A Topic of Moral Theology

The Necessity of the Eucharist

How far Holy Communion is necessary for salvation, and the precepts commanding its reception.

Within this topic

See also Easter Communion — in Annual Confession and Easter Communion

In the index as Communion · Viaticum · Easter Communion · Eucharist · Subject · Holy Communion · The Sick · Article of death · Necessity of the Eucharist · The Most Holy Eucharist · Children · Discretion · Parish Priest · Sacrilege · The Dying · The Eucharistic species · The insane · A certificate of completed confession · Age · Children before the age of seven · Confession · Confessor · Cough · Daily Communion

In the manuals

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. III, Book Fourth. On the Euchar…, Chapter First. On the Euch…, Question Fifth. On the Sub…, Article Second. On the Necessity of the Eucharist, nn. 136, 137 & 138 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. II, Bk. V, Pt. I, Ch. V, Article I. The Necessity of the Eucharist, nn. 1, 2 & 3 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. IV, Diss. II, Pt. I, Section IV. On the Necessity of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, n. ¶1 — The necessity both of means and of precept must be examined, yet only of divine precept, because the ecclesiastical precept was discussed in vol. I, n. 1108.Read in context →

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. IV, Sect. I, Ch. IV, Article III. The Obligation of Receiving the Eucharist, nn. 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213 & 214 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Most Holy…, Section A: On the Sacramen…, Third Part: On the Effects…, Question Two: On the Use o…, Article IV: On the Necessity of Communion, nn. ¶1, 291, 292 & 293 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. II, Tr. XIV, Pt. I, Ch. V, Article I. On the Obligation of Receiving the Eucharist, nn. 694, 695, 695, Q. 2, 695, Q. 3, 695, Q. 4, 695, Q. 5, 695, Q. 6, 695, Q. 7, 695, Q. 8 & 695, Q. 9 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium

Diss. III, Chapter IV — On the necessity of this Sacrament and its effects, nn. I, II, III, IV, V, VI & VII (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent (The Roman Catechism)

Pt. II, The Sacrament of the Eucharist, nn. ¶145, ¶146, ¶147, ¶148, ¶149, ¶150, ¶151, ¶152, ¶153 & ¶154 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. IV, Art. 2. Baptism; Confirmat…, The Custody and Worship of the Eucharist, n. 2708 — Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.—Having considered the duties owed to the consecration and communion of the Eucharist, we shall conclude by mentioning those that are owed to the Sacrament in its permanency or to Chr… Read in context →

The Decretals of Gregory IX (Liber Extra)

Bk. III, Tit. XLIV, Chrism, and the Other Sacraments, cc. 1 & 2 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. IV, Diss. I, Ch. III, Art. III, § 1. On Viaticum, nn. ¶1565, ¶1566 & ¶1567 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. IV, Chapter III: On the Subject of Holy Communion, nn. 389–419 (31 passages)

Vol. III, Bk. II, Tr. IV, Chapter V: On the Custody and Cult of the Most Holy Eucharist, nn. 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437 & 438 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. III, On the Eucharist, VII. Various Adjuncts of Mass, n. 658 — Is it ever lawful to interrupt Mass? - It is never lawful to interrupt Mass essentially, or in such a way that the sacrifice begun remains truncated, unless a most grave or extreme necessity urges, as in the case of an i… Read in context →

Vol. IV, On Censures, IV. On Interdict, n. 1140 — 4. Viaticum is lawful in danger or in the article of death, but not in favor of one specially interdicted unless he first makes satisfaction, or, if he cannot, furnishes security, or, if he cannot even do this, swears th… Read in context →

Vol. IV, On the Constitution *Apostolicae Sedis*, n. 1197 — XIV. Religious presuming, outside the case of necessity, to minister to clerics or lay persons the sacrament of extreme unction or the Eucharist as Viaticum without the license of the parish priest. Religious: novices of… Read in context →

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

117. On the Minister and Subject of the Eucharist, n. 8 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE EUCHARIST, FIRST PART: ON THE EUCHARI…, LITTLE APPENDIX: ON THE MA…, AND ON THE METHOD OF RESERVING IT, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶1302, ¶4 & ¶1303 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, TREATISE ON THE EUCHARIST, FIRST PART: ON THE EUCHARI…, APPENDIX III: ON THE FIRST COMMUNION OF CHILDREN, n. ¶1315 — 1315. - "As regards children," says the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, "who approach the Sacred Table for the first time, let it be permitted to apply to our matter the excellent words of the Fathers of Ravenna. It… Read in context →

Pastoral Questions

Ch. II, Question VI: Concerning the Sick and the Dying, nn. ¶2450, ¶2451, ¶2452, ¶2453, ¶2454, ¶2478, ¶2479, ¶2480, ¶2481, ¶2482, ¶2483, ¶2484 & ¶2493 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Enchiridion, Comprising Select Decrees and Definitions of the Holy See, of Ecumenical Councils and of the Sacred Roman Congregations (Enchiridion Morale), Fourth Edition

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905), On the Eucharist, n. 560 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. II, Treatise On the Eucharist, First Part. On the Euchari…, Ch. IV, Art. II, 2. as to the Body, Appendix II. On Spiritual Communion, n. 345 — 345. Spiritual Communion is called a pious desire of receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist when it cannot be received in reality. Hence for it there is required: 1. an act of Faith, by which the one about to communica… Read in context →

Treated under the broader heading Holy Communion — The Casuist · Spirago · St. Alphonsus, True Spouse · Deshon, Guide — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)