It is something people are used to seeing: the faithful receiving Communion daily in parishes. But this really didn't begin until almost 100 years ago.
Look at what number 1389 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
“(…) the Church earnestly recommends that the faithful receive the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or even more frequently, even every day.”
The one who initiated the reform to bring daily Communion closer to the faithful was Pope Saint Pius X. His liturgical memorial is celebrated every August 21.
Heir to the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, Pope Pius X was the 257th pope. His pontificate spanned the early 20th century. He died a few weeks before the outbreak of the First World War.
In addition to bringing daily Communion closer to the faithful, it allowed children to receive their First Communion at an early age. This meant that the order of the sacraments of Christian initiation was modified.
FR. BERNARD ARDURA
President Emeritus, Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences
This communion of children starting at age seven completely altered the order of the sacraments of Christian initiation, which previously included Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, and meant that Confirmation came after the Eucharist.
He also promoted the study of the Catechism of the Church and commissioned the unification of all matters related to canon law. It was his successor, Pope Benedict XV, who promulgated the resulting code.
He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. His body is venerated in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
AM
TR: GS
