How Often Should You Partake in Holy Communion?

[Bokhard]

I was talking to my friend today, debating with him about religion and theology, and he told me that he had partaken in communion only a couple times in his life. I am wondering if it says anywhere in scriptures how often it is appropriate or necessary to take communion. I was always under the impression that you should take it as often as possible, which has been traditionally once a week in church on Sunday for me. Is this merely human convention, or is there a passage that says "as often as possible" or yearly or anything to that nature? God commanded us to take it, that is not being debated. The frequency of partaking in communion is what I am wondering about.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Epiphanygirl]

Every day if possible!

 

[Adammi]

As much as possible

 

[Bokhard]

That is what I had assumed, however, is there scriptural evidence for this or has this just been accepted in religion?

Thanks

 

[Monica02]

That is what I had assumed, however, is there scriptural evidence for this or has this just been accepted in religion?

Thanks

I do not think frequency is mentioned in the Bible. The Church does offer the Sacrament every day (except Good Friday). In remote areas where a priest is not always available, I think the laity can have a communion service. I am curious about how often Mass was celebrated throughout history. I assume it was daily???

 

[katherine2001]

Christ nourishes us with His Body and Blood. Communion is as necessary as food and water, if we are going to be able to become all that God wants us to be. You aren't going to be healthy, if you very rarely eat (you would die in a fairly short time if you don't eat or drink anything). In the Orthodox Church, only priests can administer the sacraments, including Communion. Laypeople cannot administer Communion. I know because our mission doesn't have a resident priest, and we can only receive Communion once a month when a priest comes to serve (and if he can't get here due to the weather, then we don't get Communion that month). I know that in the Early Church, they celebrated the Divine Liturgy every single day and the Eucharist is the center of that. If a person didn't partake of the Eucharist 3 times in a row, they were excommunicated.

 

[armothe]

The Bible does not explicitly speak on how often we are to take communion.

A few passages come to mind:

1 Corinthians 11:20-22 - Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

-A

 

[Epiphanygirl]

The Bible does not explicitly speak on how often we are to take communion.

A few passages come to mind:

1 Corinthians 11:20-22 - Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

-A

I don't know about other denominations, but Catholics fast before taking the Eucharist. We are to go to confession before we take the Eucharist as well.

 

[StevenL]

You do it as the Spirit leads you. And you don't need a "priest" to administer it to you.

 

[ExOrienteLux]

I don't know about other denominations, but Catholics fast before taking the Eucharist. We are to go to confession before we take the Eucharist as well.

Same thing in the Orthodox Church (like that's all that surprising).

 

[Archangel]

If you take communion too much does it not become a ritualistic routine that you take for granted and eventually forget the true purpose and meaning?

 

[Wiffey]

We should receive the Holy Gifts at every Divine Liturgy, as long as we are spiritually ready and prepared (Confession, prayer and fasting).

When we approach the Chalice with due reverence and a prepared & prayerful heart, it NEVER becomes routine!


Wiffey

 

[bliz]

If you take communion too much does it not become a ritualistic routine that you take for granted and eventually forget the true purpose and meaning?

That's what I was always told would happen. Of course, this was told to me by people who only took communion 4 times a year...

Then I started attending a church that had communion at every service. I frankly was not that thrilled at first. Pleae believe me, it was anything but routine and meaningless! I began to really miss communin if I had missed a service. I looked forward to communion! The greater frequency of communion made me value it, and the purpose of it, more than ever before in my life! Communion became a very important part of my spiritual life.

 

[xenia]

When we approach the Chalice with due reverence and a prepared & prayerful heart, it NEVER becomes routine!

I sometimes get the shivers as I stand in line for Communion. Just thinking about what is happening is so awesome.


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[Wiffey]

I sometimes get the shivers as I stand in line for Communion. Just thinking about what is happening is so awesome.


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Me too! Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by the Presence of Our Lord that I nearly start crying. It is truly awesome!


in IC XC,
Wiffey

 

[Iosias]

We celebrate the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day

 

[Iosias]

Just thinking about what is happening is so awesome.


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What do you mean?

 

[Iosias]

If you take communion too much does it not become a ritualistic routine that you take for granted and eventually forget the true purpose and meaning?

What church do you go to?

 

[xenia]

That is what I had assumed, however, is there scriptural evidence for this or has this just been accepted in religion?

Thanks

Well, something "being accepted in religion" is not necessarily a bad thing.

-Xenia






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[xenia]

What do you mean?

Ah AV, you know what I mean.

-Xenia


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