In other words, only those who are united in the same beliefs — the seven sacraments, the authority of the pope, and the teachings in the Catechism of the Catholic Church — are allowed to receive Holy Communion.

Even then, there are conditions. The communicants must seek the Eucharist on their own, rather than be invited to take it; be unable to receive it from their own ministers; demonstrate that they comprehend the Catholic understanding of the sacrament; and, finally, believe themselves free of grave sin.

The communicants must seek the Eucharist on their own, rather than be invited to take it; be unable to receive it from their own ministers; demonstrate that they comprehend the Catholic understanding of the sacrament; and, finally, believe themselves free of grave sin.

“Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession,” the Catechism adds.

Answer: The single-largest group of those “denied” holy Communion would likely be those who are in invalid marriages. This is usually due to one or both of the current spouses having been married before. Jesus teaches that divorce and remarriage amounts to a state of on-going adultery (cf.

Whether you are a Christian or not, the Bible has some great wisdom on communication. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” The Bible warns us that what we say and how we say it is important to God.

Canon 916 excludes from communion all those conscious of mortal sin who have not received sacramental absolution. Canon 842 §1 declares: “A person who has not received baptism cannot be admitted validly to the other sacraments.”

In fact, communion reminds us of the forgiveness we experience through Christ. But Paul urges us to “examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28 NLT), so that we are going to communion with a humble heart and not just “pretending” to be right with God.

Pentecostals believe that communion is symbolic and is to be used primarily to remind believers of the sacrifice Christ made for them. The frequency of communion is left to the discretion of individual churches.

In the Corinthian assembly, eating and drinking in an unworthy manner meant eating and drinking excessively at the communal meal, with the result that other brothers went hungry. Other forms of partaking unworthily could be imagined, but it is only a sin in the manner of partaking communion that is spoken of.

Paul never recommends that a believer not participate in communion or that the church should forbid unspiritual believers from participating in communion. It is only unbelievers who are forbidden to participate in communion, since communion signifies participation in the body of Christ ( 1 Cor 10:16-17 ).

It is therefore unbiblical for a pastor to say that people with “unconfessed sin” should not participate in communion. Communion, like baptism, is an ordinance for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, not just for an elite class of “spiritual” believers.

In verse 26 he says, “as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” Paul relates the communion to the sacrifice of Christ and then says to examine one’s self in verse 28.