www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Infants receiving Communion

I have a 3 year old son and a 2 month old grandson. Both are being denied Communion by the local RC priest. We have spoken and he has spoken to someone at the local RC Chancery office. Their responce to our request was at the RC chuch visitors should follow the RC traditions and since they don't give Communion to infants they won't give it to my son or grandson. Unfortunately we live 1 1/2 hours from a Byzantine mission and 3 hours from a Byzantine church. Our schedule dictates we attend the local RC parish a few times a month. Does anyone have reference information we could share with the Chancery office to correct the situation.
Thanks in advance for your help!

CDS,

I'll try searching a few things tomorrow...so sorry you are encountering this nonsense.

One initial thought is to appeal directly to the bishop. What he says will go.

Just an initial thought. God bless you,

Gordo

I believe this book contains directives that state Latin pastors are to care for Eastern Catholics they find in their parishes according to Eastern traditions, including communing infants. If he is still resistant I would contact the Byzantine Chancery and ask them to contact the Latin bishop to take care of this situation.


http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?sku=5-287&disccode=sum0625

You could also call Dallas or Houston and ask their priests if they knew any priests/parishes in the San Antonio area that might be more amenable. Or you could go to the local Maronite church (http://www.stgeorgesa.org/).

CDS is there not a maronite Church in San Antonio?
Do they not also practice infant communion?
Just a suggestion.
Stephanos I

If the Latin ordinary is having trouble with this, call YOUR hierarch and have HIM call his brother Latin bishop.

This worked well for one family I know.

Could you give a quote from the book?

Whereas it might be nice for the child to receive communion, one should remember that it is not a necessity!

That said even the various Eastern churches are to follow their own rules.

Here is an interesting page about the same situation in California and the Latin bishop's response. http://www.melkite.org/sa37.htm

No advice, just two stories.

1. When my older boy was just 2 years old, we went to visit my mother in California. The closest Eastern Catholic church was 4 hours away, so we went to the local Roman Catholic church. We arrived 30 minutes early to speak with the pastor. (My husband was wearing his cassock.)

The priest said he was well familiar with the eastern rites and understood that our son was a communicant. However, it might upset his parishioners to see a toddler receive the body and blood, so he would not give Nathaniel communion. He would not listen to our suggestion that he explain (either before or after) that in our CATHOLIC tradition ... etc.

Deacon Nicholas and I sat down and fumed for a while. Finally, when the "emcee" began giving pre-mass instructions and welcoming visitors, we stood up and left. How could we feel welcome at the table of the Lord if our son was not?

The next time we visited my mom, we drove 2-1/2 hours to a Greek Orthodox monastery. True, our son couldn't receive communion there either, but neither could we -- and the liturgy was ... celestial.

2. Just this last week, my boys (ages 5 and 9) and I spent the night at the Norbertine Abbey where my spiritual director lives. They both received communion at the morning mass, which is well attended by residents from the community around the Abbey. The rector of the church spoke briefly after the dismissal, saying that we were Eastern rite Catholics and that my children had been receiving communion since their baptism as infants.

His congregation was not scandalized; they were delighted and interested to learn. It was a teaching moment, and he used it well.

As I said, I have no advice, just two stories of two different experiences.

I can share my stories as well from when I was Eastern Catholic. When we lived in Beaumont, the nearest Eastern Catholic Church was 1 1/2 hour drive. The priest at the Cathedral in Beaumont was just lovely. He welcomed us, communed our children and announced to the whole parish that we were Eastern rite Catholics. He was quite fond of byzantine Christianity.

On the other hand, we had been to 2 or 3 parishes where the priest unequivocally said no. I mentioned it to a Latin rite person I know who is a Theology professor and his response was, "well, too bad. They will just have to wait like everyone else."

Then there was one parish where at first the priest said it was okay. My children were communed. But then a number of parents complained to him and so he said he would not commune us again. Not long before I decided to become Orthodox, I had stopped taking communion in Latin rite Churches. I came to conclude that our liturgical disciplines and understanding was just too different.

Joe

Penthaetria,

I have personally witnessed this second example you provided here. It was a true catechetical moment for the families at the parish. The priest was very warm and welcoming and had no issue distributing to children who were of a different rite/Catholic church.

My sense, at least in the US, is that the type of small-mindedness on the part of Latin priests that you mentioned in your first example is becoming more and more rare. Many are getting exposure to the Eastern Churches as part of their seminary formation.

God bless you!

Gordo

In the Latin Archdiocese of Kansas City a memo went out recently indicating basically the same as is documented in the San Bernadino situation.

A Melkite friend of mine who lives in a rural area had approached his local Latin pastor, who was willing but wanted official clarification from the chancery for consistency. The Archdiocesan liturgist, to his great credit, consulted the local Greek Catholic clergy as well as the provisions in both Latin and Eastern canon law.

I myself approached for Communion a couple of weeks ago with my little son Ilya at a Latin parish and just whispered to the priest that a little part of the host be given; everything went smoothly.

I am of mixed opinions and feelings on this.
It is wonderful for the children to receive. I am happy the canons have changed. There are many valid reasons for the Latin clergy to accommodate.

It is not necessary for the children as it is for adults.


Remember one of the reasons it was abandoned in the west is also related to the reason the precious blood was not distributed till after Vatican II. It was to protect the Eucharist from abuse.-spilling, stealing, vomiting.
I spent my time once cleaning up vomit after communion from the front of the church to the back.
I think it is a bit much [perhaps even arrogant] to ignore the traditions of the west and insist on the traditions of the east when in the Western church.
I think it was fine that you asked. But as in many cases we have to accept the judgment of the clergy in charge. It is his decision to make not yours. He may have many reasons which he doesn't have to explain to you in the few minutes before mass.

One of the hardest aspects of Christianity is obedience. It is a test of sanctity. All the great saints have had to endure it.

Just curious if you had gotten your way and stayed for the mass would you have sung the hymns, knelt at the appropriate parts and sat at the appropriate parts or just remain standing as is the Eastern custom?

Would you care to elaborate on this? If this point of view is really representative of the Latin theology of the Eucharist, then it is clear that the Latin and Eastern Churches are very different in their approach to the sacraments and sanctity. Indeed, I do not see any exceptions to Jesus' words, "Unless you eat my body..." In fact, Jesus said, "Let the little ones come unto me and do not hinder them, for to such as these is the kingdom of heaven."

Joe

Not really. Roman Catholic priests who refuse to commune children who are Eastern Catholic are not acting in accordance with direction given by their bishops, to whom they are required to be odedient.

Ryan