Catholic Doctrine, Clear And Simple: Holy Communion

MANY SAY:
“Holy Communion is for sinners, so all may receive Communion because we are all sinners.” “Jesus is not truly present in the Eucharist; it is just a memorial” (according to the belief of 70% of Catholics today). 

BUT, THE CHURCH TEACHES:

“For he who eats [this bread] and drinks [the chalice of the Lord] unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.” (I Cor. 11:27-29)

Holy Communion, the Bread of Life come down from heaven, gives our soul an extraordinary vigor. As our bodily life depends upon the union of our body with our soul, so our supernatural life depends upon the union of our soul with God. For our sanctification and eternal salvation, we need to be nourished spiritually through frequent [Confession and] Holy Communion. “Truly, truly I say to you: unless you eat of the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (Jn 6:53)

In the reception of Holy Communion, the entire Christ is consumed—body, blood, soul and divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine. This is Our Lord’s miracle that He instituted the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper, that He would be our spiritual food until the consummation of the world.

Anyone who believes Communion at a Catholic Mass to be just a piece of bread received as a memorial of Christ’s suffering and death, is de facto a Protestant. 

To receive Holy Communion worthily, it is necessary to be free from mortal sin and to keep the Eucharistic fast. One commits the grievous sin of sacrilege by receiving Communion in mortal sin.

The Lord in His Infinite Mercy has provided us with the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we may cleanse our souls through a good Confession before approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion.

The chief effects of a worthy Communion are: 1. Closer union with Our Lord and more fervent love of God and neighbor. 2. An increase of sanctifying grace which makes us holier and more pleasing to God. 3. Preservation from mortal sin and the remission of venial sins. 4. The lessening of our inclination to sin and the help to practice good works. 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

(source: My Catholic Faith by Most Rev. Louis La Ravoire Morrow)