Is it necessary to receive Holy Communion after confession?

Is it necessary to receive Holy Communion after confession? No. There is no provision in Canon Law that obliges the faithful to receive Holy Communion immediately after the sacrament of Penance that ends with absolution. Why, despite this, do so many people receive the sacrament of the Eucharist after making confession?

There are probably many factors contributing to this state of affairs. First of all, in many churches, confession has location a few dozen minutes before Mass begins. People who go to confession therefore stay for Mass and receive the Eucharist.

We should also remember that it is forbidden to receive Holy Communion while we are aware of having committed a grave sin. Many people choose to receive the Eucharist immediately after confession because then we are "clean". We have no sins on our conscience. A worthy reception Christ into our hearts requires us to have purity of spirit.