Since the early days of the Church, the Eucharistic Bread has been reserved in order that the faithful who are sick and those who are unable to be present for the celebration of the Eucharist might be able to share in the fruit of the Eucharistic meal. Since Vatican Council II, we have been given a rite for "Communion outside Mass" which does not specify "sickness" or "inability to attend Mass" but includes the needs of the faithful when there is not, or cannot be a celebration of Mass.
Tuesday and Wednesdays is a good example of such an occasion, since all priests of the Archdiocese have been called to a Convocation at the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Cambridge for three days. the host that will be used were consecrated at Mass on Tuesday morning in the Communion Service. We will listen to the Word of God, and share this Eucharistic Bread as food for our faith journey. We partake of the Bread of Life so that as God's holy people, we might become more and more the Body of Christ in our time and place.
