The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-13
THE EASTER DUTY.

THE EASTER DUTY.
The advent Of the month of May
is a reminder to all that the
paschal season is moving onward
to it's close and, consequently, that
the time within which the Easter
duty may be performed is becom-
ing shorter and shorter. The
paschal season is that portion of
the year set apart by the Church
during which all the faithful are
obliged, under pain Of grievous
sin, to receive the Holy Eucharist.
Tt extends from the first Sunday Of
Lent to Trinity Sunday which, this
year, falls on June IL. This pre-
cept is binding on all who have
reached the age Of reason which
is generally associated with the
attainment Of the seventh year.
| No one is exempt from the fulfil
ment of this precept, no matter
what his condition or state in life
1t is binding on those who are I'M
able to come to church as well as
those who are able; upon those
who are sick not less than on those
who are in the enjoyment of
health. Those who are i'll or in
charge Of invalids should notify
the pastor of the parish so that, at
a time convenient to both, he may
visit the sick person and admins
ter Holy Communion even though
there be no danger of death.
In this country the faithful sat-
isfy the precept by receiving Holy
Communion in any church within
the time appointed for that pur-
pose. While the greatest latitude
is allowed in this matter it is but
i fitting that the faithful perform
i their Easter duty, as it is called,
d in their parish church in order to
i comply with the spirit Of the law
' The reason for this is that those
with whom they are accustomed
;. to worship may have fullest evi.
$ dence Of their practical Catholici-
}, ty. This is more necessary in the
case of one who deems it suff.
[ cient manifestation Of his practi.
J cal Catholicity to receive Holy
: Communion only once a year. II
, his fellow parishioners never see
J, him approach the altar rail in his
) own church who can blame then
if they suspect him Of not being {
/ Catholic at heart?
i While the Easter precept is no
fulfilled by a sacrilegious Com
q munion it is fulfilled by the worthy
reception of the Holy Eucharist a
! any time within the paschal season
: whether one has the intention o:
fulfilling it at that particular tim'
: or not, because the communism
+, does what the Chuch prescribes
f If one fails to comply with thi
! precept during the time allotted
! for that purpose, the obligation O
f doing so remains and should b,
discharged at the earliest oppor
: tunity. If one fails through neg
= lect to make his Easter duty h,
o sets at nought the law of tn,
/ Church in this regard and can n,
+ longer claim to be practica
. Catholic entitled to all the right
. and privileges to which a duti
: full child Of Mother Church ma,
. lay claim. Neglect Of this impor
. tant duty shows a want Of faith il
/ the Most Holy Sacrament of tn
. altar as the source and inspiration
: of the spiritual life.
e Nor can it be said that the tim
f allotted for the performance of tn
V Easter duty is too short. Nor
: than one-quarter Of the year is Sc
), apart for this purpose; and iron
e time to time during these tire
months the pastors Of souls speal
Of this obligation in public and i
private, exhorting all to attend
) it at the earliest opportunity
When any member of the flock
negligent the pastor calls upo
him and endeavors to bring him t
lr realization Of the pressing i'm
If portance of the Easter Commu
b. MON.
y It is strange that there shoul
n be even one Catholic who know
s. what the Blessed Sacrament is an
n understands the important role
1T plays in the spiritual life Of tn
is individual who needs to be urge
is to approach the Holy Table a
d least once a year, and that unde