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Sacred Congregation for the Discipline

of the Sacraments

INSTRUCTION ON FACILITATING

SACRAMENTAL COMMUNION IN PARTICULAR

CIRCUMSTANCES

1 'S 1979
January 29, 1973 1-

Immensae Caritatis college library

VERTICAL FILE

Christ the Lord has left to the Church, his Spouse, a testament of
his immense love. This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the
greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery should
be Increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared.
With the intention of fostering devotion to the Eucharist—the summit
and center of Christian worship—the church, moved by pastoral zeal
and concern, has on more than one occasion issued suitable laws
and appropriate documents.

Present-day conditions however demand that, while the utmost
reverence owing to such a Sacrament (1) is constantly maintained,
greater access to Holy Communion should be made possible so that
the faithful, by sharing more fully in the fruits of the sacrifice of the
Mass, might dedicate themselves more readily and effectively to God
and to the good of the Church and of mankind.

First of all, provision must be made lest reception become Impos-
sible or difficult owing to a lack of a sufficient number of ministers.
Provision must also be made lest the sick be deprived of such a
great spiritual consolation by being impeded from receiving Holy
Communion because of the law of fast, which they may not be able
to observe, even though it be already very moderate. Finally, it seems
appropriate to determine In which circumstances the faithful who ask
to receive sacramental Communion a second time on the same day
may be permitted fittingly to do so.

After a study of the recommendations of certain episcopal con-
ferences the following norms are Issued in regard to:

1. extraordinary ministers for the distribution of rfoly Communion;

2. a more extensive faculty of receiving Holy Communion twice In
the same day;



3. mitigation of the Eucharistic fast for the sick and elderly;

4. the piety and reverence owing to the Blessed Sacrament when-

ever the Eucharist is placed in the hand of the communicant.

Extraordinary Ministers for the Distribution of Holy Communion

There are various circumstances in which a lack of sufficient min-

isters for the distribution of Holy Communion can occur:

• during Mass, because of the size of the congregation or a particu-

lar difficulty in which a celebrant finds himself;

• outside of Mass, when it is difficult because of distance to take

the sacred species, especially the Viaticum, to the sick in danger

of death, or when the very number of the sick, especially in hos-

pitals and similar Institutions, requires many ministers. Therefore,

'in order that the faithful, who are in the state of grace and who

with'an upright and pious disposition, wish to share in the Sacred

Banquet, may not be deprived of this sacramental help and con-

solation, it has seemed appropriate to the Holy Father to estab-

lish extraordinary ministers, who may give Holy Communion to

themselves and to other faithful under the following determined

conditions:

I. Local Ordinaries have the faculty to permit a suitable person indi-

vidually chosen as an extraordinary minister for a specific occasion

or for a time or, in the case of necessity, in some permanent way,

either to give the Eucharist to himself or to other faithful and to take

it to the sick who are confined to their homes. This faculty may be

used whenever

a. there is no priest, deacon or acolyte;

b. these are prevented from administering Holy Communion because

of another pastoral ministry or because of ill health or advanced

age;

c. the number of faithful requesting Holy Communion is such that

the celebration of Mass or the distribution of the Eucharist out-

side of Mass would be unduly prolonged.

II. Local Ordinaries also have the faculty to permit Individual priests

exercising their sacred office to appoint a suitable person who in

cases of genuine necessity would distribute Holy Communion for a

specific occasion.

III. The above-mentioned Local Ordinaries can delegate these facul-

ties to auxiliary bishops, episcopal vicars and episcopal delegates.

IV. The suitable person to whom numbers I and II refer shall be

designated according to the following order: lector, student of major

seminary, male religious, woman religious, catechist. Catholic man

2



or woman. This order however can be changed according to the

prudent judgment of the local Ordinary.

V. In oratories of religious communities of either sex the office of

distributing Holy Communion in the circumstances described in num-

ber I can fittingly be given to a male superior not having major

orders or to a woman superior or to their respective vicars.

VI. If time permits, it is fitting That the suitable person individually

chosen by the Local Ordinary for administering Holy Communion, as

well as the person appointed by a priest having the faculty spoken

of in number II, should receive the mandate according to the rite

annexed to this Instruction; they are to distribute Holy Communion

according to the liturgical norms.

Since these faculties are granted only for the spiritual good of the

faithful and for cases of genuine necessity, priests are to remember

that they are not thereby excused from the task of distributing the

Eucharist to the faithful who legitimately request it, and especially

from taking and giving It to the sick.

The person who has been appointed to be an extraordinary min-

ister of Holy Communion Is necessarily to be duly instructed and

should distinguish himself by his Christian life, faith and morals. Let

him strive to be worthy of this great office; let him cultivate devotion

to the Holy Eucharist and show himself as an example to the other

faithful by his piety and reverence for this most holy Sacrament of

the altar. Let no one be chosen whose selection may cause scandal

among the faithful.

II

The Extended Faculty for Receiving Holy Communion Twice in the

Same Day

According to the discipline currently in force, the faithful are per-

mitted to receive Holy Communion a second time:

• on the evening of Saturday or of the day preceding a holy-day of

obligation, when they intend to fulfil the precept of hearing Mass,

even though they have already received Holy Communion in the

morning of that same day; (2)

• at the second Mass of Easter and at one of the Masses celebrated

on Christmas Day, even if they have already received Holy Com-

munion at the Mass of the Paschal Vigil or at the midnight Mass

of Christmas: (3)

• likewise at the evening Mass of Holy Thursday, even if they have

received Holy Communion at the earlier Mass of the Chrism. (4)

Since, beyond these circumstances which have been mentioned,

there are similar occasions which suggest that Holy Communion

3



might fittingly be received twice in the same day, it is necessary here

to determine more precisely the reasons for the new faculty.

The norm which the Church, a most provident Mother, has in-

troduced according to venerable custom and included in canon

law by which the faithful are permitted to receive Holy Communion

only once a day remains Intact nor is it permitted to be set aside

merely from motives of devotion. To a simple desire for repeated

reception of Holy Communion it should be answered that the power

of the Sacrament by which faith, charity and the other virtues are

nourished, strengthened and expressed is all the greater to the extent

that one more devoutly approaches the sacred table. (5) For, from

the liturgical celebration the faithful should go out to the works

of charity, piety and apostolic action so that 'They may hold fast by

their conduct and life to what they have received by faith and the

Sacrament." (6)

Special circumstances however can occur when the faithful who

have already received Holy Communion that same day, or even priests

who have already celebrated Mass, may be present at some com-

munity celebration. They may receive Holy Communion again in the

following instances:

1. at those Masses in which the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirma-

tion, Anointing of the Sick, Sacred Orders and Matrimony are

administered; also at a Mass at which First Communion is re-

ceived; (7)

2. at Masses at which a church or altar is consecrated; at Masses of

religious profession or for the conferring of a "canonical mission";

3. at the following Masses of the Dead: the funeral Mass, the Mass

celebrated after notification of death, the Mass on the day of final

burial and the Mass on the first anniversary;

4. at the principal Mass celebrated in the cathedral or In the parish

on the feast of Corpus Christ! and on the day of a parochial

visitation; at the Mass celebrated by the major superior of a re-

ligious community on the occasion of a canonical visitation, or

special meetings or chapters;

5. at the principal Mass of a Eucharistic or Marian Congress, whether

International or national, regional or diocesan;

6. at the principal Mass of any congress, sacred pilgrimage or preach-

ing mission for the people;

7. in the administration of Viaticum, in which Communion can also

be given to the relatives and friends of the patient;

8. Also local Ordinaries may, besides those cases mentioned above,

grant permission "ad actum" to receive Holy Communion twice

in the same day, as often as they shall judge it truly justified by

reason of genuinely special circumstances, according to the norm

of this Instruction.



Ill

Mitigation of the Eucharistic Fast for the Sick and the Aged

Above all it remains firmly decreed that a person to whom Viaticum
is administered in danger of death is not bound by any law of fast-

ing. (8) Likewise remaining in force is the concession already granted

by Pius XII whereby ''the sick, even if not confined to bed, can take

non-alcoholic drinks and medicines in either liquid or solid form

before the celebration of Mass and the reception of the Eucharist

without any restriction of time. (9)

In the case of foods and drinks taken for the purpose of nutrition

that tradition is to be respected according to which the Eucharist

should be received, as Tertullian said, "before any food" (10) so as to

indicate the excellence of the sacramental food.

In order to appreciate the dignity of the Sacrament and to prepare

with joy for the coming of the Lord, a time of silence and recollection

before the reception of Holy Communion is opportune. In the case

of the sick, however, it will be a sufficient sign of piety and reverence

if, for a brief period of time, they turn their minds to the greatness

of the mystery. The period of time of the Eucharistic fast or abstinence

from food and alcoholic drink Is reduced to approximately one

quarter of an hour, for the following:

1. the sick in hospitals or in their own homes, even If they are not

confined to bed;
'

2. the faithful advanced In age who must remain at home because

of age or who are living in a home for the aged;

3. sick priests, even if not confined to bed, and elderly priests, who

wish to celebrate Mass or receive Holy Communion;

4. persons looking after the sick and the aged as well as those rela-

tives of the sick and aged wishing to receive Holy Communion

with them, whenever they are unable to observe the fast of one

hour without Inconvenience.

IV

Piety and Reverence Towards the Blessed Sacrament When the

Eucharist is Placed in the Hands of the Faithful

Since the Instruction Memoriale Domini was published three years

ago, some episcopal conferences have sought the faculty from the

Apostolic See to allow the minister of Holy Communion to place the

Eucharistic species in the hands of the faithful. As that Instruction

recalled, "the precepts of the Church and the documents of the

Fathers amply testify that the deepest reverence and the greatest

prudence have been shown with regard to the Holy Eucharist," (11)

and should continue to be shown. Especially In this manner of receiv-

ing Holy Communion some points indicated by experience should be

most carefully observed.

5



Let the greatest diligence and care be taken particularly with regard

to fragments which perhaps break off the hosts. This applies to the

minister and to the recipient whenever the Sacred Host is placed In

the hands of the communicant.

Before initiating the practice of giving Holy Communion In the

hand a suitable instruction and catechesis of Catholic doctrine Is

necessary concerning both the real and permanent presence of Christ

under the Eucharistic species and the reverence due to this Sacra-

ment. (12) It is necessary to Instruct the faithful that Jesus Christ Is

the Lord and Saviour and that the same worship and adoration given

to Cod is owed to him present under the sacramental signs. Let the

faithful be counselled therefore not to omit a sincere and fitting

thanksgiving after the Eucharistic banquet, such as may accord with

each one's particular ability, state and duties. (13) So that participa-

tion in this heavenly table may be altogether worthy and profitable,

the value and effects deriving from It for both the individual and the

community must be pointed out to the faithful in such a way that

their familiar attitude reveals reverence, fosters that intimate love for

the Father of the household who gives us "our daily bread" (14) and

leads to a living relationship with Christ of whose flesh and blood we

partake. (15)

The Supreme Pontiff Paul VI has approved and sanctioned this

Instruction by his authority, and directed that It should be published,

decreeing that It should enter into force on the day of its publication.

Given in Rome, at the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of

the Sacraments, 29 January 1973.

A. Card. Samore, Prefect

+J. Casorla, Secretary

NOTES

1. Cf. Council of Trent, Session 13, Decretum de SS. Eucharistiae

Sacramento, c. 7; D. 880 (1646-1647): "If it Is not fitting for any-

one to approach any sacred functions except in a state of holi-

ness, then certainly to the extent that the holiness and godliness

of this heavenly Sacrament is more and more known to the

Christian, all the more must he take care that he does not come

to receive It without great reverence and holiness, especially

because of the fearful words of the Apostle which we read: 'A

person who eats and drinks without recognizing the Body of the

Lord Is eating and drinking his own condemnation' (1 Cor.

11:29). Thus the following precept should be recalled to the one

desirous of receiving Holy Communion: 'Let a man so examine

himself' (1 Cor. 11:28). Ecclesiastical custom declares that the

proving of one's self is necessary, so that no one, conscious of

having committed mortal sin, though considering himself con-

trite, should approach the Holy Eucharist without first having

made a sacramental confession. This holy Synod declares that

this must perpetually be observed by all Christians, even by

priests, whose duty it is to celebrate Mass, as long as there is an

6



availability of confessors. If in the case of urgent necessity a

priest will have celebrated without previous confession, he is to

make a confession as soon as possible." Sacred Congregation of

the Council, Decree Sacra Tridentina Synodus, (20 December

1905): ASS 38 (1905-1906), pp. 400-406; Sacred Congregation for

the Doctrine of the Faith, Normae pastorales circa absolutionem

sacramentalem general! modo impertiendam (31 luly 1972),
Norm 1: 64, (1972), p. 511.

2. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum Myste-

rium (25 May 1967), 28; AAS 59 (1967), p. 557.

3. Cf. Ibid.

4. Cf. Ibid.; Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Inter Oecu-

menici (26 September 1964), 60: AAS 56 (1964), p. 891;

Instruction, Tres abhinc annos (4 May 1967), 14: AAS 59 (1967),

p. 445.

5. Cf. S. Thomas, Summa Theol. Ill, q. 79, a. 7 ad 3 and a. 8 ad 1.

6. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum Myste-

rium (25 May 1967), 13: AAS 59 (1967), p. 549.

7. Cf. Missale Romanum, Institutio generalis Missalis Romani, 329 a,

typical edition 1970, p. 90.

8. Cf. CIC 858, paragraph 1.

9. Motu Proprio, Sacram Communionem (19 March 1957), 4; AAS

49 (1957), p. 178.

10. Ad uxorem 2, 5: P/. 1, 1408.

11. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction Memoriale

Domini (29 May 1969); AAS 61 (1969), p. 542.

12. Cf. Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,

Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7: AAS 56 (1969), pp. 100-101; Sacred

Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium (25

May 1967), 9: AAS 59 (1967), p. 547.

13. Paul VI, Address Ad Membra Consilii Eucharisticis ex omnibus

Nationibus conventibus moderandis habita: AAS 64 (1972),

p. 287.

14. Cf. Lk. 11:3.

15. Cf. Heb. 2:14.

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1973

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