Children receiving Communion

[lssanjose]

finally, a front view of an infant communion

 

[R_C]

If children can receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism before age of reason, why can’t children receive Christ in the Eucharist?

Because the mystical union with Christ, like a marriage, requires mutual consent, while in Baptism it is the Holy Spirit that acts.

 

[Allegra]

My biggest concern about infants recieving communion is that they might spit it up. I don’t see any reason why small children couldn’t recieve though, even if they don’t understand completely.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Because the mystical union with Christ, like a marriage, requires mutual consent, while in Baptism it is the Holy Spirit that acts.

The Church does not teach this at all.

 

[ClemtheCatholic]

Just as a note - the Byzantines receive Holy Communion along with Baptism at birth…

 

[Vico]

My biggest concern about infants recieving communion is that they might spit it up. I don’t see any reason why small children couldn’t recieve though, even if they don’t understand completely.

They receive the Eucharist in liquid form.

 

[Allegra]

They receive the Eucharist in liquid form.

Spitting up IS in liquid form.

 

[ClemtheCatholic]

The Byzantines receive the Blood of Christ with chunks of the Body of Christ (of course each “chunk” is fully and entirely the Body of Christ) floating in the same Chalice…

 

[RyanBlack]

My biggest concern about infants recieving communion is that they might spit it up. I don’t see any reason why small children couldn’t recieve though, even if they don’t understand completely.

That’s certainly a possiblity, but I’ve never seen it happen, and I attend an Eastern Catholic parish where infants and toddlers are communed regularly.

 

[Vico]

Spitting up IS in liquid form.

The liquid form of Eucharist was allowed for infants in the western Church long ago. Infants were not communed after the elimination of the liquid form of Eucharist, because they were not given the solid form of Eucharist. The change in the west occurred about 1000 A.D. (according to Hugh of St. Victor.) Innocent I and St. Augustine both thought that baptism and Eucharist were required for infants to have salvation (of course this is not the official dogma of the Church).