THE HOLY EUCHARIST CARRIED ON JOURNEYS

According to the present discipline of the Church, permission is enjoyed by no person, no matter how exalted his dignity, unless it be the Holy Father himself, to carry the Blessed Sacrament on his person when travelling, except for the purpose of communicating the sick. In ancient times, however, this permission was often granted, but generally in case of very long and dangerous journeys; and we see that many of the Orientals make it a practice yet to bring it with them whenever they intend to set out on any hazardous voyage. This is especially the case with the Maronites (Denzinger, Ritus Orient., p. 99). When the Pope conveys the Blessed Sacrament publicly on any long journey from Rome, a sort of procession is generally organized of the Noble and Swiss Guards, and of the other functionaries and officials who usually attend him; but there is no demonstration whatever made when the Holy Father is traveling privately. He then carries the Blessed Sacrament around his neck, as Pope Pius IX., of blessed memory, did in his flight from Rome to Gaeta in 1848.

The Armenians (that is, the schismatic Armenians) are much to blame for allowing the Blessed Sacrament to be carried on caravan expeditions through the country, and that, too—to their shame be it said—by lay persons, by the merchants who organize these caravans for the purpose of selling their wares.