What is necessary to receive Holy Communion?

Answer 1

At what age?

child - 2 years in Religious Education, preceded by Sacrament of Reconciliation (aka Confession / Penance). Both required by Church Teaching. usually received in 2nd grade.

Non Baptized (to include non Trinitarian Baptism) RCIA 2 year preparation with sponsor ending with Confirmation (usually at the Easter Vigil)

Baptized non-Catholic RCIC = series of structured classes... ending with confirmation --- New way -- old way, depending upon denomination, series of personal classes with priest, ending with welcoming into church family by public recitation of the Nicene Creed.

Baptized Catholic Catholic Adults... playing "catch up ball" confirmation class (not required) prior to reception.

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Catholic AnswerTo receive Holy Communion, first of all you must be a baptized Catholic, in the Eastern Rites, you then receive your first Holy Communion immediately (as an infant). In the Latin rite, you must be of age (usually over 7 years old), have made your first Confession, and First Holy Communion. You must be in a state of grace, which means that you have been to Confession (Reconciliation) recently: you must confess all serious sins since your last confession, and it is most helpful for you, if you confess all sins, even venial. If you are married, you must have been married by the Church. If you have any questions as to your state in life, please mention them in Confession and ask the priest about them. It would always be helpful to ask the priest if you should receive Holy Communion or not.

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You should make a preparation the evening before, and some time before Mass praying to God about this great privilege. You must be fasting for one hour before receiving the Blessed Sacrament. Finally, you must approach the sacrament reverently, and make a good Thanksgiving afterward.

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Most people are receiving the Blessed Sacrament not in good standing with the Church, not in a state of grace, without having been to Confession, without prior preparation and prayer. This is very dangerous, read St. Paul, I don't know what these people are thinking. Please offer a prayer for them when you are preparing to receive the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion.

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Finally, if you have any doubts, whatsoever, as to whether you should receive Holy Communion, my advice would be to refrain until you can speak to a priest in confession. When I was a younger man, we have three to four priests hearing confessions for hours on Saturday, all of them with lines to the back of the Church, EVERY single Saturday, and only about a third of the people in the pews on Sunday went to receive Holy Communion. People knew that they had to attend Mass, but that they should not receive the Sacrament unless they were in a state of grace, with a clear conscience. We would do well to learn a lesson from our grandparents in this regard. If you are not going to confession regularly, then you probably should not be receiving Holy Communion regularly either. If in doubt, ask a priest!