nturion did not contradict one another
while the one received the Lord with joy, whereas the other said:
'Lord I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof'; since
both honored our Saviour, though not in the same way." But love and
hope, whereunto the Scriptures constantly urge us, are preferable to
fear. Hence, too, when Peter had said, "Depart from me, for I am a
sinful man, O Lord," Jesus answered: "Fear not."

Reply Obj. 4: Because our Lord said (Luke 11:3), "Give us this day
our daily bread," we are not on that account to communicate several
times daily, for, by one daily communion the unity of Christ's
Passion is set forth.

Reply Obj. 5: Various statutes have emanated according to the various
ages of the Church. In the primitive Church, when the devotion of the
Christian faith was more flourishing, it was enacted that the
faithful should communicate daily: hence Pope Anaclete says (Ep. i):
"When the consecration is finished, let all communicate who do not
wish to cut themselves off from the Church; for so the apostles have
ordained, and the holy Roman Church holds." Later on, when the fervor
of faith relaxed, Pope Fabian (Third Council of Tours, Canon 1) gave
permission "that all should communicate, if not more frequently, at
least three times in the year, namely, at Easter, Pentecost, and
Christmas." Pope Soter likewise (Second Council of Chalon, Canon
xlvii) declares that Communion should be received "on Holy Thursday,"
as is set forth in the Decretals (De Consecratione, dist. 2). Later
on, when "iniquity abounded and charity grew cold" (Matt. 24:12),
Pope Innocent III commanded that the faithful should communicate "at
least once a year," namely, "at Easter." However, in De Eccles.
Dogmat. xxiii, the faithful are counseled "to communicate on all
Sundays."
_______________________

ELEVENTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 80, Art. 11]

Whether It Is Lawful to Abstain Altogether from Communion?

Objection 1: It seems to be lawful to abstain altogether from
Communion. Because the Centurion is praised for saying (Matt. 8:8):
"Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof"; and
he who deems that he ought to refrain entirely from Communion can be
compared to the Centurion, as stated above (A. 10, ad 3). Therefore,
since we do not read of Christ entering his house, it seems to be
lawful for any individual to abstain from Communion his whole life
long.

Obj. 2: Further, it is lawful for anyone to refr