Can mentally challenged kids receive communion?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PleasinChrist
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PleasinChrist

Guest
That’s really the whole question. Can kids who are significantly mentally/cognitively handicapped receive first communion?

My guess is “no” - since we wait until 2nd grade to make sure children are capable of understanding the sacrament, and kids who are mentally challenged would not appreciate what they are doing, the truth of the Eucharist, etc.

Thx
 
PleasinChrist said:
That’s really the whole question. Can kids who are significantly mentally/cognitively handicapped receive first communion?

My guess is “no” - since we wait until 2nd grade to make sure children are capable of understanding the sacrament, and kids who are mentally challenged would not appreciate what they are doing, the truth of the Eucharist, etc.

Thx
Click to expand...
It depends on the child, and it depends on what the challenge is. If they “get” that the Eucharist is different than ordinary bread, if they can participate somewhat at Mass, and assuming they are baptized, then they can, and ought to, receive Holy Communion.
 
It probably depends on the nature of their disability. However, isn’t it true that in other rites they give the Eucharist to infants? Clearly, they don’t fully understand the sacrament yet.
 
PleasinChrist said:
That’s really the whole question. Can kids who are significantly mentally/cognitively handicapped receive first communion?

My guess is “no” - since we wait until 2nd grade to make sure children are capable of understanding the sacrament, and kids who are mentally challenged would not appreciate what they are doing, the truth of the Eucharist, etc.

Thx
Click to expand...
i disagree with you. they should be allowed to receive first holy communion as well. dont forget that normal kids if you want to call them that will not understand the sacraments fully either. Some of the normal kids will think it’s just another birthday party. And why should the handicapped be stoped when their are kids who will receive the first holy communion however did not go to mass beforehand and will not go to mass after
 
Also just because you may think they dont understand doen’t mean you are right. they may understand but may not use the words that you want them to use.
 
It really depends on the person. I have a cousin that has some mental challenges and she is deeply religious and receives Communion.

A priest I knew used to preside at Masses in a nursing home that cared for many people with developmental disabilities. One time he talked about the incredible calm that would occur during the Mass. The nurses took notice of it because while the residents could sometimes make lots of noise (mostly involuntary) and be generally disruptive (unintentionally) they were completely calm and very respectful during Communion.
 
PleasinChrist said:
That’s really the whole question. Can kids who are significantly mentally/cognitively handicapped receive first communion?

My guess is “no” - since we wait until 2nd grade to make sure children are capable of understanding the sacrament, and kids who are mentally challenged would not appreciate what they are doing, the truth of the Eucharist, etc.

Thx
Click to expand...
By this standard, Communion would also be denied to Alzheimer’s patients, nursing home residents with senile dementia, and those with similar conditions. I don’t think that’s either right or the position of the Church.
 
As far as I am aware a child with disabilities can receive the Sacraments.

There are two children who are severely physically and mentally challenged, both of whom are PEG feeders - (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). They only receive very small amount due to their poor swallowing reflex.

Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities

ncpd.org/views-news-policy/policy/church/bishops/sacraments

Hope this helps you.
 
My 8 year old son has autism, mild cognitive impairment, language processing disorder, mild vision impairment, and other disabilities. He made his First Holy Communion last weekend. He worked very hard to prepare for the sacrament . Our Director of Religious Education helped us find appropriate materials and modify the lessons fit his abilities and challenges. Loyola Press has an “Adaptive First Eucharist Preoaration Kit” that was very helping in keeping us focused on he basic, important truths of the Eucharist.

loyolapress.com/adaptive-first-eucharist-preparation-kit.htm

Sadly, some people (family members, friends) tried to discourage us from having my son receive the sacrament. They questioned his ability to understand or his need for the graces the sacrament brings. But Christ said, “Let the little children come to me.” He didn’t say, let the smart children come to me, or the normal children, or the healthy children. He just said, let the children come.

Over the past several months, I watched my son develop a love of the Mass and I have heard him make statements of faith that astounded me. I know that is the work of God upon his soul.

He did great on his First Communion day. I was so incredibly proud of him and happy for him.
 
Of course they can. Why would mental conditions be a barrier from one receiving Christ?
 
So, my brother has autism as well as some other mental handicaps, but he receives Communion. The core issue is the individual and those responsible for them. My mom has really made sure that he has an understanding of the Sacraments and has been his advocate for receiving them. She has gotten some push-back from their priest (understandably so), but she has prevailed. Their priest, at the end of the day, gave my mom the benefit of the doubt that my brother understood enough to receive Communion.

Keep in mind, this is a kid who ran up to the altar and blew out one of the candles (he forever associates candles with birthday parties, i.e. things that must be blown out :D) and my dad had to re-light one of the candles during Communion.
 
marty1818 said:
This should help:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=85492&highlight=mentally+challenged
Click to expand...
This hits the nail on the head.
ConstantineTG said:
Of course they can. Why would mental conditions be a barrier from one receiving Christ?
Click to expand...
If the condition prevented them from comprehending that the sacred species were any different from ordinary food, for instance. You don’t have to be able to fully comprehend the True Presence–which of us can?–but you have to be able to comprehend the concept of the True Presence. Still, the benefit of the doubt belongs to the baptised, in favor of their being allowed to receive the sacraments.
 
EasterJoy said:
If the condition prevented them from comprehending that the sacred species were any different from ordinary food, for instance. You don’t have to be able to fully comprehend the True Presence–which of us can?–but you have to be able to comprehend the concept of the True Presence. Still, the benefit of the doubt belongs to the baptised, in favor of their being allowed to receive the sacraments.
Click to expand...
How exactly does that rule work with Eastern Catholics who commune infants? Surely nobody believes that infants have the mental capacity to comprehend that distinction.
 
There was a big uproar recently, national news, about a priest who decided a boy in his parish could not receive Communion. He was I believe age 8, so would have been in the preparation class. He was impaired mentally in some way, and after careful consideration the priest told the parents that a requirement for Communion is the ability to understand it is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. This kid clearly was not there, probably could not even say those words. However, the parents and several parishioners were outraged. It does come across as mean to the child. I believe the priest held firm. I am not passing judgment myself, it’s such a difficult issue. But just to show this is a real concern and priests apparently do feel some responsibility to see the child demonstrate mental capacity. They don’t just get Communion because it’s a nice thing to do or to feel good participating.
 
At my parish some years ago we had a young girl with severe mental and physical difficulties and only her family could understand what she was saying. Every week her father would bring her to Mass, and in the bidding prayers we would pray for her as she prepared for Holy Communion. It took her a couple of years, but eventually our priest deemed she was ready, and it was a truly joyous occasion when she received for the first time.

Each child should be considered as an individual and special care and attention should be given to enable the child to understand to the best of their ability.
 
Yes, if they understand what is going on and stuff. If they were prepared properly, no need to deny them the sacrament.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top