A kindergartener received communion this morning

[Chronister4673]

From the Catechism: 1669 “Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a ‘blessing,’ and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).”

Lay persons may bless others, however I think only an ordained person should bless anyone with a host.

 

[chevalier]

I am sorry you feel that no one other than a priest can give a blessing, but I know of many who give blessings. My grandmother bless all of her children grandchildren is she wrong? How about the fact that I will bless my own children every night, is this wrong also. So me this document.

I know of alot of priest who will disagree with you.

It’s okay to bless one’s children, but Eucharistic blessings are reserved. It’s been brought up in the AAA forum (here). Parents have authority over children, including spiritual, therefore they can bless. But extraordinary ministers have no authority over anyone and especially they can’t confer Eucharistic blessings. This has nothing to do with parents blessing their children. I don’t see anything wrong with such ministers stroking children’s heads per se, but when it looks the same as blessings given by priests, it’s confusing and dangerous.

I am with you on this one. My 7 y/o grand daughter accompanies me to communion. She is in CCD class and will receive her first communion next year. When it’s my turn for communion, my grand daughter bows and steps aside. I would never discourage her from accompanying me.
Kathy

That has nothing to do with the ability of EMHCs to confer Eucharistic blessings or generally ecclesiastic ones.

 

[st_lucy]

I’m trying not to prejudge, but. That’s a very serious thing to happen, that a child who hasn’t been catechised in the significance of the sacrament ends up receiving. Not that there’s any sin on the part of the child who does, of course, but makes me wonder where the parents are that it’s allowed to happen. Especially in the OP case where the sib was right with the child. Surely the parents must have been close by too? If not, why not?

I remember being one of those young children who see older sibs recieve and want to as well - and somehow my parents managed to see to it that I didn’t do so accidentally. To the point where once my mother had to actually physically hold me back and say no, and I started crying. I am having a hard time seeing how they, with five children to watch over, could be aware of what we were all doing and yet this parent couldn’t.

Well, that was a little judgemental. I was not aware that my son was about to recieved and I do believe that it was an accendent. These things do happen a parent cannot be aware of everthing all the time we are human.

Also my sons recieving early was as I stated a blessing because he has always since he was young been aware that Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist (at age 2 1/2 he dragged me to tabernacle well visiting a church to tell me that Jesus’ heart was calling his name). He is now very excited to recieve his first (second) Holy Commuinion.

I think that there is way too much judgment going on when someone states that

I can’t help wondering how a child can be unsupervised at Mass to the point where they accidentally receive Communion

Sometimes these things happen. We are not aware of what is going on the family of the OP so we should not sit here judging that the parents were being neglictful. Lets leave the judgement to God. Who knows when we are going to find ourselves in the same situation.

 

[Rebecca_New]

Perhaps I’m making a big deal out of nothing. I guess it bothered me because the little guy turned around to look at big sis behind him like look what I did! It’s a matter of learning respect for what it is that you are receiving and that it is not a joke. ( I understand he is just a little child and it’s really not his fault ) I don’t know why this is bothering me so much.

You just witnessed this child’s First Holy Communion. It happens, and no one is to blame. Since the child is not of the age of reason, he is not able to sin, so less harm was done then some of the adults who accept the Eucharist and should not.

 

[pammie]

Lily, I’m with you there. I have a seven year old who has walked with me to receive communion ever since he could walk. I have other kids too. My son stays at my side. This little boy who received communion was the first one in his family walking up the aisle with 2 sisters and another girlfriend behind him and dad at the end of that train. Dad was too far back to intervene. The little one should have been at his side. I know my son went thru a period where he really wanted to receive communion when we were getting the host to eat ( in his mind ) and he wasn’t! Left to his own devices, he would have taken the host.

 

[SeekerJen]

Is it possible that he could’ve been Eastern Catholic? Their children are confirmed and communed during infancy. Maybe that’s why???

I was just about to post the same question. Eastern Catholic is still Roman Catholic, just a different rite. If he was baptized/confirmed/communed in an Eastern rite church when a baby, but mom and dad prefer to go to the Latin Rite church, then his receiving the Eucharist is perfectly legit (we semi-occasionally have such children in our parish). His turning around to smirk at his sister may have been completely unrelated- maybe the kid is just a brat.

 

[kell0618]

I am sorry you feel that no one other than a priest can give a blessing, but I know of many who give blessings. My grandmother bless all of her children grandchildren is she wrong? How about the fact that I will bless my own children every night, is this wrong also. So me this document.

I know of alot of priest who will disagree with you.

I am hoping that your intent was not to sound vicious, though this is the way the post comes off. Please read the following:

     **Canon 1169**

1. Persons who possess the episcopal character as well as presbyters to whom it is permitted by law or by legitimate concession can validly perform consecrations and dedications.
   2. Any presbyter can impart blessings, except those which are reserved to the Roman Pontiff or to bishops.
   3. A deacon can impart only those blessings which are expressly permitted to him by law. A blessing is a good conferred by a higher personage on a lower personage. All true blessings ultimately come from God, though they come through those whom He has placed over others. In the family parents bless their children, as God has given them natural authority over their children. In the Church spiritual blessings are conferred in God’s Name by those to whom He has given spiritual authority over His People. As is evident by the above, blessings are given by priests (who have the power of the keys), though some are reserved to bishops (high priests). Deacons may also bless, but only where the ritual books, and thus the Church, provide the authority by law. Since the laity do not possess spiritual authority in the Church they cannot confer blessings. The laity can impose some sacramentals (ashes, St. Blaise blessing), but using objects * previously* blessed by the ordained.
   So, the blessing of anyone by an EME at Communion time is a vain gesture, which does nothing for the recipient. Furthermore, by a gesture which suggests priestly authority in a sacramental setting, it confuses the role of the laity and the ordained minister, something prohibited by the Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests.

–Source ewtn.com/expert/answers/blessings.htm

There is a difference between giving your child a blessing at home and an EME giving the blessing with a religious present.

 

[Bennie_P]

Well…don’t automatically assume too much. Perhaps the family in question is not actually of the Roman Rite, but of one of Eastern Catholic rites. It’s not that uncommon for Eastern Catholics to join a Roman Catholic parish (parishes in some of the other rites can be very hard to find in the Americas!) Perahps the child was communicated as an infant, in one of the Eastern rites. If that is the case, there is no reason for that child to be kept from the Eucharist until he’s seven years old.

The incident raises the more general question of why the Roman Rite continues to delay First Holy Communion to age seven (but not until after Confirmation); the other Catholic rites do not, and Rome does not see this as a problem - these rites are in full communion with the Holy See. The Roman Rite’s own sequence for initiation of adults is Baptism-Confirmation-Eucharist. The “traditional” Roman sequence of juvenile Baptism-Eucharist-Confirmation is the “odd man out” here.

My children were Baptized, and Chrismated(confirmed) as infants one received 1st communion on the same day, he was Baptised and Christmated at Mass, and the other was allowed to take communion at the very next Mass he attended(his Baptism/Chrismation was done outside of Mass).

Our Family has been a member of a Latin Rite parish since before they were born, but my wife is Byzantine (No Eastern Rite Parish in the area) and at the time our children were initiated into the church I was a Baptist. No one in our parish had a clue that my wife and children were Byzantine until I came into full commuion (Latin Rite). In fact most of them were suprised when I was presented as a candidate. Everyone assumed that I was Catholic. You know what they say about assuming?

And now that I’m studying the sacraments in Theology and coordinating the prepartion of our parish children in the sacraments of first Eucharist and confirmation I would agree that us Latins are the old man out and the way we intiate children may need to be revisited. As an adult I was baptised(as a baptist), then confirmed as a Catholic then I received communion.

Delaying the sacrament of confirmation until 12 to 14 seems to give the children the impression they have finished their religious education and most don’t understand that conversion is a life long journey and it is evident that many of their parents view it that way too. For many it has become an act of ticket punching.

It is beautiful to see the children on the day the receive the sacraments, and I believe the Grace they receive from it will help them along their journey if they respond to the Grace, I just wonder if we spend so much effort in faith formation just for those two sacraments, but not as much effort in faith formation throughout their childhood and adolescents?

P.S. I’m an EME and they teach us to bless those coming up for a blessing, right or wrong. An intersting debate on the subject can found at this link with Zenit.
zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=71485

In Him
Bennie P ><>

 

[Hesychios]

My five year old son has recieved holy communion by accident before. It was a wonderful experience and a horrible experience for him all at the same time. It was wonderful because he has been so anxious to recieve our Lord. It was horrible because he now has to wait two years until his next wonderful experience.

Sometimes accidents happen. I don’t think you need to get too upset about it.

I don’t see why he has to wait now.

He has actually had his first Holy Communion. It wasn’t planned that way, but he is actually a communicating member of the church now.

Believe me, it counts, he really had his first Holy Communion. Just keep him in CCD, he has much to learn.

Michael

 

[GregoryPalamas]

You just witnessed this child’s First Holy Communion. It happens, and no one is to blame. Since the child is not of the age of reason, he is not able to sin, so less harm was done then some of the adults who accept the Eucharist and should not.

I say, the Lord found a way to get some spiritual food to this child despite the strange attitudes of his Church. Praise God!!

CDL

 

[Jennifer123]

P.S. I’m an EME and they teach us to bless those coming up for a blessing, right or wrong. An intersting debate on the subject can found at this link with Zenit.
zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=71485

In Him
Bennie P ><>

Thank you for the link, it was very helpful. I hope Rome will incorporate some unity in regards to this, but until then this information has helped greatly:
“Both children and adults can make a spiritual communion. They may come forward with their arms crossed and bow before the Eucharist. Then the priest, deacon or extraordinary minister could say to them kindly, ‘Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart.’ This is not a blessing, but an invitation to worship, so no gestures are made.”

 

[chevalier]

Yes, that doesn’t sound like the EMHE is doing something he isn’t allowed to do. I’m not sure about the typical stroking of heads of children like priests do when they go out for the collect (non-priests normally don’t do that but I’ve seen it done), since it’s a bit like some kind of blessing anyone could do on people one cares for, but one should keep in mind that EMHEs are not ordained and have no spiritual authority. This is not to take anything away from their ministry but to point out what’s in canon law.

 

[countertenor]

My wife and I are Latin Rite, she is pregnant, and we’re considering the various possibilities of either having our child baptised in an Eastern Church or switching rites ourselves because we don’t want our children to have to wait to be chrisimated or receive communion. The Latin Church is deffinetly on it’s own here and I have a really hard time with that

 

[Bennie_P]

My wife and I are Latin Rite, she is pregnant, and we’re considering the various possibilities of either having our child baptised in an Eastern Church or switching rites ourselves because we don’t want our children to have to wait to be chrisimated or receive communion. The Latin Church is deffinetly on it’s own here and I have a really hard time with that

The following information is from byzantines.net if you are serious -

“I’d like to become a Byzantine Catholic. I’m currently a Roman Catholic. How do I do it?
To attend a Byzantine Catholic Church on a regular basis, you don’t have to do anything special if you are already a Catholic. Simply go.
Some people find that they are spiritually fulfilled at a Byzantine Church, and in order to bring closure to their spiritual journey, they would like to be officially recognized as a Byzantine Catholic. This process is known as changing rites.
Basically, the process goes like this: After discussing this with your priest, you write a letter to your Roman Catholic Bishop and the Byzantine Catholic Bishop. In the letter you state spiritual reasons why you want to change rites. At that point they will begin to process the paperwork and will get back to you.
Note that you are not converting. You are simply changing rites.”

byzantines.net/faq/index.htm

Myself I feel at Home with the Roman Rite, yet there is a lot I like about the Eastern Rites

Bennie P ><>

 

[countertenor]

Myself I feel at Home with the Roman Rite, yet there is a lot I like about the Eastern Rites

Bennie P ><>

I feel very at home in the Roman Rite, and I understand the history and reasons behind the way they do things I just have a problem with this particular thing. I attend both Latin and Eastern Churches and am at home in both, in a lot of ways I don’t really feel Latin or Eastern or Oriental I just feel Catholic and I’m comfortable in any of the various Catholic Churches, that’s just one thing I perfer withn the Eastern Churches, but there are things I like better in the Latin Churches as well. Both have many wonderful things. I haven’t really been to a rite yet that I haven’t liked…but anyway I know this isn’t what this particular thread is actually about.

Oh yes and thanks for taking the time to post some links for me.

 

[Beno]

Some children (or adults) go up for a blessing. Tell the priest and my suggestion is that an announcement could be made that for those unable to receive they can cross their hands over their heart to have a blessing from the Eucharist Minister. Hopefully this is what happened!

Just a bit off topic, but Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist cannot give blessings, only the priest can.

 

[chevalier]

I have to say I’m quite content with the way things are in the Roman rite, along with communion at age of reason and confirmation close to coming of age. I like it this way and feel it proper.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

A more up to date and continuing source for Byzantine information may be found here. www.byzcath.org

CDL

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I have to say I’m quite content with the way things are in the Roman rite, along with communion at age of reason and confirmation close to coming of age. I like it this way and feel it proper.

Only problems with that:
1.) It’s backward compared to the rest of Catholicsm.
2.) Every Latin diocese confirms at a different age. Some wait until they are almost legal adults. Some confirm at about 8th grade. Some confirm at about 2nd or 3rd grade. Some in Mexico confirm as infants, but wait until 8, 9, 10, even 12 for First Communion.
3.) When communion and confirmation are put off until adolescence, it causes three problems:
a. The kids, because they are above the age of reason, get to “choose” whether or not to be confirmed. Then there is the mistaken notion that the confirmands are confirming their faith. They might profess their faith, but the bishop confirms their baptism. The minister of the sacrament is the bishop, or where allows, a priest, but not the confirmands themselves.
b. It is considered a “graduation” from rel. ed. and it is clearly not. In the case of first communion, the kids don’t come back unless they somehow desire confirmation. The graces from confirmation could help those kids lead a better life.
c. The fashion parade. The “modest, simple dress” for little girls is either something not appropriate for church, or costs big bucks. There are veils that are ostentaneous, can’t be managed by a small child, and from what I’ve read here at CAF, have mechanical devices that twirl and do tricks. Big girls show up with even less clothes.

How much more in keeping with the sacraments that where possible, in my opinion, they should be received from birth, or as close as possible thereafter. Nobody would have questions about a small boy receiving Communion because he’d have been doing it from birth.

In addition, Confirmation and First Communion were once generally on the same day or very close (Confirmation first), about 12 or 13. Pope Pius X changed that in 1910 to what we now call the “age of discretion”. Until the late 1960s, children were confirmed as early as second grade, whenever the bishop could come to the parish (I was confirmed in 4th grade in 1967).

But that’s my :twocents: . You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I just thought it would be better to explain where I was “coming from”.

 

[Bennie_P]

A more up to date and continuing source for Byzantine information may be found here. www.byzcath.org

CDL

Thanks for the Link, it is very helpful to have more information in order to educate my children about the Rite they were intiated in, they go to Catholic School, but the only exposure they get in their Rite is when we go back East for weddings and funerals.