Diocesan Regulations

TO REQUEST APOSTOLIC BLESSINGS

A COMPUTER GENERATED BLESSING: $25

Call or write to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., and send $25. It usually takes two weeks.

His Excellency Christophe Pierre Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave NW 
Washington, DC 20008-3610
Phone: (202) 333-7121
Fax: (202) 337-4036


 

Diocesan Lenten Regulations:
The Lenten regulations effective in our diocese are:

Ash Wednesday — is a day of Fast and Abstinence.
Good Friday — is a day of Fast and Abstinence.
Fridays of Lent — are days of Abstinence.

Easter Duty

“All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year.
This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at some other time during the year.’’ (Canon 920)
Easter Season — Ash Wednesday to Trinity Sunday.
Catholics also are earnestly urged to receive the Sacrament of Penance during the Lenten season; preferably the Sacrament should be received prior to the Triduum, i.e., before Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday.

Fast — All adults are bound by the Law of Fast up to the beginning of their 60th year. (Canon 1252) “A person who has completed their 18th year of age is an adult.’’ (Canon 97, p. 1)

On days of Fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted; but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.

Abstinence — “All persons who have completed their 14th year are bound by the Law of Abstinence.’’ (Canon 1252) On days of Abstinence, no meat is allowed.

Note — When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. When in doubt concerning Fast or Abstinence, a parish priest or confessor should be consulted.

In addition, other acts of penance are to be chosen by each person according to circumstances. These ideally will include increased prayer life, greater effort in the pursuit of virtue and the voluntary surrender of pleasures. “It is for the Conference of Bishops to determine more precisely the observance of Fast and Abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for Fast and Abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.’’ (Canon 1253) In response to this authorization the Bishops of the United States have described the seriousness of the obligation: “With regard to the obligatory days listed above, however, there is frequent question about the degree of seriousness of the matter.” The teaching of Pope Paul VI may be simply paraphrased: “The obligation to do penance is a serious one; the obligation to observe, as a whole or ‘substantially’ the penitential days specified by the Church is also serious. No one should be scrupulous in this regard; failure to observe individual days of penance is not considered serious; rather it is the failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days which must be considered serious. People should seek to do more rather than less. Fast and Abstinence on the days prescribed; works of religion and charity on the Fridays outside of Lent should be considered a minimal response to the Lord’s call to penance and conversion of life.’’

Minors — “Pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the Laws of Fast and Abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of Penance.’’ (Canon 1242)


Very Rev. Theodore C. Dudzinski, J.C.L., V.G.
Vicar General/Chancellor/Moderator of the Curia

Solemn Annual Exposition of The Blessed Sacrament:  
The section of the Roman Ritual published June 21, 1973, and subtitled “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass’’ is the source that must be currently followed.

This Instruction, in number 1, reminds us that “the celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian life ...’’ and number 2 states that “the celebration of the Eucharist outside Mass springs from and directs Christians back to the Mass itself.’’

In number 6 it observes the fact that “The celebration of Mass reveals in its orderly progress the various ways in which Christ is present in the Church. He is present in the congregation which gathers to acknowledge Him; present in His Word during the reading of Scripture and the homily; present in the person of the minister; last, but not least, present under the form of bread and wine. His presence as God and man in the Sacrament of the Eucharist is without parallel elsewhere; He is wholly and completely present. This is not to deny that Christ is genuinely present in other ways too, but we describe this as the Real Presence ‘because it is the most personal.’”

Later in number 86, the Instruction says, “In Churches where the Eucharist is regularly reserved, it is recommended that solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for an extended period of time should take place once a year, even though this period is not strictly continuous.’’ It adds that “this kind of exposition, however, take place, with the consent of the Ordinary, only if suitable numbers of the faithful are expected to be present.’’ It continues in number 88 “if a period of uninterrupted exposition is not possible, because of too few worshippers, the Blessed Sacrament may be replaced in the tabernacle during periods which have been scheduled and announced beforehand. This reposition may not take place more than twice during the day.’’

It should be pointed out that the Instruction also warns in number 82 “this kind of exposition must clearly express the cult of the Blessed Sacrament in its relationship to the Mass.

The plan of exposition should carefully avoid anything which might somehow obscure the principal desire of Christ in instituting the Eucharist, namely, to be with us as food, medicine and comfort.’’

The clergy of the diocese are called to be mindful that priests have a responsibility to lead their people to a deeper appreciation of the Eucharistic Sacrifice and Eucharistic Devotion. It is a fact, the Forty Hours of Devotion has been an important opportunity for renewed emphasis upon the Eucharist in parishes and institutions in the past. Where it is feasible, this devotion, adapted to current liturgical practices, should be continued. Every parish and institution will thus benefit from an annual major time of emphasis upon the Eucharist.

It is recommended the Devotion begin on a Sunday and conclude on a Tuesday evening.


Very Rev. Theodore C. Dudzinski, J.C.L., V.G.
Vicar General/Chancellor/Moderator of the Curia