How to Receive Holy Communion

A guide to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Catholic faith

The Eucharist is the central sacrament of the Catholic Church — what the Second Vatican Council called "the source and summit of the Christian life." In Holy Communion, Catholics believe they receive the true Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. Whether you are preparing for your First Communion, returning to the sacraments after time away, or simply want to understand the Church's teaching and practice more deeply, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about receiving Holy Communion.

What Is the Eucharist?

The word "Eucharist" comes from the Greek eucharistia, meaning "thanksgiving." At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." He then took the cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20).

Catholics believe that at every Mass, through the words of consecration spoken by the priest, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is not a symbol or a metaphor — the Church teaches that the entire substance of the bread is changed into the substance of Christ's Body, and the entire substance of the wine into his Blood. This change is called transubstantiation. While the appearances (or "accidents") of bread and wine remain — the taste, texture, and color — the reality is transformed. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist 'the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained'" (CCC 1374).

This belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is one of the defining doctrines of Catholicism. It is why Catholics genuflect before the tabernacle, why the Eucharist is reserved with a burning sanctuary lamp, and why the Church places such careful requirements on who may receive Communion and how.

Who May Receive Holy Communion?

The Church sets several conditions for receiving Holy Communion worthily. These requirements are not arbitrary rules but flow from the profound reality of what the Eucharist is — the Body and Blood of God himself.

• You must be a baptized Catholic. Holy Communion is a sign of full communion with the Catholic Church. Non-Catholics, including baptized Christians of other denominations, are ordinarily not permitted to receive. (Exceptions exist in rare circumstances for Eastern Orthodox Christians and, in danger of death, for other Christians who share Catholic Eucharistic belief.)
• You must be in a state of grace. This means you are free from mortal (serious) sin. If you are conscious of having committed a mortal sin, you must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) before approaching Communion. Receiving Communion while in a state of mortal sin is itself a grave sin — what St. Paul calls receiving "unworthily" (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
• You must have made your First Communion. Catholic children typically receive their First Communion around age seven or eight, after a period of preparation called catechesis.
• You must observe the Eucharistic fast. Catholics are required to abstain from all food and drink (except water and medicine) for at least one hour before receiving Communion.

The Eucharistic Fast

The practice of fasting before Communion is ancient. For centuries, Catholics were required to fast from midnight — no food or water at all from midnight until they received Communion, which could be as late as noon or later. Pope Pius XII reduced the fast in 1957 to three hours from solid food and one hour from non-alcoholic drinks (water always excepted). Pope Paul VI reduced it further to one hour in 1964. Today, the one-hour fast (canon 919) is the norm.

The fast applies to food and beverages (including coffee, juice, and gum), but water and medicine may be taken at any time. The elderly, the sick, and those who care for them are exempt from the fast. The purpose of the fast is to prepare the body and mind to receive Christ with reverence and intentionality — a small act of self-denial that sharpens your awareness of the extraordinary gift you are about to receive.

How to Receive Communion: Step by Step

When it is time for Communion, the congregation processes forward, usually row by row. As you approach the priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, they will hold up the host and say, "The Body of Christ." You respond, "Amen" — a word that means "I believe" or "So be it." This "Amen" is your personal profession of faith in the Real Presence.

Receiving in the Hand

To receive Communion in the hand, extend both hands in front of you, placing one hand flat on top of the other (either hand may be on top). Your hands should form a "throne" for the Eucharist. The minister will place the host in your upper palm. Then, using the hand that is underneath, pick up the host and place it in your mouth immediately — do not walk away carrying the host. Consume it before returning to your pew.

Receiving on the Tongue

To receive Communion on the tongue, fold your hands in prayer or place them at your sides. When the minister says "The Body of Christ" and you respond "Amen," open your mouth and extend your tongue slightly. The minister will place the host directly on your tongue. Close your mouth and allow the host to dissolve or consume it. This method was the universal practice in the Western Church for many centuries and remains the norm in many countries.

Standing or Kneeling

In the United States, the norm established by the USCCB is to receive Communion while standing, with a bow of the head as a sign of reverence before receiving. However, no one may be denied Communion for choosing to kneel. Some Catholics prefer to kneel as a sign of deeper reverence, and this is their right. At parishes that celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, kneeling at the altar rail and receiving on the tongue is the standard practice.

Receiving the Precious Blood

At many parishes, Communion is offered under both forms — the consecrated bread (the host) and the consecrated wine (the Precious Blood). After receiving the host, you may proceed to the chalice minister, who will say, "The Blood of Christ." You respond "Amen," take the chalice, and take a small sip. The minister will then wipe the rim and rotate the cup before offering it to the next person. Receiving under one form alone — either the host or the chalice — is sufficient to receive the whole Christ. You are never required to receive from the chalice.

What If You Cannot Receive Communion?

There are many reasons someone may not be able to receive Communion — you may be in a state of mortal sin and have not yet been to confession, you may be a non-Catholic attending Mass, or you may not have observed the Eucharistic fast. Whatever the reason, you are still a valued member of the worshipping assembly. You have two options:

• Remain in your pew and pray quietly during the Communion procession. This is perfectly acceptable and common.
• Approach the altar with your arms crossed over your chest to indicate that you would like a blessing rather than Communion. Most priests and Eucharistic ministers will offer you a spoken blessing.

In these situations, the Church encourages the practice of making a Spiritual Communion — an act of desire to receive Christ when you are unable to receive sacramentally. Here is the traditional prayer:

This prayer, attributed to St. Alphonsus Liguori, has been prayed by Catholics for centuries. Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to pray it frequently, noting that spiritual communion is a genuine encounter with Christ available to everyone at any time.

First Holy Communion

Catholic children typically receive their First Communion around the age of seven — the "age of reason" — after a period of preparation that usually takes one to two years. This preparation, called First Communion catechesis, teaches children the basics of the faith: who Jesus is, what the Mass is, the difference between ordinary bread and the Eucharist, and how to prepare to receive worthily.

Before First Communion, children also make their first confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation). The celebration of First Communion is typically a joyful parish event, often held on a Sunday in May. Children traditionally wear white — girls in white dresses and boys in suits — symbolizing the purity of their baptismal garments.

Adults who are converting to Catholicism through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) receive their First Communion at the Easter Vigil, along with Baptism and Confirmation. Adults who were baptized Catholic but never received the Eucharist can also prepare for First Communion through their parish's adult faith formation program.

Receiving Communion in Eastern Catholic Churches

The Catholic Church includes not only the Roman (Latin) Rite but also twenty-three Eastern Catholic Churches — including the Byzantine, Maronite, Melkite, Ukrainian, and Syro-Malabar Churches, among others. These churches are fully Catholic and in communion with the Pope, but they have their own liturgical traditions.

In most Eastern Catholic liturgies, Communion is administered by intinction — the priest dips a portion of the consecrated bread into the consecrated wine and places both together on the communicant's tongue using a liturgical spoon. Communicants do not receive in the hand. In Eastern Catholic practice, infants receive all three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) together, so even very young children receive Communion regularly. A Roman Catholic in good standing may receive Communion at any Eastern Catholic liturgy, and vice versa.

Common Questions About Receiving Communion

Low-Gluten Hosts

Church law requires that the Eucharistic bread be made from wheat. Completely gluten-free hosts are not valid matter for the Eucharist. However, the Church has approved low-gluten hosts that contain a very small amount of wheat gluten (approximately 0.01%) — an amount that is safe for most people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. These hosts are available from religious suppliers and can be consecrated at Mass. If you need a low-gluten host, contact your parish office before Mass so the priest can prepare one for you. If even a low-gluten host is not safe for you, you may receive Communion from the chalice alone — the Precious Blood contains the whole Christ just as the host does.

Mustum (Non-Alcoholic Wine)

Catholics who cannot consume alcohol — whether for medical reasons, recovery from addiction, or other causes — may receive Communion under the form of bread alone, which contains the whole Christ. In some cases, a priest who cannot consume alcohol may use mustum (grape juice that has begun but not completed fermentation) for his own Communion at Mass. Lay communicants who have concerns about alcohol consumption should speak with their pastor.

How Often Can You Receive?

Catholics may receive Communion up to twice per day, provided the second reception occurs within the context of a Mass (not outside of Mass). The Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive Communion at every Mass they attend, so long as they are properly disposed — that is, in a state of grace and observing the Eucharistic fast.

Canon law requires every Catholic who has received First Communion to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, and to do so during the Easter season if at all possible (canon 920). This obligation, often called the Easter duty, expresses the bare minimum of sacramental participation; the Church's clear hope is that the faithful will receive far more frequently than this.

After Receiving: Prayer and Thanksgiving

After receiving Communion, return to your pew and spend a few minutes in quiet prayer and thanksgiving. You have just received the Lord of the universe into your body — this is a moment of intimate encounter with Christ. Many saints have emphasized that the moments after Communion are among the most precious in the spiritual life. St. Teresa of Avila wrote, "When you have received Him, do not neglect so good an occasion of negotiating with God." You might simply speak to Jesus in your own words, or pray a traditional thanksgiving prayer such as the Anima Christi or the prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Frequently Asked Questions