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Why can’t non-Catholics receive Holy Communion?

Catechism Meditation:

The Eucharist and the unity of Christians. Before the greatness of this mystery St. Augustine exclaims, “O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!” The more painful the experience of the divisions in the Church which break the common participation in the table of the Lord, the more urgent are our prayers to the Lord that the time of complete unity among all who believe in him may return. ―No. 1398

REFLECTION: As practicing Catholics know, the Church has many laws and customs designed to reverence and safeguard the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the reserved Blessed Sacrament. For instance, we genuflect before the tabernacle when we enter a church, and we fast an hour before receiving Communion. Holy Communion for Catholics is a sign of unity in belief and practice. Every time we receive Holy Communion, we are professing that we are in union with the whole Church, believing everything she teaches and promising to live a Gospel-centered life. Non-Catholics don’t have the same beliefs and practices as Catholics and so we are not united. As a result, non-Catholics are not able to receive Communion. However, non-Catholics are very welcome to attend Mass and take part in other ways, and to receive a blessing during Communion – they are still part of our community.

In his blog for St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Why Shouldn’t Non-Catholics receive the Eucharist?, Brenden Bell writes: “If your non-Catholic friend or relative should join you for Mass, it is a kindness for you to tell them they should not receive communion. You might be afraid that you will come off as rude, but you are really preventing them from doing something they don’t really believe in. Every time we go to receive communion the minister holds up the Eucharist and says, “The Body of Christ,” and we respond, “Amen.” Amen means “I believe.” Taking communion is a symbolic act, by doing so you are saying, “I believe that what looks, smells, and tastes like bread is really the Body of Christ.” If your non-Catholic friend were to take Holy Communion they would be essentially lying. It would be like someone saying, “I do,” at a wedding ceremony without intending to get married, or even knowing what “I do” means.”

The Eucharist is a precious gift, and we have a great responsibility to teach and initiate anyone who wishes to come to the Lord in this Sacrament. You never know, maybe by asking your non-Catholic friend not to receive communion, you will instill in them a curiosity and hunger for the Eucharist, and they will soon cease to be a non-Catholic.

PRAYER. Lord Jesus, we pray for unity within the Body of Christ. Send Your Spirit to make us one as You want us to be.

Timeless Wisdom Quote:

“All love craves unity. As the highest peak of love in the human order is the unity of husband and wife in the flesh, so the highest unity in the Divine order is the unity of the soul and Christ in communion.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen