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Canon Seven

Code of Canon Law
of the
Evangelical Catholic Church

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.

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