How can we prepare ourselves for the partaking of the Body and Blood of the Lord?

Partaking of the Body of Christ in the eucharist requires purity of the soul and not luxurious clothing. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “But now, having put off your old garments, and put on those which are spiritually white, you must be continually robed in white: of course we mean not this, that you are always to wear white raiment; but you must be clad in the garments that are truly white and shining and spiritual, that you may say with the blessed Isaiah, ‘My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with a garment of salvation, and put a robe of gladness around me’ (Isa. 61:10).”¹⁵³⁴

St. Basil was asked if a man who had an unclean dream or a natural secretion could partake of the holy sacraments. His response was that he who was born anew through baptism is elevated above nature, through the work of the Holy Spirit. He says, “In the Old Testament, we learn of the horrific punishment that is inflicted on those who approach the Holies in their uncleanness (Lev. 15:31). But now we know that the One who is greater than the temple is present (Matt. 12:6). Hence, the Apostle warns even more that, ‘whoever eats or drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself’ (1 Cor. 11:29).”¹⁵³⁵

St. Clement of Alexandria says, “Thus, it is not just through external preparations, but through the preparation of the soul, by practicing a life of love and purity of heart and body, and making our behavior inside the church the same as our behavior in our daily lives. It is fitting for men and women to enter the church calmly, silently and in an orderly manner, filled with sincere love … that their bodies and hearts may be pure and ready for prayer.”

With regards to washing the hands, and our purification from every sinful deed, St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, “You have seen then the Deacon who gives to the Priest water to wash, and to the Presbyters who stand round God’s altar. He gave it not at all because of bodily defilement; it is not that; for we did not enter the Church at first with defiled bodies. But the washing of hands is a symbol that you ought to be pure from all sinful and unlawful deeds; for since the hands are a symbol of action, by washing them, it is evident, we represent the purity and blamelessness of our conduct. Did you not hear the blessed David opening this

1533 St. Ambrose, Concerning Repentance 2.104–107 (NPNF II/10:358) amended.

1534 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 22.8 (NPNF II/7:152) amended.

1535 St. Basil of Caesarea, Regulae brevius tractatae 309.

very mystery, and saying, I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about Your altar, O Lord? The washing therefore of hands is a symbol of immunity from sin.”¹⁵³⁶

St. Basil the Great believes that Christ offered us His Body and Blood, which He gave up in obedience to His Father to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). Thus, we are prepared for communion, by obedience .¹⁵³⁷ He says, “With what understanding is it necessary to eat the body and to drink the blood of the Lord? Unto the remembrance of the Lord’s obedience until death: so that the living no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and was raised on their behalf.”¹⁵³⁸

He also says, “it is necessary for the one who receives the holy things to praise the Lord.”¹⁵³⁹

And, “Let him who receives Communion remember the death and resurrection of Christ, and that he ought to be adorned by the purity of the body and soul, and to manifest his death from sin, the world and the ego by his life with God and with Christ our Lord.”¹⁵⁴⁰

We cannot receive the Messiah’s banquet, the partaking of the Lord’s body and blood, if we have not first understood the significance of this banquet through our understanding of scripture. As we enjoy the banquet, we remain in need of listening to the Word of God.

Let our hearts be an elevated upper room. Origen says, “And since the Lord himself has been stationed with us, we, with the disciples of Christ, ascend from the lower places to the higher … And this upper house should be large so that it may contain Jesus, the Word of God, the Wisdom, the Truth, the Peace, and everything that the Son of God is. He is not contained except by those who are magnanimous in understanding … nor only large, but also cleaned and containing no filth of evil at all.”¹⁵⁴¹ He also says that we ought to be aware that no one concerned with banquets and worldly cares can ascend to the upper room and will have no share with Jesus in keeping the Passover.