Canon Law

[Hien]

Can a fully initiated Eastern Catholic child, below the age of reason, receive Holy Communion in a Latin catholic parish? Can the pastor of the Latin Catholic parish refuse to give the child Holy Communion (Eucharist)? What about the opposite or vice versa (Latin Catholic child, below the age of reason, in an Eastern Catholic parish)?

Thanks and God bless
Hien T

 

[The_Idiot]

Can a fully initiated Eastern Catholic child, below the age of reason, receive Holy Communion in a Latin catholic parish?

Yes

Can the pastor of the Latin Catholic parish refuse to give the child Holy Communion (Eucharist)?

Yes - though he should not - however it would be sensible to approach the pastor first .

What about the opposite or vice versa (Latin Catholic child, below the age of reason, in an Eastern Catholic parish)?

You should not present a Latin Catholic child for Communion in an Eastern Catholic Parish before he /she has made their first Communion in their own Latin Catholic Parish if you are just a ‘casual’ visitor . You are asked to respect your own Church’s teachings .

 

[ConstantineTG]

As St. Ambrose said, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Or something to that effect.

Using Canon Law to compel a Latin priest to give Communion to an Eastern Catholic child contrary to the traditions of the West as if Communion is a “canonical right” is wrong on so many levels.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Using Canon Law to compel a Latin priest to give Communion to an Eastern Catholic child contrary to the traditions of the West as if Communion is a “canonical right” is wrong on so many levels.

Despite the inference from the “Title”, the question in the OP was honest and suggested nothing of the sort.

That said, the answers given by The Idiot above (post #2) seem quite accurate and responsive to the OP.

 

[Vico]

Can a fully initiated Eastern Catholic child, below the age of reason, receive Holy Communion in a Latin catholic parish? Can the pastor of the Latin Catholic parish refuse to give the child Holy Communion (Eucharist)? What about the opposite or vice versa (Latin Catholic child, below the age of reason, in an Eastern Catholic parish)?

Thanks and God bless
Hien T

Infant means not of the age of reason.

Q1. Can an infant Eastern Catholic receive Holy Communion in a Latin catholic parish (as first communion)? A1
A1. Yes, if placed in the care of the the Latin Church, after Chrismation, and with care not to disturb the Latin faithful.

Q2. Can an infant Eastern Catholic receive Holy Communion in a Latin catholic parish (not as first communion)? A2
A2. Yes, if already Chrismated and with care not to disturb the Latin faithful.

Q3a. Can the eastern pastor refuse to give the Latin infant Holy Communion (as first communion)? A3
Q3b. Can the eastern pastor refuse to give the Latin infant Holy Communion (not as first communion)? A3
A3. Yes, because the Latin canons require knowledge and preparation of the Mystery of Christ. This is to be respected.

Q4a. Can an infant Latin Catholic receive Holy Communion in an eastern catholic parish (as first communion)? A4
Q4b. Can an infant Latin Catholic receive Holy Communion in an eastern catholic parish (not as first communion)? A4
A4. No, because the Latin canons require knowledge and preparation of the Mystery of Christ. This is to be respected.

Q5a. Can the Latin pastor refuse to give the eastern infant Holy Communion (as first communion)? A5
Q5b. Can the Latin pastor refuse to give the eastern infant Holy Communion (not as first communion)? A5
A5. Yes, if not already Chrismated or in a way that would disturb the Latin faithful.

CIC 912, CIC 913, CIC 914, CIC 923
CCEO 710

CIC
intratext.com/x/eng0017.htm

CCEO
intratext.com/X/ENG1199.HTM

 

[Hien]

I’m very sastified what you answered the questions - Thanks and Godbless. Hien T.

 

[Zekariya]

As St. Ambrose said, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Or something to that effect.

Using Canon Law to compel a Latin priest to give Communion to an Eastern Catholic child contrary to the traditions of the West as if Communion is a “canonical right” is wrong on so many levels.

A person does not have the right to receive Communion anymore than the priest has the right to refuse Communion with no canonical or doctrinal reason.

The only way that a priest could forbid Communion is if the person is either in mortal sin, is not in communion with the Catholic Church, or is a Latin Rite Catholic that hasn’t received first Communion.

It would be wrong to refuse to commune an Eastern Catholic infant if the priest actually knows that he is supposed to commune them. He couldn’t refuse giving the Eucharist to them any more than the adults (as long as he is aware that Eastern Catholic infants are allowed to receive).

 

[Vico]

A person does not have the right to receive Communion anymore than the priest has the right to refuse Communion with no canonical or doctrinal reason.

The only way that a priest could forbid Communion is if the person is either in mortal sin, is not in communion with the Catholic Church, or is a Latin Rite Catholic that hasn’t received first Communion.

It would be wrong to refuse to commune an Eastern Catholic infant if the priest actually knows that he is supposed to commune them. He couldn’t refuse giving the Eucharist to them any more than the adults (as long as he is aware that Eastern Catholic infants are allowed to receive).

I would like to add emphasis for the restoration of the ancient eastern practice of infant reception of the Eucharist.**Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1996)

****51. Communion to the neophytes **Can. 697 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches prescribe that the Eucharist be administered as soon as possible after the Baptism and Chrismation with holy Myron, according to the norms of the Church . Can. 710 resumes the subject of participation of baptized infants in the Eucharist and exhorts that the prescriptions of the liturgical books of the Church be observed in its administration. This legislation, specific to the Eastern Churches, necessitates some clarification.

For reasons already seen, the norms regarding the Communion to neophytes are not found in the legislation of some Eastern Catholic Churches, which have often postponed the first Communion to the school age. Therefore, it will be the task of the competent authorities to adopt measures suitable for returning to the previous practice and to elaborate norms that are more conforming to their own Tradition. As for the prescriptions contained in the liturgical books to the same regard, it should be noted that, in the majority of the cases, whether of these or the Churches which preserve the ancient uses, they do not provide sufficient indications, considering that the Ritual of Baptism in general was conceived for adults and subsequently used for children, without introducing any specific modification in the Eastern Churches. The subject is usually addressed in the pastoral manuals for the sacraments. Some practical suggestions could be obtained from the practices of the Orthodox Churches.

Finally, the administration of the Divine Eucharist to infant neophytes is not limited to only the moment of the celebration of Initiation. Eucharist is the Bread of life, and infants need to be nourished constantly, from then on, to grow spiritually. The method of their participation in the Eucharist corresponds to their capacity: they will initially be different from the adults, inevitably less aware and not very rational, but they will progressively develop, through the grace and pedagogy of the sacrament, to grow until “mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ” (cf. Eph. 4:13). The sacrament is always a gift which operates efficiently, in different ways just as every person is different. Special celebrations which correspond to the various steps of human growth can possibly be of some use for the pedagogy of the faith and to accompany specifically the indispensable catechesis of children and young people, but it must be clear that the initiation into the Mystery of Christ is totally complete upon receiving the first three sacraments.
byzcath.org/index.php/resources-mainmenu-63/document-library-mainmenu-97/296?task=view

Yet, the Latin priest needs to use pastoral sensitivity in order to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the Latin faithful.

CCEO Canon 710
With respect to the participation of infants in the Divine Eucharist after baptism and chrismation with holy myron, the prescriptions of the liturgical books of each Church sui iuris are to be observed with the suitable due precautions.