We believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body , blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Communion is an intimate encounter with Christ and innumerable, precious graces come to us through reception of Holy Communion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us the following at 1377,1380,1381:
The Eucharistic Real Presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.
It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us “to the end,” even to the giving of his life.
In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love: The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.
“That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that ‘cannot be apprehended by the senses,’ says St. Thomas, ‘but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.’ For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 (‘This is my body which is given for you.’), St. Cyril says: ‘Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.’
RECEIVING THE EUCHARIST
The Conference of Bishops of the United States directs the following process for reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion.
1. You must be in the state of grace, abstain from food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for one hour prior to receiving Communion.
2. Communion will be received standing and that a bow will be the act of reverence made by those receiving.
3.Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. If one is right handed the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. If one is left handed this is reversed. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing.
4.The person distributing Communion says audibly to each approaching, 'The Body of Christ'. This formula should not be altered, as it is a proclamation which calls for a response of faith on the part of the one who receives. The communicant should audibly respond 'Amen', indicating by that response his or her belief that this small wafer of bread, the wine in this chalice are in reality the body and blood of Christ the Lord. The same proclamation and response are made when one receives from the Chalice.
5. The Body of Christ must be immediately consumed by the person receiving Communion. It is never permissable or reverant for a person to walk away with Communion in hand. It is also never permissable for a person to dip the host he or she received into the Chalice.
6. After one receives Communion it is appropriate to kneel and thank Jesus for coming to you in the Holy Eucharist. This is generally done by a period of silence, with a hymn, psalm or song of praise or other form of prayer.