Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

En una entrada anterior hice referencia a un folleto que se habia repartido en la Catedral de Saint Patrick con una serie de orientaciones sobre como recibir la comunion. Dejando aparte el contexto en que salio, creo que es una cosa buena que se informe a los fieles (y a los no tanto) de como hay que comportarse y actuar en cada momento.

 

A continuacion transcribo literalmente el contenido:

 

For Catholics:

 

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and the Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfecto contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

 

For our fellow Christians

 

We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us ''that may all be one" (Jn 17:21).

 

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life and worship, membres of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844.4). Members of Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic Discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844.3).

 

For those not receiving Holy Communion

 

All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a preyerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

 

For non-Christians

 

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.