132 



THE MEANS OF GRACE 



The frequent reception of Holy Communion 

 quite naturally entails certain demands upon the 

 recipient. 



While it would be presumptuous to set up absolute 

 rules, we may safely say that 



a) It is fitting that he who receives Communion daily 

 be free from conscious attachment to (venial) sin and 

 strive earnestly and sincerely after perfection. However, 

 though it is highly desirable that daily and frequent com- 

 municants be free from venial sins, at least from those 

 which are entirely voluntary, and also from all attach- 

 ment to sin, it is sufficient if they avoid mortal sins and 

 harbor the earnest intention to sin no more, for with such 

 a purpose they will inevitably be weaned more and more 

 from sin. 



b) How often each one may go to Communion is a 

 question to be decided by the confessor. 26 In admitting 

 children to their first Communion, the parents and the 

 confessor should be consulted, but the final decision rests 

 with the pastor. 27 



In regard to frequent Communion two extremes must 

 be avoided: (i) Jansenistic rigorism, which demands a 

 high state of perfection, and (2) laxism, which regards 

 the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist as an infal- 

 lible mark of predestination. 28 



dentina Synodus." The best En- 

 glish commentary on this decree is, 

 The Decree on Daily Communion, 

 by J. B. Ferrere9, S.J., translated by 

 H. Jimenez, S.J., London 1909. 



26 Innocent XI's Decree "Quum 

 ad aures" (Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 

 1 147): "Frequens ad sacram ah- 

 moniam percipiendam accessus con- 

 fessariorum secreta cordis explo- 

 rantium iudicio est relinquendus, qui 



ex conscientiarum puritate et fre- 

 quentiae fructu et ad pietatem pro- 

 cessu laicis negotiatoribus et coniu- 

 gatis, quod prospicient eorum saluti 

 profuturum, id Mis praescribere de- 

 bebunt." (Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 

 1 147). — Cfr. Leo XIII's Decree 

 "Quemadmodum omnium rerum hu- 

 manarum," Dec. 17, 1890. 



27 Codex Iuris Can., can. 854. 5 5. 



28 Prop. Damnat. ab Alex. VIII., 



