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Jesus did not give specific instructions about how often we ought to take Communion. He merely said, “…as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup…” (1 Corinthians 11:26) However, we know from history that the early church celebrated Communion every week, on the Lord’s Day, that is Sunday. There is no definitive or clear example that they took it on any other day. It is probable that they based their practice on that of the priests of the Old Testament who ate the “Bread of the Presence” once per week (see Leviticus 24:5-9, 1 Samuel 21:6).
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St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Eucharist: What role did the Eucharist play? In Catherine’s day it was very unusual to receive the Eucharist on a daily basis — one really had to have permission, Catherine and all of the great saints took this command of Christ daily
Visions and ecstasies often lasting 3-4 hours took place at Communion…many priests later attested to it. In fact, her spiritual director/confessor, Fr. Raymond of Capua, tells the following of this powerful and holy woman in his biography of her:
“Pope Gregory XI…to content this longing of hers, published a Bull that granted her the right to have a priest at her disposal to absolve her and administer Communion to her and also to have a portable altar, so that she could hear Mass and receive Communion whenever and wherever she liked” (Capua, the Life of St. Catherine of Siena, p. 284).
Marthe Robin: Her only sustenance for more than 50 years was the Holy Eucharist
In the early Church at Jerusalem the faithful received every day (Acts 2:46). Later on, however, we read that St. Paul remained at Troas for seven days, and it was only “on the first day of the week” that the faithful “assembled to break bread” (Acts 20:6-11; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2). According to the “Didache” the breaking of bread took place on “the Lord’s day” (kata kyriaken, c. xiv). Pliny says that the Christians assembled “on a fixed day” (Ep. x); and St. Justin, “on the day called Sunday” (te tou heliou legomene hemera, Apol., I, lxvii, 3, 7). It is in Tertullian that we first read of the Liturgy being celebrated on any other day besides Sunday (On Prayer 19; De Corona, c. iii). Daily reception is mentioned by St. Cyprian (De Orat. Domin., c. xviii in P.L., IV, 531); St. Jerome (Ep. ad Damasum); St. John Chrysostom (Hom., iii in Eph.); St. Ambrose (in Ps. cxviii, viii, 26, 28 in P.L., XV, 1461, 1462); and the author of the “De Sacramentis” (V, iv, 25; P.L., XVI, 452).
It should be noted that in the early Church and in the patristic ages, the faithful communicated, or at any rate were expected to communicate, as often as the Holy Eucharist was celebrated (St. John Chrysostom loc. cit.; Apostolic canons, X; St. Gregory the Great, Dial. II, 23). They received even oftener, since it was the custom to carry away the Sacred Elements and communicate at home (St. Justin, loc. cit.; Tertullian, “Ad Uxorem”, II, v; Euseb., Church History VI.44). This was done especially by hermits, by dwellers in monasteries without priests, and by those who lived at a distance from any church. On the other hand, we find that practice fell far short of precept, and that the faithful were frequently rebuked for so seldom receiving the Holy Communion(see especially St. John Chrysostom, loc. cit., and St. Ambrose, loc. cit.). St. Augustine sums up the matter thus: “Some receive the Body and Blood of the Lord every day; others on certain days; in some places there is no day on which the Sacrifice is not offered; in others on Saturday and Sunday only; in others on Sunday alone” (Ep. liv in P.L., XXXIII, 200 sqq.).
Whether it was advisable for the faithful, especially those living in matrimony, to receive daily, was a question on which the Fathers were not agreed. St. Jerome is aware of this custom at Rome, but he says: “Of this I neither approve nor disapprove; let each abound in his own sense” (Ep. xlviii in P.L., XXII, 505 — 6; Ep. lxxi in P.L., XXII, 672).
St. Augustine discusses the question at length, and comes to the conclusion, that there is much to be said on both sides (Ep. liv in P.L., XXXIII, 200 sqq.). Good Christians still communicated once a week, down to the time of Charlemagne, but after the break-up of his empire this custom came to an end. St. Bede bears witness to the Roman practice of communicating on Sundays and on the feasts of the Apostles and Martyrs, and laments the rarity of reception in England (Ep. ad Egb. in P.L., XCIV, 665).
Link Hudson
Is it possible to take fellowship/communion by yourself if it is communion of the body of Christ? Aren’t we communing with the pther members of thebody when we take it?
David Levandusky
2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen
Louise Cummings
Some people takes it every day I think heard them say. I take it at Church when we have it. We let a person examine their heart.and take it if they want too.
Louise Cummings
That’s how I see it to. He said as oft as you do this do in Remembrance of Me.
Paul L. King
As I wrote in my book “God’s Healing Arsenal,” when I had 3rd stage rectal cancer in 2007, I partook of Communion every night before I went to bed, taking as Bernard of Clairvaux put it, “God’s medicine.” I would pray, Jesus, You are my Bread of Life, come and nourish me as I partake and build up my immune system. As I drink this cup, Your blood flows through my veins. I overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Cause Your blood to cleanse my blood and body of every cancerous cell, for by Your stripes I am healed.” So communion was a part of God’s healing arsenal for me, and I was healed!
Karey Byrd
Paul L. King praise God. Their IS Power in The Blood Of The Lamb. ???
Louise Cummings
I think that’s great. My brother in law takes it every day. Thank the Lord He healed you.
Varnel Watson
Paul L. King Clairvaux is right but he did not take it daily. I tried to outline some that came to mind UP to 5cent. IF You can think of any early ones DO let me know (with source pls)
NOW what can we think of the Pope providing a special priest for Catherine ? Was the priest even needed ?
Isara Mo
Yes it is possible to take communion by yourself.
I take it daily before I go to bed.
Varnel Watson
the question is about DAILY partaking
Link Hudson
I Corinthians 11
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Here it is a collective thing. We are many, but we are one bread. We have communion with the body of Christ.
I Corinthians 11
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Also, I Corinthians 12
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
So we see he tells his readers that they are the one bread. Jesus took the bread and said, “This is my body.’ And Paul tells his readers that they are members of the body of Christ.
Varnel Watson
what does this have to do with OP?
Link Hudson
It has to do with whether communion is an individual thing, especially since there is a quote about administering the sarament to one person.
Louise Cummings
Great Scriptures. Like your comments.
Link Hudson
How can you be many by yourself?
Louise Cummings
What’s the difference if you take it alone by yourself or with a. Crowd. You are remembering. The Lords Body He gave on the Cross for our Salvation and the Stripes He bore our healing. And the Cup represents. The Shedding Of His Blood for our sins. The Bible says. Without the Shedding Of Blood , there is no remission of sins. The blood of bulls and goats or animals could never pay for our sins. It took a Spotless Lamb. Jesus gave itr the Spotless Lamb to shed His Blood. It wasn’t just any blood. It was Spotless Lambs Blood. When we eat the Bread. He gave His Spotless Lambs Body for our forgiveness and Healing. He gave His Spotless Blood. To shed and Bleed His Precious Blood to cleanse us , set us free from our guilty Sins. Every time we Put The Bread in our mouth. We are suppose to be remembering that. He did it for Me. To keep me from sin. Every time we take the Cup that represents His Blood bHe Shed On Calvary. To forgive us of that filthy sin. When we drink the Cup. We are to be Remembering He did that for me because He didn’create. hell for us. But because we sinned. He Went To The Cross. So. We wouldn’t have to go to the hell He created for this devil and his angels. Doesn’t this really if you remember His Body every day. It makes me think Maybe we all should take it every day. But when we do take of His Body that the Bread represents. And His Blood that the Cup represents. We need to surely be Remembering His Body and His Blood. So I believe it’s alright to Per Take Of His Body And Blood every day. I don’t know
Louise Cummings
I don’t know what I started to say when I put i don’t know.
Louise Cummings
You may not be taking the Lord Supper al th same time I am.what then? The one Body is Christ.
Louise Cummings
Thank The Lord for Healing Bro Paul L. King.
Varnel Watson
Any one else who has taken communion daily in history until about 5AD?
Link Hudson
Jesus said ‘drink ye all of it.’ not ‘go take it by thyself sometime when others aren’t around.’
Varnel Watson
what other dolls ? r u OK today?
Link Hudson
Troy Day I hit the right keys but my thumb is too big and I am hitting other keys at the same time. Give a man a minute to fix spelling. You responded in two seconds while I was fixing spelling on one of these posts.
Louise Cummings
Where does it say not to take it by his self. I know it says drink you al. Of it. In Remembrance Of Him.
Isara Mo
Louise Cummings The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword: problem is we use just one side to cut the meat we like..
Louise Cummings
Great point. You must be full of the Word and Wisdom.
Isara Mo
Louise Cummings Blessed are you for getting the revelation ” where does it say not to take it by his self….?”
That kept me thinking…Jesus was at the last supper, relaxed, having his meal…with his disciples.
There were no rites or prayers when gave thanks and broke the bread…and gave thanks in regard to the wine..and then the instruction” do this in remembrance of me”
He didn’t specify how to do it ..when to do it..(as often doesnt doesnt exclude daily) or how many are to participate in the ritual to make it ” legal”
God bless those who in solitude in the privacy of their homes partake of communion….it is a solemn worship no wonder Acts 2: 46 said they did at their homes not at the temple..
When did communion became a public corporate affair?…
Don’t know…may be some folks here might help
Isara Mo
Acts 2:46 say they (the believers met daily at the temple…
They broke bread….where?
At their homes….
Louise Cummings
I do the same thing. I lost a complete message yesterday. I was trying to fix a word. Before I got finished with my message. Someone else started writing under my message. I was trying to separate my last line cf my message from the other message. I don’t know if it showed who it was writing the message or not. I just hit erase on mine. But I think it erased all of it. I didn’t know that could happen. But it did. I never could figure it out.
Isara Mo
Louise Cummings what happened to you also happened to me….i lost a whole complete message yesterday….while ending it.I thought I was in error but I recall this kind of thing has happened to me more than three times..
It seems someone reads what another is typing then just deletes it…
Spiritual espionage?