In the history of the Church, the reception of Holy Communion was often seen as a rare event.
Many Catholics would only receive Holy Communion once a year at Easter, rarely thinking they were worthy to receive a second time after that.
There were many different factors that contributed to this viewpoint, but in the last few centuries, many popes have promoted more frequent reception of Holy Communion.
Every Sunday
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates this point, suggesting that Catholics should receive as often as they attend Mass:
It is in keeping with the very meaning of the Eucharist that the faithful, if they have the required dispositions, receive communion each time they participate in the Mass. As the Second Vatican Council says: "That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's Body from the same sacrifice, is warmly recommended."
More specifically, the Catechism points out the requirement to attend Mass on Sunday and the dispositions required to receive Holy Communion:
The Church obliges the faithful "to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days" and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season. But the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.
While the Church strongly recommends weekly reception of Holy Communion, it is important to note that this frequent reception requires participation in the sacrament of confession, if the individual is conscious of grave sin.
Daily communion is possible for those who attend Mass during the week and is also encouraged by the Church.
Limit of twice per day
However, there is a limit to the reception of Holy Communion in a single day. The Code of Canon Law states that communion should only be received a maximum of two times per day.
Sometimes if we do something too much, we become desensitized to it and then it becomes even more routine than before. If we received Holy Communion too much, we may be tempted to see it more and more as a piece of bread than Jesus himself.
