To the

Catholic

Serviceman

1



Second edition, 19^1

NIHIL OBSTAT:

lacobus H. Griffiths, S. Th. D.

Censor Deputatus

Neo-Eboraci, die 19 Decemhris, 1944

IMPRIMATUR:

t Gulielmus T. McCarty, C. Ss. R., S. Th. D.

Delegatus Castrensis

Neo-Eboraci, die 20 Decembris, 1944



To the

Catholic

Serviceman

SPECIAL PRIVILEGES

GRANTED TO YOU DURING

YOUR SERVICE IN THE

ARMED FORCES



© ST. ANTHONY'S GUILD, 1941

The Divine Protector

DeaddSisd



To the

Catholic

Serviceman

INTRODUCTION

The New Recruit will at first find
life in the Armed Forces a little differ-
ent from that to which he has been

accustomed. He will not be long, how-
ever, in observing that the fundamen-

tals of life remain the same. Values and

measures do not change. As this is

true for the physical and mental, it is

equally true for the spiritual. Your

code of ethics, your rule of good and

bad conduct remains the same. Re-

solve, therefore, from the beginning,

to adhere to the dictates of your con-

science as you have been instructed

in youth. No order or command is
likely to be given to do anything con-

trary to good conscience.

3



It would be well for you to inquire

as to the whereabouts of your Catholic

Chaplain, so that you may know where
to find him should the need arise. At

the same time, find out the hours and

the place of Mass in your camp or in
the neighboring communities. You are
expected to attend Mass on Sundays

and Holydays of Obligation.

Frequent the Sacraments so that you

may receive the necessary graces to
lead a good Christian life.

At all times be a gentleman. Be a

good patriot. Be a good Catholic.

* Hs

The following are the special privi-

leges granted to you during your serv-

ice in the Armed Forces. They are
granted by the Church for your benefit.

Take advantage of them.

H: ^ 4:

I

FAST AND ABSTINENCE
While on active service all members

of the Armed Forces are dispensed
from the Church law of fast and absti-

4



nence except on the following days:

Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Holy

Saturday until noon, and the Vigil

of Christmas except when it falls on
Sunday.

This dispensation is personal and

applies to the individual wherever he

may be. It also applies to his* wife,
children, parents and servants if he is

habitually residing with them, whether

on or off the post.

* * * *

II

EVENING MASSES
In order to make it less difficult for

the members of the Armed Forces to
fulfill their obligation of assisting at

Mass on Sundays and Holydays of

Obligation, and at the same time to
encourage daily Mass and Communion,

the Holy See has granted extraordi-

nary privileges for the celebration of

Masses and the reception of Holy

Communion.

1. A priest may celebrate three
Masses on Sundays and two on week-

days whenever the need is manifest.

5



2. Mass may be celebrated in the
afternoon until 7:30 P. M. whenever

such would be to the advantage of

the Service personnel because of

their inability to attend Mass in the

morning.

3. Holy Communion may be re-
ceived at any time of the day or

night. Though it is preferable to re-

ceive during Mass, any reasonable

cause would justify the reception of

Holy Communion at other hours.
This is the universal law of the

Church and applies to civilian and

Service personnel. However, there

is a special dispensation from the

fast for afternoon Communion which
applies to members of the Armed
Forces exclusively.

* * * *

III

COMMUNION FAST
In order to encourage and facilitate

the frequent reception of the Blessed

Sacrament in Holy Communion, the

law of Eucharistic fast has been great-

ly mitigated for the members of the
Armed Forces. The following are the

6



presently existing regulations for fast

before the reception of Holy Commun-

ion.

1. To receive Communion in the
morning hours until 12:00 noon, one

must normally observe the ordinary

fast, namely abstaining from all food

and drink from midnight of the pre-

vious day.

Exception to this rule:

a. What is known as “The De-
fense-Workers’ Privilege” al-

lows a member of the Armed
Forces who has been on active

guard duty or other work after

midnight to receive Holy Com-

munion during the day, after a

fast of four hours from solid

food and of one hour from

liquids. Civilian subjects of the

Military Vicar who are “De-
fense Workers” may use this
privilege.

b. Service personnel may take
liquid nourishment before Holy

Communion whenever in the
judgment of their Chaplain cli-



matic conditions, physical weak-

ness or other peculiar circum-

stances make the usual fast

too difficult. There is no time

specified, but it is recommended

that one endeavor out of rever-

ence to fast at least one hour

before receiving.

c. The Chaplain may permit the
sick to take medicine and liq-

uids before receiving Holy Com-

munion. They may receive daily
if they so desire.

2. The Service personnel who re-

ceive Communion after 12:00 noon

may make use of the mitigated
Eucharistic fast. They must, how-

ever, be fasting from solids for four

hours and from liquids for one hour

before receiving.

This privilege applies only to the

Armed Forces personnel strictly so
called, not to civilians even though

they work and reside on Service

posts.

In all the above-mentioned instances

under numbers 1 and 2, it is to be

noted that:

8



1. It is required that one abstain

from alcoholic beverages from 12:00

midnight of the preceding day.

2. The privileges apply to week-

days as well as Sundays and Holy-

days.

* * * *

IV

HOLY VIATICUM
While in dangerous waters, in the

battle zone and where there is danger

of enemy attack without warning, one
may receive the Blessed Sacrament in
the form of Holy Viaticum every day,

and at any time of the day.

There is no fast required before the

reception of Holy Viaticum.

There is an obligation on all Cath-

olics to receive Holy Viaticum when
their lives are endangered. Hence it
is wise to avail oneself of this oppor-

tunity where and when it is possible.
One must, however, have the proper
dispositions of soul.

* * * *

9



V

EASTER DUTY
All Catholics are obliged to receive

Holy Communion at least once a year,

and that during the Easter time. In

the United States the time specified

tor the fulfillment of this obligation

extends from the First Sunday in Lent

to Trinity Sunday. A Chaplain, how-
ever, may permit members of the
Armed Forces to fulfill this obligation

at any time during the year.

^ « H:

VI

GENERAL ABSOLUTION

When it is impossible for a priest
to hear the confessions of all penitents

individually, immediately before going

into battle or while in battle, as well

as when enemy attack is imminent on

land or sea, the Church has granted to

her priests the faculty to absolve large

groups of individuals with a general

absolution without oral confession. It

10



is wrong, however, for one who has

sinned mortally and who has a chance

of going to confession, deliberately to

put it off and wait until such time as a

general absolution will be given.

In order that absolution be effective

when general absolution is given, sev-

eral conditions must be fulfilled, to wit:

' 1. The penitent must be morally

present; that is to say, he must be

within a reasonable distance of the

priest.

2. The penitent must manifest his

Act of Contrition in some external

way, if possible, as for instance by

striking his breast.

3. The penitent must be truly

sorry for his sins and have a firm

purpose of amendment, which must

include the intention of avoiding

future occasions of sin, as well as

the intention of making restitution

in matters of justice.

4. If the penitent has any mortal

sins on his soul, he still has the

obligation of confessing these in his

next confession. At the time of the

11



general absolution the penitent must
have the intention of doing this.

* * * *

VII

HOLYDAYS

OF OBLIGATION

Holydays of Obligation are the days

of the year on which Catholics are

obliged to assist at Mass under pain

of mortal sin. They are the following

in the United States:

All Sundays of the year.

New Year’s Day, January 1.

Ascension Thursday.

The Assumption of the Blessed Vir-

gin, August 15.

All Saints’ Day, November 1.

The Immaculate Conception of the

Blessed Virgin, December 8.

Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord,

December 25.

* * * *

12



VIII

MARRIAGE

The laws of the Church relative to

marriage have not been altered for

the members of the Armed Forces.
The laws of the state in which a mar-

riage is performed must be adhered

to. Under certain circumstances, au-

thorization from the Commanding Offi-
cer must be given and special arrange-

ments made.

Consequently, if you intend to enter

into matrimony while in the service,

make it a point to contact your Chap-
lain so that he may have ample time
to give proper instructions, and to ob-

tain the documents required by Church

and State prior to the marriage.

13



IX

CONFIRMATION

AND

FIRST COMMUNION
If for some reason you have not

made your First Communion nor re-
ceived the Sacrament of Confirmation,

contact the Chaplain in your outfit.

He will make all necessary arrange-
ments to afford you the opportunity

of receiving these Sacraments.

Prior to the reception of these Sac-

raments, some preparations and in-

structions are required. It will also

be necessary to obtain certain docu-

ments. See the Chaplain, therefore,

at your earliest convenience.

14



X

VOCATIONS

TO THE PRIESTHOOD

AND TO RELIGIOUS LIFE
There are in the Armed Forces a

number of young men who are anxious
to enter the Seminary to study for the

Priesthood or to enter religious life

as Brothers. The call to serve your
country may have upset your plans
or interfered with^-your studies. If it

is your desire to begin or continue in

these studies after your discharge from

the Service, it would be well to ex-

plain this intention to your Chaplain.

He may be able to advise you and as-
sist you. Moreover, he will thus be

in a better position to give you the

necessary letters of recommendation

required upon your entry into the

Seminary.

* * * *

15



XI

WORK ON SUNDAYS
AND HOLYDAYS

The sanctification of Sundays and
Holydays of Obligation requires among
other things that we refrain from all
unnecessary servile work. In the

Armed Forces you will find that work
is reduced to a minimum on most of
these days. However, there are cer-

tain types of work that must be done,
and there are certain conditions under

which no work is unimportant. Your

conscience should be entirely at ease,

therefore, in performing any duty

that may be requested of you on these
days.

* * Hs

WHILE SERVING YOUR COUNTRY
DO NOT NEGLECT THE

SERVICE OF GOD

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i

ST. ANTHONY GUILD PRESS

PATERSON, N. J.