About Communion of the Holy Mysteries

“Let a man examine himself, and in this way let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup,” says the Apostle (1 Cor. 11:28). Question. How can a person test himself? Answer. Let him, when starting confession, have the following in mind. Does he confess his sins completely, without hiding anything? Does he regret his sins, does he cry, does he repent? Does he have a firm intention and an immutable desire not to return to sin, but to watch and guard himself from any fall? Does he have enmity against anyone? Have you prepared yourself enough with fasting and prayer? This is how let a person tempt himself and thus “eat of this Bread and drink from the Cup.” The Apostle also says the following: “Whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:29). Question. How should one “discuss about the Body of the Lord”? Answer. The one who begins without tempting himself in the way described above does not reason. The one who has not prepared himself with fasting and prayers and has not been reconciled with his brother does not reason. The one who approaches as if to simple bread and wine, and not as to God, does not reason. Such a one “eats and drinks condemnation to himself, without considering the Body of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:29). The one who approaches without fear, without tenderness, without humility, without faith and without hope of salvation, and without love, does not reason. So, receive communion worthily, keeping in mind this appeal to God: I am unworthy, Lord, not only to partake of Your Holy Mysteries, but even to look at Your wonderful and supernatural Table. However, I do not approach in order to anger You, but I dare, trusting in Your ineffable mercy, for I know that You did not come for the sake of the righteous, but for the sake of sinners. I dare to take communion so as not to lose Your Communion and not be eaten by a mental wolf. I dare to begin Communion also because I hope in Your merciful words, O Lord, which You spoke with Your most pure lips, saying: “The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats it will not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever” (John 6:50–51). And again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:53–54). Hoping and firmly trusting in these words of Yours, Lord, I take communion, being convinced that You did not speak them for the saints and the righteous, but for sinners. The chapter from the Gospel, which talks about Communion, does not read like this: “The Lord said to His disciples,” who were saints and righteous, but like this: “The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him,” who were sinners like me. And since You have spoken this for sinners, I, a sinner, diligently listen to them and, relying on Your great mercy, I eat Your Body and drink Your Blood.