In the Eucharist, Jesus nourishes properly prepared Catholics with His Body and Blood, the Bread of Life, so that they may become more pleasing to God and may be strengthened in their love of God and neighbor.

In the Eucharist we become more pleasing to God. In this great celebration of our faith, we relive the experience of Jesus and thank our Father for it. We recall what our Father has given us. We receive the same gift of Jesus Christ and so enter more deeply into union with Him in the Holy Spirit. At Mass, the Catholic community both acts out its faith and is renewed and strengthened in all its members. By participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we become a people who are acceptable to God.

In the Eucharist we become strengthened in our love of God and neighbor. Holy Communion helps us to love God and neighbor more, because divine grace is increased in our souls. Jesus came into this world to redeem us and to keep us from sin; He comes into our souls for the same purpose. He strengthens us through actual or sacramental graces which help us overcome temptation and avoid sinning against God and our neighbor. Only by His help can we succeed in living a life of true charity, and thus fulfill His greatest commandment.

To receive the Holy Eucharist worthily, the Catholic must be in the state of grace. St. Paul says, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27). As long as we are in the state of grace, we can receive our Lord in Holy Communion, because His Body is the fruit of the Sacrifice, and for us, is the way to eternal life.

The best way to prepare our souls for union with Jesus in Holy Communion is to offer Him, and ourselves with Him, reverently to God the Father in the Sacrifice of the Mass. Confession is necessary before Holy Communion if we have mortal sins to confess. Even when there are only venial sins to confess, frequent Confession is encouraged for all those who wish to best dispose themselves to receive the graces God desires to bestow through the Holy Eucharist.