics can be venerated in the Church of Saint Sigismondo in Bologna. Italy (see relics page for a picture). Pope St. Pius X made her a Patroness of First Communicants. (Here you can download a 4-page Microsoft Word document containing the story of Blessed Imelda for your children. Use your discretion, as the story might frighten young ones who don't understand death and ecstasies.)

 Patron of First Communicants is Blessed Imelda Lambertini (A.D. 1322-1333)
Imelda’s First Communion
by Unknown

It was the year 1331.
 
"Come in!" called the superior of the Dominican convent, answering a discreet knock.
 
The large medieval door opened solemnly with a quiet moan to reveal sister porter wearing an expression at once worried and amused.
 
"She is back again, Reverend Mother."
 
"Little Imelda Lambertini?"
 
"Yes. She begs once more to be admitted to the convent. I must confess it is becoming hard to resist those large, innocent, and soulful eyes that implore so earnestly."
 
"Sister, she is but nine years old. Has this city of Bologna, or for that matter, the whole of Italy, ever seen such a case? A nine-year-old nun? If we were to receive her...but how can we? In any case, she would be homesick in three days...Well, let me see her."
 
Reverend Mother stood and walked down the long arched corridor with sister porter to the reception room. As she entered, a little girl stood up respectfully. She was a beautiful little girl, and beautifully dressed.
 
       *   *   *
Imelda Lambertini belonged to a very noble family of Bologna, Italy. Her father was Count Egano Lambertini. Both her parents were most pious and loved their daughter more than anything in this world. Yet, they had always noticed that Imelda, though she fully returned their love with all her most affectionate heart, did not seem made for this earth.
 
Often her mother missed her company only to find her, after lengthy searching, in some far-off corner of their stately property on her knees and deep in prayer. Her mother had to call her name several times until she answered as if waking from a deep sleep.
 
Whenever people spoke of God, her eyes brightened and her attention did not waver. And, her parents had often noticed, when Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was mentioned, her face became almost transfigured.
 
"Oh, Mamma," she would beg, "when can I make my First Communion? When can I receive Jesus?"
 
"You must wait until you are twelve, Imelda," answered Mrs. Lambertini, "for the Church does not allow children to receive before then."
 
And so it was at that time. To Imelda, it seemed so long to wait! Since all the earthly powers denied her First Communion, the little girl resorted to beseeching her beloved Jesus to come to her sooner. Deep in her soul she trusted that He would do something.
 
At the same time, she admired the Dominican Sisters of the Monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena where her parents frequently visited. "To be able to live in the same house as Jesus!" she thought. "What happiness!"
 
One day she thought of a solution to her problem. "Why, I'll knock at the convent and ask to be received as a novice. If I cannot receive Him yet, at least I can live in the same house with Him and serve Him day and night."
 
To the simple, young child in love with her Lord, it seemed a good plan. She simply walked over to the Dominican convent and knocked. "Sister, can you ask Reverend Mother if I can come live here and be a nun?"
 
"But, Imelda, we are all professed religious here. One day you will probably join us, and we will be delighted to have you, but you must wait a few years. You have such good parents and such a beautiful home, my child. Are you not happy there?"
 
"Oh, yes, Sister, very happy, but here you have Our Lord!"
 
"But, our life is very hard. We work hard and pray a great deal, even getting up in the middle of the night to pray the Office."
 
"Oh, Sister, I would not mind that at all. I would be obedient and happily do everything I'm told. Please, Sister!"
 
Of course, we know Mother Superior's reaction. Ever so good to Imelda, as always, she nevertheless would have to send her back home. But Imelda insisted.
 
This day, however, as the Reverend Mother Superior saw the child standing in the parlor and gazing at her imploringly, something stirred in her good soul. "So much insistence in one so young," she thought. "I sense God's finger here. Perhaps I should let her try."
 
To Imelda's great joy, Mother Superior did not turn her away this time but spoke with her at length. Then she said that if her parents allowed, she could be received in the convent for a trial period.
 
Her good parents were saddened but not surprised. Deep down they had expected that something extraordinary would happen to their child. Here it was. God was asking them for her very early, and they gave her to Him as Saints Joachim and Anna once gave their three-year-old daughter, the young Blessed Mary, to the Temple.
 
       *   *   *
 
In the convent little lmelda was like a fish in water. She loved the silence, the long stone corridors with their beautiful arches, the white and black habits of the nuns, the canticles, the prayer, the work. Above all else, she loved the tabernacle! Finally, she was under the same roof as her Jesus.
 
Whenever the monastic schedule permitted, there she was, kneeling in the high choir overlooking the convent chapel, her large eyes fixed on the tabernacle
 
In community life she was like a ray of sunlight amidst so many adult sisters. They delighted in her company yet were severely warned by Mother Superior not to spoil her.
 
Still, because of her young age, Reverend Mother did not want Imelda to participate in all the acts of the community, especially rising in the middle of the night for the Office.
 
lmelda, however, begged to be allowed to do everything. There was no denying her. So it was that in the middle of the night the angels inhabiting those sacred halls must have gazed in awe at a long line of white robed nuns and then a tiny white figure, all walking in silence to Matins.
 
Two years went by. Imelda was now eleven years old.
 
Only one aspect of her life in the convent saddened her. She was still not able to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. As she watched the sisters receive, her soul burned with the wish to be among them. At times, she could not contain her tears. Then it was that she most earnestly besought heaven to have mercy on her and let her receive, somehow...
 
      *   *   *
 
One day as the nuns were filed out of the choir after Mass, the last in line turned to look at the small white figure still kneeling in prayer.
 
Imelda usually remained longer, motionless and absorbed in prayer. The community, quite accustomed to this, let her be. It was almost automatically that the last sister looked back just to get a glimpse and marvel at this small wonder of Eucharistic piety.
 
This time, however, the respectful sister suddenly stiffened, rooted to the floor. There was the small girl, kneeling with head bent as always, but hovering close above her was a white Host shining in a beautiful, soft light!
 
"Quickly, Reverend Mother, come back! Look!"
 
The whole community hurried back into the choir and fell on their knees at the incredible sight. Mother Superior understood. There was no doubt that the Creator and Lord of all wanted this eleven-year old to receive Him.
 
She summoned the chaplain, who approached in awe with a golden paten. As soon as he had reached the kneeling girl, the Host settled on the paten!

At this, lmelda, who all the while had her head bowed and her eyes closed as if oblivious to everything, slowly raised her radiant face and opened her mouth. Taking the host, Father Chaplain gave her First Holy Communion. She lowered her head once again and remained motionless. After a long while, Mother Superior approached her. "lmelda, my child, it is time to go now."
 
Imelda did not respond.
 
Again the Mother Superior spoke, but again there was no answer. Taking Imelda gently by the shoulders, the good nun tried to coax her to rise, but Imelda collapsed in her arms. Her face was transfixed in an expression of unspeakable bliss.
 
Imelda had once said, "I don't know how anyone can receive Our Lord and not die." Now she had received Him and this first meeting with her Eucharistic Jesus was too much for her small burning heart to bear. She had gone with Him.
 
Little Imelda Lambertini was beatified in 1826 and was declared patroness of First Communicants in 1910 by Pope Saint Pius X, who that same year decreed that children could receive their First Holy Communion at a much earlier age.
 
lmelda's small body lies incorrupt in a beautiful reliquary in the Church of Saint Sigismondo in Bologna. An expression of ecstatic bliss lights her beautiful face and seems to say, "My Jesus, He is my reward immensely great."



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