On the Minister of Holy Communion

From the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law:

Canon 845

§1. The ordinary minister of Holy Communion is only a priest.

§2. A deacon is an extraordinary [minister], authorized by the local Ordinary or a pastor, granted for grave cause, which in case of legitimate necessity is presumed.

Canon 846

§1. Any priest whatsoever, during Mass and, if he celebrates privately, even just before and immediately after, can administer Holy Communion, though observing the prescription of Canon 869.

§2. Even outside of Mass any priest whatsoever, if he is a stranger, partakes of the same faculty with the at least presumed permission of the rector of the church.

Canon 847

Holy Communion is to be brought to the sick publicly, unless a just and reasonable cause persuades otherwise.

Canon 848

§1. The right and duty of bringing Holy Communion publicly to the infirm, even non-parishioners outside the church, belongs to the pastor within his territory.

§2. Other priests may do this only in case of necessity or with the at least presumed permission of their pastor or the Ordinary.

Canon 849

§1. Any priest can bring private Communion to the infirm with at least the presumed permission of the priest to whom custody of the Most Holy Sacrament is committed.

§2. Whenever Holy Communion is privately administered to the infirm, the reverence and decency that is due to such a holy sacrament is be carefully observed, according to the prescriptive norms of the Apostolic See.

Canon 850

It belongs to the pastor in accord with Canon 848, with due regard for the prescription of Canons 397, n. 3, and 514, §§ 1-3, to bring Holy Communion in the form of Viaticum to the sick, whether publicly or privately.

Canon 851

§1. Priests will distribute Holy Communion [made from] leavened or unleavened bread according to the proper rites.

§2. Where necessity urges and there is not present a priest of a different rite, it is permitted to an oriental priest who uses fermented bread to minister the Eucharist in unleavened [form], and likewise to a latin or oriental priest who uses unleavened [bread] to use leavened [bread]; each must observe his own rites of administration.

Canon 852

The Most Holy Eucharist is to be given only under the form of bread.

Canon 868

A celebrating priest is not allowed to distribute the Eucharist during Mass to those faithful who are so distant from him that he loses sight of the altar.

Canon 869

Holy Communion can be distributed wherever it is permitted to celebrate Mass, even in a private oratory, unless the local Ordinary, for just cause, prohibits it in particular cases.

Canon 1274

§1. In churches or oratories to which it is given to preserve the most holy Eucharist, there can be private exposition, that is, with a pyx, for any just reason without the permission of the Ordinary; but public exposition, that is, with a monstrance on the feast of the Body of Christ and within the octave, can be done in all churches within solemn Mass and vespers; but at other times, it shall not [be done] unless there is just and grave cause, especially for public [exposition] and then with the permission of the local Ordinary, even though a church belongs to an exempt religious [institute].

§2. The minister of exposition and reposition of the Most Holy Sacrament is a priest or deacon; but the minister of the Eucharistic blessing is only a priest, nor can a deacon impart it, except in that case where he brings Viaticum to the infirm according to the norm of Canon 845, § 2.