SECRETARIAT FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN UNITY

NOTES ON THE

October 6, 1968

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE



CHRISTIAN UNITY

NOTES ON THE
APPLICATION OF THE

ECUMENICAL DIRECTORY

The Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity announces:

1. In these last few months, in various parts of the world,

Protestant and Anglican Christians have been admitted, here and

there, to participate in the Eucharistic Communion during the cele-

bration of Mass although they did not have the permit required by

the norms in force and therefore despite the reproval of the com-

petent ecclesiastical authority.

2. It therefore seems necessary to recall herewith the measures

adopted by the Second Vatican Council and applied by the Ecumen-

ical Directory (approved by the Holy Father on April 27, 1967,

and published in A.A.S. of July 5, 1967, pp. 574-592).

3. “Worship in common is not to be considered as a means

to be used indiscriminately for the restoration of unity among

Christians. There are two main principles upon which the practice

of such common worship depends: first, that of the unity of the

Church which ought to be expressed; and second, that of the shar-

ing in means of grace. The expression of unity very generally for-



bids common worship. Grace to be obtained sometimes commends

it. The concrete course to be adopted, when due regard has been

given to all the circumstances of time, place and persons, is left to

the prudent decision of the local episcopal authority, unless the

bishops’ conference according to its own statute, or the Holy See,

has determined otherwise.” (Decree on Ecumenism, n. 8)

4. “The celebration of the sacraments is an action of the

celebrating community made within the community itself of which

the celebration signifies oneness in faith, worship and life. Ac-

cordingly, when this unity of faith is lacking regarding the sacra-

ments, participation of the separated brothers with the Catholics,

particularly in the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Anoint-

ing of the Sick, is forbidden. Nevertheless, since the sacraments are

signs of unity as well as fonts of grace (cf. Decree on Ecumenism,

n. 8), the Church can, for sufficient motives, permit some separated

brothers to be admitted to them. This permit can be granted when

there is danger of death, or because of urgent necessity (during a

persecution, or imprisonment), if the separated brother cannot go

to a minister of his own Church and if he asks spontaneously for the

sacraments from a Catholic priest, so long as he manifests a faith

conforming to the faith of the Church regarding these sacraments,

in addition to being well disposed. In other cases of like urgent

necessity, the local Ordinary or the episcopal conference will decide.

“The Catholic faithful, in similar circumstances, cannot ask

for these sacraments except from a minister who has been validly

ordained.” (Ecumenical Directory Ad totam Ecclesiam, n. 55)

5. These most precise texts determine the conditions required

for the admission of an Anglican or a Protestant to receive the

Eucharistic Communion in the Catholic Church. The fact that a

Christian belonging to one of the confessions mentioned above is

spiritually well disposed and spontaneously asks for Communion

from a Catholic priest is not sufficient. Two other conditions are

necessary: that his faith in the sacraments is in harmony with that

of the Church and that he has no access to a minister of his own

communion.



The Directory cites, as an example, three cases when, owing

to circumstances beyond one’s control when these conditions exist:

when there is danger of death, or during persecution or imprison-

ment. In other cases, the local Ordinary or the episcopal confer-

ence can give permission, if it is requested, but on condition that

it is a matter of cases of urgent necessity similar to those quoted

as an example, and under the same conditions.

When one of these conditions is lacking, access to Eucharistic

Communion in the Catholic Church is not possible.

Augustin Cardinal Bea

President of the Secretariat for

Promoting Christian Unity

October 6, 1968