point — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Point II. On the Decency of the Body
- Principles. - I. By natural right there is required that exterior habit and that composition of the body which exhibit the internal reverence and devotion of the mind. The reason is clear: for to this most august Sacrament there is owed not only internal but also external veneration, since Christ Himself, by means of the species, exists and is treated in it in a certain sensible way.
II. No stain at all of the body of itself impedes from Communion, since the Eucharist is only the food of the soul, nor is purity diminished by stains of the body, which contribute nothing to moral goodness or malice. - St. Ligorius, n. 271 and 275. - Yet decency and reverence owed to so great a Sacrament require that, if filth appearing externally can be removed, it be diligently removed.
III. There is no obligation of abstaining from Communion on account of hidden stains of the body, or even those externally apparent but indelible. - St. Ligorius, ibid. - Yet if external stains, here and now indelible, are very notable and ought to cease shortly, it will be becoming, where it can conveniently be done, to defer Communion. But when they last longer, there is no reason why someone should be deprived of heavenly nourishment. - Thus commonly.
- Resolutions. - 1. Women ought to approach Holy Communion in holy adornment, breathing modesty; if any presented themselves to the sacred table very indecently, Communion would have to be denied to them, yet with due cautions for preventing scandals as far as can be done.
- Leprosy, flux of blood, and similar things, which happen without the fault of the sufferer, do not of themselves prohibit from Communion, because those stains do not obstruct devotion, which is the disposition required for Communion. - St. Ligorius, ibid.
- A Priest infected with leprosy or another infirmity exciting horror can celebrate, but not in public; for thus it is established from Canon Law. - St. Ligorius, ibid.
- It is fitting from decency and Christian humility that soldiers about to communicate should approach the sacred table with their arms laid aside. Yet they are obliged to this by no law. - St. Ligorius, ibid. - The same should be said of laymen wearing gloves (gants).