At many Sunday Masses, it can feel like everyone goes forward to receive the Eucharist. For Catholics who remain in the pews, there can be a sense of embarrassment or even shame—what will others think? Yet choosing not to receive Holy Communion when not in a state of grace is a profound act of reverence and love for Jesus in the Eucharist.
The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. To receive Him worthily requires a soul properly disposed, free from mortal sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1385) instructs: “Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.” This reflects St. Paul’s solemn warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.”
Historically, the faithful have always approached the Eucharist with profound reverence. Throughout Church history, frequent Communion was rare; many Catholics received it only a few times a year, often at Easter, and in many Masses only the celebrant received it. St. Pius X, in the early 20th century, encouraged more frequent reception—but only for those properly disposed. Abstaining when not spiritually ready was once the norm, reflecting a deep awareness of the sacred.
Remaining in the pew, therefore, is not a sign of indifference or weak faith—it is a visible acknowledgment of Eucharistic sacrality. The Catechism reminds us that our participation in the liturgy does not depend solely on sacramental Communion: “The fruits of the Eucharist depend on the disposition of the one who receives it” (CCC 1391–1392). Approaching the altar when unprepared would fail to honor this sacred gift, while abstaining demonstrates an honest awareness of one’s need for repentance and reconciliation.
Spiritual Communion: Uniting With Christ From the Pew
Remaining in the pew does not mean remaining distant from Christ. For centuries, Catholics have practiced making a “spiritual communion,” a prayerful act of inviting Jesus into one’s heart. St. Thomas Aquinas described it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.”
While the Catechism does not use the phrase “spiritual communion” explicitly, it emphasizes that “when the faithful cannot receive sacramental communion, they should be united with him in prayer” (CCC 1389) and that “the desire to receive him in communion … brings the fruits of the sacrament” (CCC 1418).
This practice has long been recommended for those who are unable to receive the Eucharist due to illness, lack of access to Mass, or because they are not in a state to receive the sacrament. During COVID-19, Pope Francis encouraged the rediscovery of this beautiful tradition as a means of remaining united to Christ and His Church when sacramental reception wasn’t possible.
Although the graces of spiritual Communion differ from those of sacramental Communion, it remains a powerful expression of love and a desire for union with Jesus. It can be prayed silently from the pew helping us grow in holiness and deepen our longing to receive Him sacramentally again.
A Witness to the Sacred
Far from being a source of shame, remaining in the pew during Communion can be a quiet witness to the sacredness of the Eucharist. It reminds us that receiving Jesus is not a mere formality but a union with our Lord that calls for our hearts and souls to be ready.
As CCC 1415 teaches, “Anyone aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion… without having first received sacramental absolution.” Choosing to abstain, then, is not failure but honesty before God and a visible testimony that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread—it is Jesus Himself.
For those who find themselves in this situation, let it be an invitation to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to make a spiritual communion, and to renew your longing to receive Christ fully. In doing so, you give powerful witness to the world of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Guest Writer – SFA Theologian Guild