Catholic Wedding Questions and Answers
Can someone who is not Catholic receive communion at
a Catholic wedding Mass?
Only Catholics should receive the Eucharist (with a few exceptions).
Another name for the Eucharist is "communion," because the act of
receiving it both reflects and effects the spiritual union of the
believer with Christ and all the other faithful. In other words, it's a
statement of Catholic faith—a statement that people who do not share
that faith probably do not want to make. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
eloquently explain this position in a statement they issued to be
included in worship aids:
For our fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as
our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action
of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another
and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that
these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer
for us "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a
sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members
of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily
not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional
circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the
directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of Canon law (Canon
844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the
East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the
discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic
discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of
communion by Christians of these Churches (Canon 844 § 3).
For those not receiving Holy Communion
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in
their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with
one another.
For non-Christians
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in
Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them
to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.
If you expect that a large number of your guests
will not be able to receive communion, you may want to discuss with your
pastor the possibility of having a Catholic wedding without the Mass.
Choosing the form of
your Catholic wedding
A guide to choosing the form of your
wedding (with or without Mass).
I am attending a Catholic
wedding, but I am not Catholic. What can I expect?
A guide
for your non-Catholic guests.
