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Holy Communion

What is Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist (from the Greek word Eucharistia which means “thanksgiving”). It takes place during every Mass when the Priest speaks the words of consecration and the bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, it is also called the Real Presence, the Blessed Sacrament or the Sacred Host.


It has many names, but it all means one thing: Jesus is really and truly made present for us: body, blood, soul, and divinity. In Holy Communion, faithful Catholics are invited to eat his body and drink his blood, taking Christ into themselves, just as Jesus himself bid us to do:


Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

(John 6: 53-56)


The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The real presence of the Lord's body and blood in the Eucharist is the enduring sign of his life among us. In this Sacrament, the Lord gives us his very self as food and drink to strengthen us to be his disciples.

The Eucharist:

  • strengthens our charity;
  • preserves us from future mortal sin;
  • commits us to the poor;
  • desires to bring unity to all Christians.

  • How do I receive the Eucharist?

    The key word to remember is reverence. We know that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, so we want to treat the Eucharist with immense love and reverence. Here are some key things to remember to help maintain reverence:


    • Fast for one hour before Mass.
    • Receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. If you have committed a mortal sin, visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion.
    • Bow as the person in front of you receives Holy Communion.
    • Approach the Priest, Deacon, or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (hereinafter Eucharistic Minister). The Eucharistic Minister will hold up the host and say, “The Body of Christ.” Reply with “Amen” (this is an affirmation of truth, similar to it is so).
    • You may receive on the tongue or in your hands. Both ways are acceptable so receive however you feel is most loving and reverent.
    • If receiving on the hands, hold both hands facing up in front of you at about chest-height, with your dominant hand on the bottom cupping your non-dominant hand. Hold still until the Eucharistic Minister has placed the host in your hand, then use your dominant hand (on the bottom) to pick up the host and put it in your mouth. Make the sign of the cross and return to your pew.
    • If receiving on the tongue, open your mouth wide with your tongue resting against your bottom lip and hold still until the Eucharistic Minister has placed the host on your tongue. Make the sign of the cross and return to your pew.
    • Do not receive the host with one hand only.
    • Do not reach and grab the host.
    • Do not hand the host to another person.
    • Do not leave with the host. It must be consumed immediately.
    • Be careful that no part of the host touches the ground. However, accidents happen so don’t panic if you do drop all or part of the Host. The Eucharistic Minister is trained to handle it!

    St. Cyril of Jerusalem said it beautifully:


    "When you approach, do not go stretching out your open hands or having your fingers spread out, but make the left hand into a throne for the right which shall receive the King, and then cup your open hand and the Body of Christ, reciting the 'Amen.' Then sanctify with all care your eyes by touching the Sacred Body, and receive it. But be careful that no particles fall, for what you lose would be to you as if you had lost some of your members. Tell me, if anybody had given you gold dust, would you not hold fast to it with all care, and watch lest some of it fall and be lost to you? Must you not then be even more careful with that which is more precious than gold and diamonds, so that no particles are lost?"

  • Why is it called a Sacrifice?

    Are Catholics sacrificing Jesus again at every Mass? Didn’t he sacrifice himself once and for all? The Mass commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and, through the Eucharist, that same sacrifice is made present for us. We do not sacrifice him repeatedly, but we do offer up our very selves and unite ourselves to his sacrifice.


    In each Mass we proclaim the death and resurrection of the Lord. The Mass is a true sacrifice and it makes us sharers in the Lord's work on the Cross. The words of the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper demonstrate that the Mass is a sacrifice:


    "This is My body which is given for you" and "This chalice which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood. (Lk 22:19-20)


    Learn more on the USCCB website.

  • Who can participate?

    At each Mass, faithful Catholics who are in a state of grace are invited to receive the Lord in Holy Communion. Children who have not yet gone through faith formation (usually in 2nd grade) and non-Catholics are invited to approach the altar during Holy Communion with their arms crossed over their chest for a special blessing.


    If you or your child have not yet received your First Eucharist (AKA First Communion) and want to participate, please see the relevant section above.


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