APPENDIX I: ON FREQUENT COMMUNION

1312. By the name of frequent Communion, commonly with St. Alphonsus, are understood in the stricter sense those Communions which, besides Sundays or feast days, are made also on ferial days without previous Confession.

It is certain, 1) frequent Communion, even daily, has always been most desired in the Church. It is established 1° from the common agreement of the Fathers, who always earnestly commended it to the faithful. It is established 2° from Trent,⁴ where it says: "The holy Synod would indeed wish that at individual Masses the faithful standing by communicate, not only with spiritual affection, but also by sacramental reception of the Eucharist, by which the fruit of this Most Holy Sacrifice may come to them." It is established 3° from the Decree of Innocent XI of the year 1679, and also from the common agreement of Doctors. Therefore frequent Communion is greatly to be praised, and earnestly to be urged upon the faithful by Pastors and also by confessors. It is certain, 2) days for receiving the Sacred Eucharist cannot be established generally; nor are those to be kept away from it who desire to approach frequently, unless they seem unworthy. Therefore this whole matter must be left to the judgment of confessors, who, according to purity of conscience and the fruit perceived from the Sacred Table, ought to prescribe that which they judge will profit individuals more. 3) As regards Sacred Virgins, if they ask Sacred Communion daily, "they will be admonished that they communicate on the days established by the institute of their Order; but if some shine with purity of mind and have grown warm with fervor of spirit in such a way that they may seem worthy of more frequent or daily reception of the Most Holy Sacrament, let this be permitted to them by Superiors." - Thus from the same Decree of Innocent XI.¹ Cf. n. 1189. 5°.

1313. - According to the mind of St. Alphonsus,² and of others reported by him, the doctrine on frequent Communion can be constrained in a few general rules thus.

First Rule. - Monthly Communion is to be denied to no one sufficiently disposed; indeed it is to be advised most greatly to all, even if they live a life entangled in secular business; for otherwise it is very difficult to persevere long in divine grace, on account of innumerable occasions, and the quasi-forgetting of eternal things. - Thus commonly.

Second Rule. - Weekly Communion is to be permitted, indeed also advised, to those who by habit do not commit grave faults: nevertheless for those who labor under several light vices and are not at all solicitous concerning amendment, it will sometimes be useful to interdict Communion for some week, namely that they may be stirred up with some zeal to casting aside vices.³

Third Rule. - Frequent Communion, or several times in the week, can be permitted, or even advised, to those in whom these three things are found: 1) Flight from fully deliberate venial sin, and absence of voluntary affection to venial sin, i.e. to its matter. 2) Study of Christian perfection and desire of Communion. 3) Exercise of mental prayer and mortification.⁴ - Thus regularly speaking; for exceptionally it can also be granted "to some who" lack the aforesaid dispositions, but "would be in danger of falling into lethal sins, that they may receive strength for resisting."¹

Fourth Rule. - Daily Communion is to be granted to those who, besides the two former things aforesaid, devote themselves much to prayer and mortification and for the greater part have overcome evil desires. "Except, ordinarily speaking, one day in any week ... and that time in which" directors wish "to deprive their penitents of Communion for proving their obedience, or humility, or on account of some just cause."² It can also be granted on account of some particular passing circumstance, e.g. on account of a novena.