www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Question about infant receiving communion in RC church

My family and I will be attending a RC church for Christmas. I have never received communion in an RC church before, and neither have my children.

My oldest, who is 4, will be able to take the host easily. However, I am concerned with my 7 month old infant. He has just recently started on solid foods, and I don't know what he'd do with the host, if he'd spit it out or what. Should I only give him a small portion, to prevent choking?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You!

Sahm

First things first - you must talk to the RC priest where you will be - and this may be difficult now bearing in mind the timescale.

As an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion I would be extremely wary of giving Communion to a small child who is obviously below the age at which children in my own parish make their First Communion. Yes I have done it - but this was because I spotted that the family were Eastern Catholic - and I did justify my action afterwards.

I would ask the Priest if it would be possible for the tiny to Receive the Most Precious Blood on it's own - but do remember that we do not use a Communion Spoon.

You may be met with a degree of non-understanding if not complete misunderstanding - you will have to be prepared to explain that your Children have received ever since their Baptism and Chrismation . This fact just does not seem to get through - and it is not helped by the fact that RC Children must be able to Understand Whom they Receive in Communion.

I hope your request will be honoured - but please please do contact the Priest today. Your Children may certainly receive a blessing from the Priest but not from an EMHC - so you must ensure that you do go to a Priest for Communion.

Hope this helps

Anhelyna

Anhelyna,
I did speak with the priest at the RC church already, so he is expecting me and my children. He was certainly knowledgeable of the fact that my children were able to receive. But I got the impression from our discussion that he'd never actually encountered this situation before. I want to be as much help as I can, which is why I asked. He said we could go to any of the ministers giving communion, but I am going to make a point of going to the priest as to avoid confusion (he can explain it to them later).

Tkanks for helping!

We made sure that the children never reached out to touch the wafer as it was given to them. That is the major temptation in the way the Eucharist is given. They tend to notice others taking it in the hand even though they are small.

I would think with your infant, just letting the Eucharist touch the lips with a little moisture from the lips and not actually giving a peice would work. The moisture would absorb into the system, which would take Jesus to the body. Just my thought anyway. But remember Jesus was aware of your questions and efforts before you even asked it. He is awesome at giving us the desires of our heart, and he knows where yours is. God bless you!

Sounds like you'll have a better experience than we did when visiting the RC parish near my mother's house. We went to the priest and explained that we were Eastern rite Catholics in full communion with Rome, and that our son (6 months old at the time) had been baptized and chrismated and also received communion.

The priest said, yes, he understood completely about the Eastern rite churches and that my husband and I were certainly welcome to receive communion. But he would not give it to our son, because it might scandalize some of his older parishioners.

My husband and I sat in shock in the pew for a few minutes before the service began. Then we got up and left; we felt that we could not partake of a banquet that was being denied our son.

Since then, whenever we visit my mom, we drive 3 hours to get to the Melkite parish in Sacramento.

-- Penthaetria

I am astounded.

Michael - this is what I meant ! It just is NOT understood - because of this ruling that Children in RC Parishes may not Receive until they have reached the age of reason.

This Eastern Catholic Family were at our Parish for 2 or 3 occasions - and I had no doubt about them [ well they sat in front of me ]

I have mentioned in our Liturgy Committee that I personally think it is wrong to deny children the Eucharist - commenting that we ensure they have physical food and why should we then deny them Spiritual food ? Each time I raise it - there is total silence - and then I am sharply reminded that children must have reached the age of reason.

with this sort of attitude I can understand why a priest says that it is .

Pray God that one day this commonsense approach may get through to the Latin Church

\

You should have contacted the local Latin bishop and told him about this. I understand that there is a document from either Rome or the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that state our Eastern traditions must be respected and accomidated, and this is definitely one of our important tradtions. I don't think that is an appropriate response, rather he could have used it as a teaching moment to acquaint his parish with the Eastern Churches and our customs/traditions.

Don

You would think!

Quote

You should have contacted the local Latin bishop and told him about this. I understand that there is a document from either Rome or the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that state our Eastern traditions must be respected and accommodated.

There is such a document, and he did have an obligation to honor our request. I think if we visited my folks more than once a year, we might have considered pursuing things. As it is, we felt like it was a divine slap on the wrist for trying to find a convenient place to go on Sunday, rather than making the effort to go to a church that would enrich our spirits and allow us to worship and pray in the way God has called us to.

Penthaetria and Don,

The pastor should have explained to his flock that: "Yes, the Church really is Catholic."

In Christ,

John

The U.S. Catholic Bishop's Conference does indeed have a document "Eastern Catholics in the USA". Going to the RC bishop is a very good idea if you feel the need. Our local RC bishop here has been very supportive in my correspondence to him.

We have not had that problem at all, and the kids have always been able to receive Communion in every RC church we attended when they were little. We even had a Fraternity of St. Peter priest friend who knew us and when we attended his Mass once he approached us when we walked into the church and assured us he would give the kids Communion.

He even took it as a "catechetical moment" to instruct some of his faithful about the differences between the ritual traditions and how we all indeed were Catholic.

On the other hand, I have had Ukrainian Catholic priests who were reticent to commune my children because they hadn't received "First Communion" yet (even after I explained they had received the Mysteries at Baptism).

Dear Diak,

I know this might sound uncharitable, but I suppose that depends on how one defines or perceives charity and practices Catholicism. Without going into many other things and staying within the context of what has already discussed here let us use these existing subjects to consider the definition of the word Catholic. I address your comment regarding ritual traditions and how we all indeed were Catholic.

Let us look at what is said and then reality which is found in the in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Orthodox Church will always be the Catholic Church.

Here is the definition of the word Catholic from a Catholic source:

What "Catholic" Means

The Greek roots of the term "Catholic" mean "according to (kata-) the whole (holos)," or more colloquially, "universal." At the beginning of the second century, we find in the letters of Ignatius the first surviving use of the term "Catholic" in reference to the Church. At that time, or shortly thereafter, it was used to refer to a single, visible communion, separate from others.

Universal means everyone. Here is the definition of the word Universal within a reliable dictionary.

1. Of, relating to, extending to, or affecting the entire world or all within the world; worldwide: �This discovery of literature has as yet only partially penetrated the universal consciousness�

2. Including, relating to, or affecting all members of the class or group under consideration: the universal skepticism of philosophers.

3. Applicable or common to all purposes, conditions, or situations: a universal remedy.

4. Of or relating to the universe or cosmos; cosmic.

5. Knowledgeable about or constituting all or many subjects;

comprehensively broad.

6. Adapted or adjustable to many sizes or mechanical uses.

7. Logic. Encompassing all of the members of a class or group. Used of a proposition.

The central purpose or point of the Liturgy or "Mass" is the Eucharistic Sacrifice. It stands to reason that within the Catholic Church all members should be allowed to be members and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It seems to me that to deny the Eucharistic Sacrifice to children is renounce Catholicity. Here are the words of the Priest that are said during the Latin Mass.

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT: THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND
EVERLASTING COVENANT. IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL MEN SO THAT SINS ARE FORGIVEN. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

Now all of you would be a Catholic expression. One could say that children before the age of reason having not been chrismated would not be members or full members. Suffice it to say, either way the practices of the Latins preclude the authentic use of the word Catholic. Now these non-Catholic practices are taught and a reality of the Latin episcopacy who are with the bishop of Rome who is considered by the Latins to be infallible when speaking ex-cathedra.

These are not the notions and liturgical practices of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Seven Ecumenical Councils which is the Orthodox Church, for the Orthodox Christ is and will always be the chief cornerstone.

Matthew 19
13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

When a child approaches the Eucharist in the Latin Mass they are denied the Eucharist.

Matthew 26

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27: Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.

John 21:16
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

The Latins and those in the unia believe and that in order to be truly Catholic one must be in communion with the Apostolic see of Rome. But the very sad reality which can be seen and experienced in many Latin Churches is that a child not having reached the age of reason can not receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

This reality is the result of the adjusting the original order of the sacraments by the Latins. If you believe in Papal infallibility and what the Latins teach and do can one really be Catholic?

Dear Sahm,

In the future I'd be firm on this even if it "might scandalize some of his older parishioners."

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

Matthew, my church follows the ancient practice of infant communion and indeed I am Catholic but am not Roman Catholic.

And as I mentioned, I have encountered plenty of Roman Catholic priests who were willing and understanding to allow my children to follow my ancient and orthodox practice of having my children receive the Holy Mysteries. In fact I have never been refused communion for my children in a Roman church after asking the priest beforehand. In an Orthodox church a stranger of whatever age would also have to ask the priest (usually) to receive Communion.

At some point you must realize there are those such as I who wish to practice the faith as we received it from our fathers of Constantinople and later Rus' and wish to be in communion with Rome. That does not mean we are Roman. We've been through this many times before.

Dear Diak,

In an Orthodox Church an Orthodox child can receive communion. Can Latin children go to your Church and receive communion or is your Priest instructed to respect the Latin practice and deny those child communion? I guess the question at this point is do you think that there is anything wrong with that practice? We are not talking about strangers or the children of strangers and the lack of knowledge of the Priest with the family. In a Latin Church a child whose parents are Latin not having reached the age of reason cannot receive communion, and in your Church it seems that the Latin children a prevented from receiving communion as well. Hence in short my point being was that it seems to me such a practice is not "Catholic."

I don't believe you are practicing the faith of your fathers of Constantinople because it should be obvious that the faith of your fathers in Constantinople in the 8th century did not include being in communion with those that denied children of that faith communion. Now if you actually were practicing the faith of your fathers as those who are or had been in communion with the faith of your fathers there would be or is no issue of children being denied communion in that church. But since your are in communion with those who do not practice the same faith of your fathers because in addition to many other things those children in the unia are often refused communion by those who you are in communion with. The faith of your fathers used to be in communion with the Latins who at that time did not deny children communion. Now if you want to say that your fathers to a certain point in time had also subjected their children and others to the errors of the Latins that I would agree with. But those fathers had not been practicing the Orthodox faith and are not Orthodox Fathers. You may think and wish to practice the faith of your fathers by being in communion with those that don't, but the living reality is that you are not.

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

Hmmmm... That is a very interesting practical question.

Were you visiting our parish, you would not have had any trouble with your 4 year old receiving, because all our Extraordinary Ministers have been properly training not to deny Holy Communion to anybody, especially not on grounds of age, as we do respect the traditions of other Catholic Churches.

However, how to minister Communion to a 7 month old during a Roman Rite Liturgy?

I think our pastor would have handled the situation himself, by intiction with a tiny fraction of the Host, but I am not sure EMs will have enough ingenuity, training and/or authority to figure this one out, especially not during the Communion rite.

I hope you had a very blessed Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, and that your children were able to receive The Bread of Life, on the feast day of His Birth.

Shalom,
Memo