THE EFFECTS OF RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION ON HEALTH

The risk of infection from receiving Holy Communion has been debated f or more than a century and has been the subject of numerous studies. T his detailed survey of 681 individuals compares illness rates among th e following groups: those who receive communion; those who go to churc h but do not receive communion; and individuals who do not attend Chri stian services. In addition to supplying demographics information, par ticipants answered detailed questions regarding respiratory, intestina l, skin, systemic, and other illnesses; physician consultations; and m edications. Respondents also reported church attendance and participat ion in Holy Communion every week for 10 weeks. No significant differen ce in health was found among these groups, indicating that receiving H oly Communion as often as daily does not increase one's risk of infect ion.