THE HOLY EUCHARIST 129 



materiae. The term midnight is to be under- 

 stood physically, not morally, but we are allowed 

 to follow either standard or sidereal time. 



The Eucharistic fast does not, however, bind those 

 who are in danger of death, i. e., who suffer from a dis- 

 ease in which the Holy Eucharist is given as viaticum 

 (which may be done repeatedly in the course of the same 

 illness 20 ). Nor does it bind when there is danger of a 

 profanation of the Sacrament by unbelievers, or of scan- 

 dal or infamy, or when a priest is compelled to complete 

 the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass after the Consecration, 

 either because he has "consecrated" and consumed water 

 instead of wine (in which case he is obliged to reconse- 

 crate and consume both species) or, for good reason, the 

 wine only, or because he is overcome by sudden illness or 

 death. It is of precept to complete a Mass once it has 

 proceeded beyond the consecration of the bread, and in 

 case of necessity it may be done by one who is no longer 

 fasting. If the priest who finishes a Mass in place of 

 another has not yet said Mass himself, he is not allowed 

 to say another Mass, etiam ablutione non sumpta, unless 

 he has the privilege of binating. 21 



The Eucharistic fast, finally, is not binding on in- 



8, ad 5) : "Ecclesia Rotnana diem mortis urgeat periculum, ant neces- 



a media node incipit. Et ideo, si sitas impediendi irreverentiam in 



post mediant noctem aliquis sump- sacramentum." 



serit aliquid per modum cibi vel 20 See the decision of the Holy 



potus, non potest eadem die hoc Office of Sept. 7, 1897, and that of 



sumere sacramentum; potest vero, si the S. Congregation of the Council, 



ante mediam noctem." — The new of Dec. 7, 1906. — Codex luris Can., 



Codex luris Can. reinforces the old can. 858, § 2; 864, § 3. 



law as follows (can. 858, § 1) : 21 Missale Rom., De Defect, in 



"Qui a media node ieiunium na- Celebr. Missae, tit. 10, n. 5. — Cfr. 



turale non servaverit, nequit ad sane- St. Alphonsus, Theol, Mor., I. VI, 



tissimam Eucharistiam admitti, nisi n. 287 sqq. 



