Did you know that Catholics do not “get communion” at mass? We bring the communion!
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1327 states: “Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist (“eucharisted,” according to an ancient expression), “we call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught.”
As Catholics, we are all one in the body of Christ. According to the CCC 1415: “Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in a state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution through the sacrament of penance.”
When we sin, we separate ourselves from the Body of Christ, His Church. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, we return ourselves to a state of grace with the Church, the body of Christ on earth; we are returned to (co-) union with our brethren.
To learn more about this and other Catholic questions consult the CCC at USCCB.org or go to Catholic.com.