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First Holy Communion
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The Sacrament of Eucharist, also known as "Holy Communion", is the third of the Sacraments of Initiation. Even though we are required to receive Communion at least once per year (our Easter Duty), and the Church urges us to receive Communion frequently (even daily, if possible), it is called a Sacrament of Initiation because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ Jesus.

In Holy Communion Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal.  We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God. We are eating the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without which "you do not have life within you" (John 6:53).

Because of the intimate connection of the Sacrament of Holy Communion to our life in Christ, we must be free of any grave or mortal sin before receiving it, as Saint Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord" (1Corinthians 11:27) Otherwise, as he warns, we receive the Sacrament unworthily, and we "eat and drink judgment"  (1Corinthians 11:29) on ourselves.

If we are aware of having committed a mortal sin, we must participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliaiton first.  The Church sees the two Sacraments as connected and urges us, when we can, to join frequent Reconciliation with frequent Communion.