Originally published at crisis magazine
How can anyone be against frequent access of the faithful to the Lord of Life, the Panis Angelicus, the medicine of immortality? That’s the very opposite reaction, you say, that one should have to the marvelous availability of Eucharistic Communion with the Risen Lord that the Church in the last century or so has made an integral part of the spiritual life of the majority of Catholics. I agree. But if one looks at the history of Eucharistic discipline, certain conditions come into view which, when lacking, can make this otherwise holy and salutary practice produce effects antithetical to the spiritual health of the faithful.
Prior to the early 20th century, frequent Communion was usually the privilege of religious—vowed men and women, often living in monasteries and convents—and not the daily reality of the laity. Since the 12th century, the Church has required each Catholic to receive Communion only once per year, with Confession if needed. How each period in the Church realized this minimum standard varied due to levels of devotion driven by many things, not least the Holy Spirit. body .ns-ctt{display:block;position:relative;background:#fd9f01;margin:30px auto;padding:20px 20px 20px 15px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none!important;box-shadow:none!important;-webkit-box-shadow:none!important;-moz-box-shadow:none!important;border:none;border-left:5px solid #fd9f01}body .ns-ctt:hover{color:#fff}body .ns-ctt:visited{color:#fff}body .ns-ctt *{pointer-events:none}body .ns-ctt .ns-ctt-tweet{display:block;font-size:18px;line-height:27px;margin-bottom:10px}body .ns-ctt .ns-ctt-cta-container{display:block;overflow:hidden}body .ns-ctt .ns-ctt-cta{float:right}body .ns-ctt.ns-ctt-cta-left .ns-ctt-cta{float:left}body
