While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said "Take and eat; this is my body."  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you for this is my blood of the covenant."  Matthew 26:24-26  

Eucharist

The sacrament of sacraments; also called holy Communion or the Blessed Sacrament.

Our God who “spoke" the sun, moon, stars, birds, fishes, the earth, the whole cosmos into existence…can say “This is my body, this is my blood," and the bread and wine become his true flesh and blood! He is God, he chooses to be present to us in his sacred word, his creation, his priests and ministers, his people – our brothers and sisters; but he ordained a most unique way to remain with us in his body, blood, soul, and divinity - the source and summit of our faith: the Eucharist! When he says, “If you eat my body, and drink my blood, you shall have eternal life," we should take him at his word!

If you haven't yet received your first holy Communion, we'd like to help you prepare to receive Christ's body and blood in the Eucharist. For more information please contact 

Guidelines for Receiving the Eucharist/Communion

Catholics:

Catholics fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when they receive Holy Communion in fulfillment of Christ's command to eat His Body and drink His Blood.  In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, communicants should not be in grave sin, have fasted for an hour, and seek to live in charity and love with their neighbors.  Persons conscious of grave sin must first be reconciled with God and the Church through the sacrament of Reconciliation.  A frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is encouraged for all.

Other Christians:

We welcome Christians who are not fully united with us to this celebration of the Eucharist. It is a consequence of the sad divisions of Christianity that we cannot extend them a general invitation to receive the Eucharist.  Catholics believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying a oneness in faith, life, and worship of the community.  Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not exist yet, and for which we must all pray.

For those Not Receiving Communion:

Those not receiving sacramental communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and one another.

For Non Christians:

We also welcome those who do not share our faith in Jesus to this celebration.  While we cannot extend to them the invitation to receive communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.  

USCCB

How to receive the Eucharist