Canon 7: Eucharist
7.1 The
celebration of the Eucharist is the action of Christ Himself and the
Church; in it Christ the Lord, by the ministry of a priest, offers
Himself, substantially present under the forms of bread and wine, to
God the Father, and gives Himself as spiritual food to the Faithful
who are associated with His offering.
7.2 The
minister, who in the person of Christ can confect the sacrament of
the Eucharist, is solely a validly ordained priest, or validly
consecrated bishop.
7.3 A priest
or bishop who is not canonically impeded celebrates the Eucharist
licitly, observing the prescriptions of the following canons.
7.4 A priest
or bishop may apply the Mass for anyone, living or dead.
7.5 Priests or
bishops may concelebrate the Eucharist, unless the welfare of the
Faithful requires or urges otherwise.
7.6 A priest
is to be permitted to celebrate the Eucharist even if said priest is
unknown to the rector of the Church. Such priests must present a
current letter of faculties or recommendation issued by their local
ordinary or competent religious superior.
7.7
Remembering that the work of redemption is continually accomplished
in the Mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, priest and bishops are
to celebrate frequently; indeed daily celebrations is strongly
recommended, since even if the Faithful cannot be present, it is the
act of Christ and the Church in which priests and bishops fulfill
their principal function.
7.8 The
ordinary minister of the Eucharist is a bishop, priest, or deacon.
7.9 The
extraordinary minister of the Eucharist is an acolyte or other
member of the Christian Faithful appointed by the ordinary of the
diocese.
7.10 The
pastor and parochial vicars, chaplains and the superior of a
community of apostolic life have the right and duty to bring the
Most Holy Eucharist to the sick in the form of Viaticum.
7.11 Any
Baptized person, who is not prohibited by law, can and must be
admitted to Holy Communion.
7.12 The Most
Holy Eucharist may be given to children who are in danger of death.
7.13 It is the
responsibility of the parents and those who take the place of
parents, as well as the pastor to see that children who have reached
the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the
Divine Food as early as possible.
7.14 All the
Faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy
Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at
least once per year.
§1 The above
precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is
fulfilled for a just cause at some other time of the year.
7.15 The
Christian Faithful, who are in danger of death, arising from any
cause, are to be nourished by Holy Communion in the form of
Viaticum.
7.16 The Most
Sacred Eucharistic Sacrifice must be celebrated with bread and wine,
with which a small quantity of water is to be mixed.
7.17 Holy
Communion is to be given under the form of bread alone or under both
kinds in accord with the norm of the liturgical laws or even under
the form of wine alone in case of necessity.
7.18 It is
sinful, even in extreme necessity, to consecrate one matter without
the other, or even both outside the celebration of the Eucharist.
7.19 In
celebrating and administering the Eucharist, bishops, priests, and
deacons are to wear the liturgical vestments prescribed by the
rubrics.
7.20 The
celebration and distribution of the Eucharist may take place on any
day, and at any hour, except for those times excluded by liturgical
norms.
7.21 The
celebration of the Eucharist is to be celebrated in a sacred place,
unless in a particular case necessity demands otherwise; in such a
case the celebration must be done in a respectable place.
7.22 In sacred
places where the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved, there must always
be someone who has the care of it.
7.23 The Most
Holy Eucharist is to be reserved regularly in only one tabernacle of
a church or oratory.
7.24
Consecrated hosts are to be reserved in a ciborium or other suitable
vessel in sufficient quantity for the needs of the Faithful; they
are to be frequently renewed and the old ones properly consumed.
7.25 In
churches and oratories where it can be permitted to reserve the Most
Holy Eucharist, there can be exposition either with a ciborium, or
monstrance, or other suitable vessel, observing the norms prescribed
in the liturgical books.
7.26
Exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament is not to be held in the same
part of the church or oratory during the celebration of the Mass.
7.27 The
minister of exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist and the
Eucharistic Benediction is either a bishop, priest, or deacon. In
particular circumstances the minister of exposition and reposition,
without benediction, is an acolyte, an extraordinary minister of
Holy Communion or another person designated by the local ordinary.
Return to Canon Law Main
Page