Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

Recently, a reader named Margie from Jerseyville asked a common question about receiving Communion multiple times in a day. Margie recalled being told years ago that she was not allowed to receive Communion more than once in a 24-hour period. Seeking clarification, Margie turned to Father Dominic Vahling, a priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield and a theology teacher at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.

Father Vahling confirmed that Margie was perfectly fine to receive Communion twice in the same day. He explained that the Church allows Catholics to receive holy Communion two times per day, as long as the second time is in the context of a Mass. However, he noted that Margie's recollection might be accurate from her childhood. The current guidance on receiving Communion comes from the 1983 Code of Canon Law, and Catholics catechized before 1983 were taught to receive only once per day, as it was the law at that time.

Father Vahling emphasized that the Mass and the Eucharist hold a central place in the Catholic faith because the Eucharist is God Himself. However, he cautioned against the belief that more Eucharist automatically equates to more holiness. He stressed the importance of proper preparation and disposition for the reception of the Eucharist, which is why the Church allows individuals to receive only once or twice per day, with the second time being during a Mass. Father Vahling pointed out that receiving Communion too frequently could lead to forgetting the significance and uniqueness of the Eucharist.

While the Mass is the best place to receive Communion, there are occasions when Catholics can receive the Eucharist outside of Mass. For example, those who are homebound or in the hospital can request to have holy Communion brought to them. Father Vahling explained that this is especially fitting as Jesus desires to nourish the sick and lonely with His Body and Blood. In the absence of a priest, a deacon or a lay person can lead a Liturgy of the Word service that includes holy Communion, as long as it is the individual's first Communion of the day and they are properly disposed.

Attending Mass is an act of worship, and Catholics are required to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. However, receiving holy Communion during Mass is not mandatory. Father Vahling advised that if someone is conscious of a grave sin, they should continue to attend Mass but refrain from receiving Communion until they have received the sacrament of reconciliation. By attending Mass, Catholics unite the sacrifice of their lives to the sacrifice of Jesus on the altar, offering it to God the Father.

Regarding the definition of a "day" in terms of receiving Communion, Father Vahling explained that it is considered from midnight to midnight. He mentioned that sometimes a liturgical feast may last longer than 24 hours, such as when anticipating the Sunday Mass on a Saturday evening. Nevertheless, the rule of receiving Communion twice per day still applies. For example, even if someone attends a Saturday evening Mass, they would be allowed to receive Communion twice on Sunday because it is a different day, despite the similarity of the liturgical celebration.

In conclusion, Father Vahling reminded Catholics of Canon 898 of the Code of Canon Law, which calls for holding the Eucharist in the highest honor, actively participating in its celebration, receiving the sacrament devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the utmost adoration. He emphasized that the Eucharist is an incredible gift from God, and the more individuals come to realize this, the more they will be transformed by frequent partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ.