EUCHARIST Part 4:  Pastoral Applications

Chapter 42 Eucharist and Canon Law

For Liturgical Law in general see d51 Liturgical Law.

Summary: Book IV, Title III

Chapter 1. The Eucharistic Celebration
 Article 1. The Minister of the Most Holy Eucharist
 Article 2. Participation in the Most Holy Eucharist
 Article 3. Rites and Ceremonies of Eucharistic Celebration
 Article 4. The Time and Place of Eucharistic Celebration
Chapter 2. The Reservation and Veneration of the Most Holy Eucharist
Chapter 3. Offerings Given at the Celebration of the Mass

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Book IV.  The Sanctifying Function of the Church

Note to the reader:  The selections from the Code of Canon Law are printed here under the "fair use" act. It is presumed that each student using this web page has purchased a copyrighted edition of the text and is using it to follow the commentary.  Notes following the heading Commentary (and the number of the Canon) are my comments.

834 §1.
834 §2.
835 §1.
835 §2.
835 §3.
835 §4.
836.
837 §1.
837 §2.
838 §1.
838 §2.
838 §3.
838 §4.
839 §1.
839 §2.

Part 1.  The Sacraments

840.
841.
842 §1.
842 §2.
843 §1.
843 §2.
844 §1.
844 §2.
844 §3.
844 §4.
844 §5.
845 §1.
845 §2.
846 §1.
846 §2.
847 §1.
847 §2.
848.

Title I.  Baptism (849-878)
Title II.  The Sacrament of Confirmation (879-896)
Title III.  The Most Holy Eucharist (897-958)

897. Theological summary statement.
898. Gives the three divisions for what follows.

Chapter 1. The Eucharistic Celebration

899 §1. Theological summary.
899 §2.
899. §3. The celebration of the Eucharist is to be so arranged that all who take part receive from it the many fruits for which Christ the Lord instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice. What does this imply for you?

Art. 1. The Minister of the Most Holy Eucharist

900. §1. Valid: in persona Christi. solely a validly ordained priest.
900. §2. Licit:
901. apply for...
902.
903.
Comment 903.  This document is called a "celebret"

904. daily recommended ... even in faithful cannot be present
905 §1. Once a day
905 §2.
Comment 905.  Letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (quoted in CLSA Newsletter August 1991, page 2).  -- The Pontifical council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts sent a question to the Congregation since it was not a question of "interpretation, but the correct application of the law."  Q. Can a bishop, by reason of canon 87,1, permit a priest of his diocese to celebrate three Masses on weekdays and four Masses on Sundays?  The Congregation responded, in a letter dated 9 January 1991: The diocesan bishop, exclusive of others in canon 134, 3 can by reason of canon 87 1, in particular cases (c.85), for a just and reasonable cause (c.90,1), for the spiritual good of the faithful (c.87,1) grant his priests such permission.

906.
907.
908. Forbidden to concelebrate with non-catholic ministers.
909.
910 §1.
910 §2.
911 §1. Viaticum.
911 §2.

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Art. 2. Participation in the Most Holy Eucharist

912. can and must be admitted
913. §1. requirements for children: sufficient knowledge...according to their capacity...
913 §2. Danger of death — distinguish from ordinary food
914. responsibility of parents ... preceded by sacramental confession
915. to be refused:
916.
917. again 6 twice
918.
919 §1. hour fast
919 §2.
919 §3. 
920 §1. Easter Duty
920 §2.
921 §1. Viaticum
921 §2.
922.
923.

Art. 3. Rites and Ceremonies of Eucharistic Celebration

924 §1. bread and wine
924 §2.
924 §3.
925.
926.
927. "It is sinful, even in extreme necessity, to consecrate one mater without the other or even both outside the celebration of the Eucharist."
Comment 927. Note the distinction between consecration and celebration of the Eucharist.

928.
929.
930 §1.
930 §2.  

Art. 4. The Time and Place of Eucharistic Celebration

931. (e.g. Triduum)
932 §1.
932 §2.
933.

Chapter 2. The Reservation and Veneration of the Most Holy Eucharist

934 §1.
934 §1°1.
934 §1°2.
934 §2. 
935.
936.
937.
938 §1.
938 §2. 
938 §3
938 §4
938 §5.
939.
940.
941  §1.
941  §2.
942.
943.
944  §1.
944  §1.

Chapter 3. Offerings Given at the Celebration of the Mass

(See chapter on Mass Offerings)

1248 #1. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.

Comment 1248#1. This opening article removes "legitimately" from the draft.  Thus the burden is lifted from the faithful. The priest must be responsible to know where and when he can "legitimately" celebrate.

1248 #2. If because of lack of a sacred minister of for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the liturgy of the word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.

Comment 1248#2. This paragraph was added by John Paul II to the draft submitted to him.

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© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved.  This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.  Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own.  Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it.  This site was updated on 06/05/07 .  Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.