Canon Law, infallibility, age of reason

[Stratiotes]

Is the canon law concerning age of reason and communion something infallibly defined now or is it something that could change someday and is just a definition of current practice?

Just curious because I have believed that the “age of reason” has been viewed as different ages at different times and I am more inclined to lean toward the Eastern Orthodox view that communion is for any initiate/baptized Catholic.

I refer to canon 97 para 2:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PC.HTM

catholicnewsagency.com/news/benedict-xvi-affirms-first-communion-for-children-at-age-of-reason/

 

[Brendan]

As far as what is the Age of Reason. that is a prudential decision. It is really a Moral Theology term where the necessary Reason to actively choose to do or not do a moral action is that of your average 7 year old.

There do exist children that would have this level of reason at an earlier age, and there are those who might not achieve that level of reason until later, or in the case of mental imparment, not even at all.

But the level of reason needed to commit sin, or to recognize Christ in the Eucharist is that of your current average 7 year old. That has been relatively consistant throughout the Chruch, and even among the Eastern Churches.

That is approximately the age where Eastern Catholic children participate in Reconcilliation.

The requirement of the Age of Reason for the reception of Holy Commununion is distinct from the defintion itself. Eastern Catholics Communicate infants at birth, but they do not hold that they have achived the Age of Reason

Do you see the difference?

It would certainly be possible for the Western Church to offer Holy Communion to infants, since that would be simply the change of a prudential rule

 

[1ke]

No, neither of those things is doctrinal.

 

[Andre1000]

Canon Law itself is never infallible but sometimes base on infallible teachings. The age of reason is more a guideline and every child is differed.