[tired&retired]

“But many today have reduced Holy Communion to a mere sign of hospitality”

I discussed this topic with the Priest several weeks ago. Jesus did not turn away the unclean, but welcomed them to redemption and union. He ate with the sinners as they needed Him.

True Communion involves the Holy Spirit moving in. If an unclean person asks for the Holy Spirit, they may get more than they bargain for as the process of the Holy Spirit removing the sin is mighty uncomfortable. When this happened to me my body shook like a dog who just climbed from the pond. There is good reason as to why the Quakers and Shakers earned their names. It’s reality. For someone unclean to receive Holy Communion, it is an uncomfortable cleansing process. But then again, we are now in the “Tide Pod” generation of cleansing within!!!

Jesus stated, “I have not come to judge, but to save.” Are we better than Jesus to judge people as worthy or unworthy?

Just as the worst sin is to blasphemy and reject the Holy Spirit, who are we to block someone as being undeserving of it. The words that keep ringing in my ears are, “As we judge others, we too are judged.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

I have never once seen a person literally turned away at the communion rail (or by the priest or EM) at a Catholic Church. I have heard "of" it on only two occasions in my lifetime:

• Once, where LGBT demonstrators wearing Rainbow Sashes came in as a group and tried to receive Communion in a Catholic Church in (I think) Minneapolis. The demonstrators had proclaimed beforehand that the "Rainbow Sash" represented "Out and Proud" Gay, and the celebrant of the Mass (I think it was a bishop) said they could not receivce Communion unless they removed their sashes. They would not; so they were not offered the Sacrament.

• Once, when a Polish priest on loan to the Archdiocese of Washington was called on a celebrate a funeral Mass for a parishioner, whose adult daughter and her "wife" introduced themselves to the priest in the sacristy right before Mass, and said they'd be receiving. He said "Not from me,you won't." They went straight to the newspaper/radio/TV, and a big media kerfuffle ensued. Shamefully, the Archbishop of Washington didn't back him up, and he was publicly reprimanded and sent back to Poland.

Anybody remember that one?

the Bishop in the "Rainbow Sash" incident was right. The priest in the DC incident was right, and the Archbishop was wrong.

If these individuals want to go to Confession, repent their sins, and then come and receive Our Lord, fine. But if they want to treat the Holy Eucharist as a political token, a publicity hook or a fast-food snack: no.

Same for the Mafia, an abortion-promoting Senator, or any other proud, strutting public evildoer.

Begone, ye workers of iniquity.

[ADSUM]

The article outlines how to worthily receive Holy Communion.

We should all understand what is involved.

In practice, each person determines whether they are worthy, except in unusual situations where the priest or Bishop may decide not give someone Communion.

[Biggirl]

That is why it is important accept Christ first as personal Lord and Savior.

[NorthMountain]

Some people look at this business of receiving communion "worthily" as a nasty matter of judgmentalism, and legalism, and arrogance.

I look at it and see a clarion call to repentance.