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Short-Term Solution, Long-Term Problem: The Rite Of Sunday Celebrations In The Absence Of A Priest And Its Use In The United States Of America, Christopher Angel

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

The Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest (SCAP) has become a common part of the American Catholic experience as dioceses continue to struggle with ways to deal with the shortage of available ordained priests to celebrate Eucharist. In this paper, I look at early church history (in the pre-Nicaean church as well as the Middle Ages) to find historical and theological justification of the rite. I examine relevant background information data from American history on the availability of Eucharist and Eucharistic piety, and then outline the 20^th-century movement which restored frequent reception of Communion to the …