The Sacred Union: Incorporating Communion Into Your Wedding Ceremony

If you're planning to include communion in your wedding ceremony, it's a good idea to let your guests know in advance. This can be done by including a note in your wedding program. Here's a suggested paragraph that you could include:

Communion will be offered during the ceremony. All those who are receiving are asked to prepare themselves carefully in prayer and to observe the eucharistic fast of at least one hour prior to receiving Holy Communion. For our fellow Christians, we welcome you to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. For those not receiving Holy Communion, you are encouraged to express in your hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you wish, please come forward and receive a blessing from the priest.

Who can receive communion

The Catholic Church has a variety of rules and guidelines regarding who can receive Communion. Firstly, only baptised Catholics are eligible to receive Communion. This is because, during Communion, Catholics receive the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, if a Catholic is conscious of having committed a "grave sin", such as divorce or cohabitation with a romantic partner outside of marriage, they must first repent and perform penance before being eligible to receive Communion. This is because, according to the Bible, Communion should not be open to those who are living in known, unconfessed sin.

Thirdly, the Church encourages Catholics to receive Communion frequently, and mandates reception at least once a year during the Easter season. Before receiving Communion, one must be in a ""state of grace", which means not having committed a mortal sin, such as murder, receiving or participating in an abortion, or having sexual intercourse outside of marriage. If one has committed a mortal sin, they must go to confession before receiving Communion.

Finally, one must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which means that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the body and blood of Christ, and only the appearances of bread and wine remain.

What non-Catholics can do

If you are a non-Catholic guest at a Catholic wedding, there are a few things you can do during communion. While non-Catholic Christians are not usually supposed to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church, there are exceptions. If you are a non-Catholic Christian, you may receive communion in exceptional circumstances, such as if you are in danger of death or if there is another grave necessity, as noted in Canon 844.4. However, you should only receive communion if you manifest Catholic faith in respect of the sacraments and are properly disposed.

If you are not a Christian, you can still participate in the celebration by offering your prayers for the peace and unity of the human family. You are also welcome to come forward and receive a blessing from the priest by crossing your arms over your heart or chest. This is a way to express your desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with the other guests.

It is important to remember that receiving communion in the Catholic Church implies a belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation, as well as full doctrinal and sacramental communion with the Catholic Church, including the Pope. If you do not share these beliefs, it is respectful to remain seated or kneeling until the priest sits down after communion. This is done to honour the physical presence of the Lord in the Eucharist.

If you are unsure about what to do during communion, you can always ask the priest or couple getting married for guidance. They may be able to provide you with more specific instructions or suggestions. Ultimately, the decision to receive communion or not is a personal one, and you should follow your own beliefs and comfort level.

How to word the wedding program

A wedding program is like a playbill for your wedding. It's a fun keepsake for your guests and gives them helpful insight into the performance (your ceremony). Here is a guide on how to word your wedding program, with a focus on including communion.

Names, Date, and Location

Start with a "cover page" that includes your names, the venue name and address, the full wedding date, and the ceremony start time.

Outline of the Ceremony Proceedings

When it comes to the ceremony, you can keep things straightforward by just mentioning the basics—the processional, welcome, readings, vows, and pronouncement—or go into detail. Think about including the order of the prelude and processional, which readings and songs are included, and any additional formalities.

If you're having a religious ceremony, you should provide the title, page number, and look-up information for any passages, poems, or musical selections so that guests can follow along. An explanation of proceedings, such as the traditional Hindu seven steps, could be helpful to guests.

Names of Ceremony Participants

Shout out the people who have supported you through the wedding planning process and beyond. Start with the officiant, then both sets of parents, and finally, the wedding party members, including flower girls and ring bearers. List the wedding party in the order they walk down the processional so that guests can easily identify each person.

Communion

If you're having a Christian service, you can include a request to participate in communion. You can explain what communion is in your program, but you may also want to ask your priest or minister to explain it during the ceremony.

• "Catholics in good standing are welcome to receive the Eucharist. All other denominations are welcome to receive a blessing."
• "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."
• "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."
• "The Church kindly encourages non-Catholics and those Catholics who are not presently disposed to receive the Eucharist to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you would like to, please come forward, cross your arms over your heart/chest, and receive a blessing from the Priest."

Additional Details

You can also add the following details to your wedding program:

• A "how we met" story
• Fun wedding facts
• A memorial tribute
• A thank-you note to your guests

Whether to include instructions in the program

Whether or not to include instructions in your wedding program is a personal choice. Some couples prefer to keep the program simple and streamlined, while others opt for a more detailed and informative approach. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

Simplicity vs. Detail

As a general rule, it's a good idea to keep your wedding program concise and easy to follow. Guests are unlikely to read lengthy explanations, especially during the ceremony. However, if you're including religious rituals or traditions that may be unfamiliar to some guests, providing a brief explanation can be helpful. For example, if you're having a Catholic mass, it might be useful to explain the significance of communion and provide instructions on how to receive it.

Religious or Cultural Traditions

If your wedding includes specific religious or cultural traditions, it's a thoughtful touch to provide some context for your guests. This can be especially important if you're expecting a diverse group of attendees with varying levels of familiarity with your traditions. A brief explanation of the rituals and any relevant instructions can help guests feel included and able to participate in a meaningful way.

Practical Considerations

Consider the length of your ceremony and the number of rituals or traditions you plan to include. If you have a lot happening during the ceremony, providing a detailed program can help guests follow along. On the other hand, if your ceremony is relatively short and simple, extensive instructions may not be necessary.

Personal Preference

Ultimately, the decision to include instructions in your wedding program comes down to personal preference. Some couples prefer to keep the program focused on the timeline of events and introductions of the wedding party. Others see the program as an opportunity to provide context, share their story, and offer instructions or guidance to guests.

Examples of Instructional Wording

If you decide to include instructions related to communion in your wedding program, here are some examples of wording to consider:

"Catholics in good standing are invited to receive Holy Communion. Other guests may receive a blessing by approaching the altar with arms crossed over the chest."

"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."

"The Church kindly encourages non-Catholics and those Catholics who are not presently disposed to receive the Eucharist to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you would like to, please come forward and receive a blessing from the priest."

Remember, the level of detail you include is up to you. You can opt for a simple instruction or provide a more comprehensive explanation, depending on your preferences and the needs of your guest list.

What to say during the ceremony

Catholic Wedding

• "Catholics in good standing are invited to receive Holy Communion. Other guests may receive a blessing by approaching the altar with arms crossed over the chest."
• "A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession."
• "Holy Communion is thus reserved for those Catholics who: are in the state of grace; are properly disposed by having prepared themselves carefully in prayer; and have observed the eucharistic fast of at least one hour prior to reception of Holy Communion."
• "Please remain sitting or kneeling until the priest sits in his chair following communion. This is to honour our Lord who is physically present to us in communion."

Methodist Wedding

• "Methodists welcome all of Christian faith to partake in communion."
• Communion is offered without saying that guests have to partake.
• The minister usually offers it without any announcement beforehand.

Non-Denominational Christian Wedding

• "We invite you to come up and receive a blessing from the priest by crossing your arms across your chest."
• "We encourage those who are Christians in good standing to receive communion, and for those who do not feel they can or wish to receive it, to pray with us."
• Communion is a sacred ritual that involves blessing.
• We plan to keep the ceremony short and sweet, but we feel this is our only chance for our families to sit down and listen to us.

Interfaith Wedding

• We are having a Methodist minister and a non-denominational Christian minister do different parts of the service.
• We will be having non-Catholics attending our wedding, but to make sure we don't offend anyone, we won't be printing anything in the program. When it comes time to receive Communion, our priest will invite our Catholic guests to come up to receive and offer other guests the opportunity to come up for a blessing.

Frequently asked questions