Could I Reserve the Eucharist in My Home?

Q: There has been much talk about the merits and virtues of eucharistic adoration. Is it allowed to retain a eucharistic host for home worship? If not, why?

I’m fully aware of the Church’s general prohibition of such a practice and the good intended of preventing desecration and irreverence.

But on a pastoral and individualistic level, if the purpose is to worship and give glory to God and there is certainty that the host would be honored and cherished, wouldn’t that be acceptable even without a bishop’s permission?

A: By canon law the Blessed Sacrament must be reserved in cathedral and parish churches, and in churches or oratories attached to the houses of religious institutes.

The Eucharist may be reserved in a bishop’s chapel and, with permission of the local ordinary (usually a bishop), in other churches, oratories and chapels.

The law in all cases requires that the sacrament be kept in a church, chapel or oratory. And there are other requirements about a fixed and solid tabernacle.

The law also requires that someone be responsible for the custody and care of the Blessed Sacrament, and that a priest celebrate Mass at the place of reservation with some frequency. That is to make sure the hosts do not age and become stale or moldy.

Notice, the law does not permit reservation of the sacrament in private homes. The purpose of reserving the Eucharist is to have the Blessed Sacrament available as viaticum for those near death, Communion outside of Mass and adoration of the Lord present in the Eucharist.

Reservation in private homes does not very well fit those purposes, and it is difficult to guarantee the Sacrament will be treated with proper respect.

John M. Huels in More Disputed Questions in the Liturgy notes that it would be within the law for a bishop to permit reservation of the Blessed Sacrament by a private person for an urgent pastoral need.

When would there be such a need? Perhaps a deacon lives miles from the church and must bring Communion to sick Catholics in outlying districts. In such cases the bishop could permit private reservation with a statement of particular requirements.