Dear Anon:

The Church only requires that we receive communion once a year at Eastertime. We are not required to receive at any other time. It is kinda foolish to receive only once a year, I think, but that is all that is required as a minimum requirement.

With that said, there are times when one should not receive.

1) If one is not in proper "disposition of soul," that is, if one has grave sin on their soul that has not been confessed in the Sacrament of Confession, then they CANNOT receive the Eucharist. If a person receives with unconfessed grave sin on their soul they commit a sacrilege.

2) If one is not in proper "disposition of mind," then one may choose not to receive that day. For example, a friend of mine was in a state of grace, but did not feel it proper to receive because he was thinking angry thoughts about the reader at the Mass who just changed the reading on her own to inclusive language. He had not gravely sinned, but he was in a rotten mood and decided not to go before the Lord in such a mood. This is purely a personal decision. He could have received if he wanted to.

Bottomline: the only time a Catholic MUST NOT receive is when they are not in a state-of-grace. Otherwise, it is your choice when to receive or when not to receive as long as you receive communion at least once a year, after going to the Sacrament of Confession if needed, during Easter.

Whenever one does not receive for any reason, they may remain in the pew kneeling in prayer. Some are in the practice of going forward in the Communion line with their arms crossed across their chest signaling to the priest to give them a blessing instead of the Eucharist.

Personally, I do not do that. I remain in the pew in prayer. Going forward in the communion line like that smacks of pride to me -- to avoid being noticed as not receiving, but that is me, I do not judge others for doing so. One may do this if they wish.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary