When to distribute Communion?
16. Communion may be given outside Mass on any day and at any hour. It is proper, however, to determine the hours for giving communion, with a view to the convenience of the faithful, so that the celebration may take place in a fuller form and with greater spiritual benefit.
In other words, we’re looking at a Communion service or liturgy for the faithful (plural), a celebration that provides the “fuller form,” presumably including music and other ministries. We’ll continue to look at these Communion services outside of Mass in this document.
I suppose it begs the question that if a priest is able to preside at a Communion service, why wouldn’t he just celebrate Mass?
Triduum gets special attention:
Nevertheless:
a) on Holy Thursday, communion may be given only during Mass; communion may be brought to the sick at any hour of the day;
b) on Good Friday communion may be given only during the celebration of the Passion of the Lord; communion may be brought to the sick who cannot participate in the celebration at any hour of the day;
c) on Holy Saturday communion may be given only as viaticum. (Roman Missal, typical edition 1970; Missa vespertina in Cena Domini, 243; Celebratio Passionis Domini, 250, no. 3; Sabbato sancto, 265.)
[I]f a priest is able to preside at a Communion service, why wouldn’t he just celebrate Mass?
If he’s “impeded” for some reason: in this diocese, for example, if he’s already said two Masses on a weekday or three for the Sunday obligation.
There is that, yes.
I wondered if it meant the regulation is tied less to the well-being of the clergy and more the potentially embarrassing phenomenon of some priests “outworking” others.