Children receiving the blood

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My child receives first communion in May and is concerned that she will not be drug free if she partakes in the blood. I wish for her to partake, so I do not want to tell her not to partake, but I cannot answer except to say is a such a minute amount of alcohol. Thoughts?
 
Though the wine is changed in its substance into the Most Precious Blood, it still contains in its accidents a certain amount of alchohol. I’m not sure how much.
 
Thank you, I previously explained the accidents of its previous state, but can’t convince her she will not be using drugs. I guess it’s more of a scientific question than a faith question, but Mom’s stumped.
 
You explain that she is not receiving a drug (in any case wine is not a drug) she is not receiving wine, she is receiving the Precious Blood of Jesus, who gave it as gift especially for her because he loves her.
 
Most sacramental wine that is used as the matter for the Holy Eucharist is between 9-18% alcohol. The accidents of wine still remain, including the alcoholic properties, even when the substance (or what the thing is) changes to become the Blood of Christ.

However, I have never heard of any child ever getting in trouble (or parent, for that matter) after having partaken in the Precious Blood. I suppose that a drug test taken after Communion would still show “alcohol” though.

Most children I know do receive from the cup when it is offered, some do not because of the taste. If your daughter does not want to receive from the cup, that is perfectly all right. Our Lord is equally present under either the host or the Blood, and no one ever needs to receive both species to receive the “whole” Jesus (except for the priest, he must partake of both species because he is, during the Mass, in persona Christi, in the person of Christ.)

+veritas+
 
+veritas+:
However, I have never heard of any child ever getting in trouble (or parent, for that matter) after having partaken in the Precious Blood. I suppose that a drug test taken after Communion would still show “alcohol” though.

+veritas+
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are they doing drug tests on 7 year olds now? I cannot imagine how a sip of consecrated wine would cause enough rise in blood alcohol to register in the breath tester. If parents were a little more realistic about use of alcohol and children were used seeing wine served with dinner as an adjunct to a good meal there would not be such hypersensitivity. Children need to see good things which are gifts from God used responsibly not treated like forbidden fruits.
 
I’m totally with puzzleannie here. The child absolutely does not need a scientific discussion. She needs some moral teaching about how alcohol can be a good thing when it brings people together. If it were evil and to be avoided, why else would Christ have chosen it as the vehicle for his Blood?

Acts 10:15 “…Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
 
We are not anti-alocohol: we’re Catholics, after all! The concern is hers, having had student anti-drug campaigns at school. She was told she must pretend at 1st communion to take both. Of course, I explained to her that the body alone was complete.
 
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puzzleannie:
are they doing drug tests on 7 year olds now? I cannot imagine how a sip of consecrated wine would cause enough rise in blood alcohol to register in the breath tester. If parents were a little more realistic about use of alcohol and children were used seeing wine served with dinner as an adjunct to a good meal there would not be such hypersensitivity. Children need to see good things which are gifts from God used responsibly not treated like forbidden fruits.
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GREAT ANSWER , puzzleannie. Great answer.
This is especially interesting to me, being married (50 yrs on Feb. 12) to a pure Italian. When both my sons were babies and cutting teeth, Uncle Angelo dipped the hard crust of Italian bread in red wine and let the boys chew on it.
As they got a little older, we gave them a thimble full of wine in a tiny, fancy liquor glass to enjoy with dinner.
My sons are now 48 yrs and 38 yrs, neither are drinkers. In fact, only the youngest appreciates a nice wine and he is an expert on good wines.

The oldest was born and received first Holy Communion before Vatican II. When we first started receiving the Precious Blood, he was well taught and very eager to receive Jesus as it was done at the Last Supper. Sure Jesus is present fully in only one species. However, we read and prayed over Jesus own words in the Gospels and we talked about how it was done in the Early Church (the reason things changed at Vat. II, to get back to the old ways, my son became excited about receiving both species.

The younger son, was taught the same way, but he received his first Holy Communion under both species. We read scripture a lot in our family. I am a convert, cut my teeth on scripture at my Grandfathers knee. It was good for me, instilled in me a deep love for Sacred Scripture and I did my best to pass this gift on to the sons, and now to the 4 grandchildren. The youngest of these also receives his first Holy Communion this Easter. He enjoys his thimble of wine with his pasta and will not make any kind of a big deal out of it.
 
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just5kids:
We are not anti-alocohol: we’re Catholics, after all! The concern is hers, having had student anti-drug campaigns at school. She was told she must pretend at 1st communion to take both. Of course, I explained to her that the body alone was complete.
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As parents we all should applaud the success of the anti-drug education in your area. If everywhere had equal success it would go a long way toward easing the drug crisis in this Country.

Since first Communion is a bit young to completely grasp the theology of transubstantiation, I would agree with the suggestions to have her just receive Communion in the form of the host and pass on the cup. There is plenty of time as she grows older for her to appreciate the difference between drugs and sacramental wine, and to understand (as well as any of us do) the mystery of consecration and the nature of the “accidents”.

I remember those days with my two (now surly teenagers. 😉 ). Truly a blessed time for you and her.
 
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just5kids:
We are not anti-alocohol: we’re Catholics, after all! The concern is hers, having had student anti-drug campaigns at school. She was told she must pretend at 1st communion to take both. Of course, I explained to her that the body alone was complete.
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Nobody should be telling her to “pretend” anything about her first communion. The problem is obviously not yours as you’ve identified yourself clearly as good Catholics, but with the apparently puritanical anti-drug campaign that is simply a manifestation of our schizophrenically manichean culture. Puzzleannie is right, your kids need to know that alcohol is not something to be scared of.
 
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just5kids:
My child receives first communion in May and is concerned that she will not be drug free if she partakes in the blood. I wish for her to partake, so I do not want to tell her not to partake, but I cannot answer except to say is a such a minute amount of alcohol. Thoughts?
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She does not need to receive the Blood of Christ if she does not wish to. You need to take this time to explain that “Drug free” pertains to illegal substances not OTC and prescription medicines or other legal substances when used properly. Children can consume alcohol in small amounts with their parents supervision in certain circumstances, like with a meal for instance. Many children in public school programs are under the impression that any alcohol consumption is wrong, period. This is not correct and parents need to set the record straight. Certain Alcoholic substances have many health benefits when not abused. The Scriptures themselves say this.
 
Another way to put it that seems to work with my two boys (one making FHC this year, the other made his two years ago) is to explain that the drug-free pledge is about the illicit/illegal intake of substances. It’s the legality along with the actual substance.

We have friends that smoke and we are not a tea-totaling family. We need to make it clear that what is inappropriate or even sinful in some circumstances, isn’t always bad. It would be bad for a child to procure a bottle of wine with friends and drink it. It is not bad to drink from the cup at Mass (or for that matter, to drink wine used as a “symbol” at a Protestant service). Nor would it be bad to consume medication that might contain alcohol.

At the risk of creating drift, this is another misguided attempt by the schools. By lumping illegal and legal substances together, they minimize the lessons about the danger of real drugs.
 
Dear Kristine and Br. Rich–
Thanks! This is just what I was looking for. Br. Rich, for what it’s worth, she is in a private, not public school. It is not Catholic, so the problem would be obviated if she were, but nonetheless the alcohol campaign is more wide-spread that you assumed!
 
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puzzleannie:
are they doing drug tests on 7 year olds now? I cannot imagine how a sip of consecrated wine would cause enough rise in blood alcohol to register in the breath tester. If parents were a little more realistic about use of alcohol and children were used seeing wine served with dinner as an adjunct to a good meal there would not be such hypersensitivity. Children need to see good things which are gifts from God used responsibly not treated like forbidden fruits.
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AMEN! Schools today, trying to do a good thing (say NO to drugs) - have some young children brain washed! Our neighbor’s son walked up to me one day and told me that I was taking drugs (i had a nice glass of white wine in hand).

Show your child that Jesus first miracle was changing water to WINE - that Jesus does not harm us, that Jesus blood could never harm us, etc etc.
 
Matthew 26:

26] Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28] for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29] I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

I would go over this verse with her. If it is OK with Jesus it is OK with me. :yup:

God :blessyou:
 
Denying a child the blood of Christ to me is unthinkable because we believe that they are receiving too much alcohol. Better read the labels on mouthwash and over the counter cold remedies. They also contain alcohol. Alcohol should never be the issue, instead we should emphasize the miracle of the substance of Christ in his precious blood. The real presence!! Share your faith, and they will believe also!
 
Denying a child the blood of Christ to me is unthinkable because we believe that they are receiving too much alcohol. Better read the labels on mouthwash and over the counter cold remedies. They also contain alcohol.
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Absolutely. The Body and Blood are called the “Medicine of Immortality” in the East.
 
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just5kids:
We are not anti-alocohol: we’re Catholics, after all! The concern is hers, having had student anti-drug campaigns at school. She was told she must pretend at 1st communion to take both. Of course, I explained to her that the body alone was complete.
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your first concern is to find out exactly what was taught at school in the anti-drug program. Are the same objections raised when you give her motrin or tylenol, or when the doctor gives her injections? Of course not. If the program has not distinguished between good and bad uses of the natural gifts God has given us, then the program is at fault, and your first duty is to correct your child’s understanding. Wine is a good thing, a gift of God, or Jesus would not have given huge jars full of it as a gift to the wedding guests at Cana (bear in mind they drank it over a week of feasting, not all in one night!)
This is perfect time to teach about use and abuse of all God’s gifts.
 
Why are they receiving drug awareness in 2nd grade?

Here they teach the DARE program in 5th grade and I sometimes think that is too early by a year or so.

Be careful what they teach. Coming home after work and having a drink or glass of wine is not “evil”. Going out socially with friends is not bad. Having a party where alcohol is served is not sinful.

The abuse of alcohol is not good, as is underage drinking, obviously. But going to communion is none of the above.

Teach your child that it’s not that all drugs are bad (some are quite helpful, medically speaking - pain relievers, anti-inflammatory, heart medications, etc, etc.). It’s the abuse of ILLEGAL substances that is wrong. Help her make that distinction. Receiving the blood of Christ is not doing anything illegal!
 
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