"So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;" (John 6:53)
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51)
The Passover feast celebrated by the 1st Century Jews was eaten in remembrance of the Exodus event, when God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. By the blood, and sacrifice of the paschal lamb, the wrath of God passed over their houses, sparing their lives. However unlike the animal sacrifices of the Passover Feast, that would have to be sacrificed annually by the high priest, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was perfect, and permanent. He died to sin once and for all, and by rising from the grave, defeated death. By the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, we too receive forgiveness for our sins, and receive eternal life.
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)
When Christ instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, he truly transformed the substances of bread and wine into His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. The truth of this deeper spiritual reality means that the Eucharist we consume is more than just the Body of Christ, sacrificed in the Crucifixion; it was also the Body of Christ glorified in the Resurrection. In the Catholic Church today, we continue to celebrate this same Sacrament that contains the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Mass.
"The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322)
Partaking in the Eucharist is a sign of communion and unity with the Catholic Church, as we become one Body of Christ when we share in the One Bread. As such, only baptised Catholics in a state of grace are called to receive the Eucharist. Seeking the sacrament of reconciliation (or confession) before mass allows us to cleanse our hearts from every attachment to sin, and to truly receive the Eucharist, and also be received into the Body of Christ. Holy Communion is administered to Baptised Catholics during Mass and also to those who are homebound and/or are unable to receive this Sacrament at Mass.
Holy Communion is for practicing baptised Catholics who are in a state of grace, who believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, and of the age where they can go to confession is able to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
No, the Eucharist is the Real Presence of God, Jesus Christ, - actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ - under the appearances of bread and wine. Although the appearances remain the same, the substance of the bread and wine changes in the Eucharist. This phenomenon, known as transubstantiation, highlights the miraculous nature of the sacrament. Despite no visible change, we believe — because of Christ’s own words (John 6:47–58) — that the Eucharist is the real and substantial presence of Jesus.
You receive either on the tongue or in the hand. The priest holds up the Host and says, “The Body of Christ,” and the communicant answers, “Amen.” (meaning, “So be it.” “I agree.” “I believe.”)
Communion should not be received on the run, as you’re walking back to your place; it should be consumed before you leave the area below the altar.
If you are going to receive on the tongue, the head should be held erect, but slightly tilted back. The tongue should come out over the bottom teeth, equal with the bottom lip, so that the priest has someplace to put the Host. Wait till the priest has withdrawn his hand - do not bite the priest.
If you’re going to receive in the hand, put one hand down and put the other hand on top of it and make, as Tertullian used to say, a kind of throne for the Lord. When the priest puts the Host on your hand, you say, “Amen.” Take a step or two to the side to make way for the next communicant, then receive our Lord.
If you’re going to kneel for Communion — and it’s all right to kneel — remember that, when you rise, you have people behind you.
Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant's union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1416)
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. (John 6:53-57)