[De communione et conversatione Iudaeorum et Christianorum]

from every infidel.

The second admonition: that no Christian should eat their unleavened bread, nor commune with them at a table, in a bath, or in medicine, or in a synagogue, or in their rite. So says the canon (28, q. 1, c. "Nullus"): "None of those who are established in holy orders, or the laity, should eat their unleavened bread, or commune with them, or call upon any of them in their infirmities, or receive medicine from them, or bathe with them in a bath." The text adds a penalty: if anyone does these things, if he is a cleric, he shall be deposed; if he is a layman, he shall be excommunicated. William likely William of Rennes, a canonist interprets the first part as excluding necessity, for in necessity their unleavened bread may be bought and eaten. Likewise, a Christian should not eat or drink with Jews; the following chapter in the same cause and question says: "Henceforth, let all clerics or laity avoid the feasts of the Jews, and let no one receive them to a feast, for since Jews do not use all foods among Christians, it is unworthy and sacrilegious that their foods be taken by Christians, since we consume things permitted by the Apostle, while they judge them unclean. And thus, they begin to be superior to Christians, which the Jews are not, if we use what is set out by them, yet they despise what is offered by us." The same judgment applies to pagans. However, for preachers sent to preach to pagans, it is permitted to consume the foods set out, keeping the quality of the times, according to canonical sanctions, with modesty and thanksgiving. Regarding this, there is the Clementine (book 3, c. "Quod sit laudabile", "De Iudaeis et Sarracenis"). The gloss gives the reason: "Otherwise they cannot be gained, just as the Lord, so that He might gain them, spoke with them and ate what was set out, provided that it was not sacrificed to idols." Thus, conversation is also permitted for common men, not as a feast, to gain them, says the gloss; nor does as much danger threaten in conversation as in a feast and the lingering of time and the changing of food and drink. Thus, concerning preachers, the canon says (11, q. 3): "If you wish to go to the table of pagans, we permit you to do so to convert them, without any prohibition." And these are the words of Chrysostom upon the Epistle to the Hebrews.