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Maureen_Fiore
Guest
I was wondering if people who are mentally challenged or have a debilitating diease such as Alzheimer are allowed to receive communion?
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jmcrae
Guest
Assuming they are Catholics and baptized - yes, certainly.
Baptism washes away Original Sin, and they are not capable of committing personal sin, so there would be no reason to refuse them this Sacrament.
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lizaanne
Guest
We have several disabled parish members who receive regularly with the assistance of their family members.
~Liza
~Liza
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tee_eff_em
Guest
I have a good friend who is the full-time chaplain to a care facility for citizens with mental disabilities; he regularly administers Communion to them and prepares those so requiring for their First Communion.
See also this recent blog entry at In the Light of the Law, Alzheimer’s, the Eucharist, and The God Squad
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See also this recent blog entry at In the Light of the Law, Alzheimer’s, the Eucharist, and The God Squad
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aimee
Guest
My son is Autistic and receives communion…I help by making sure he receives properly.
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hilde_the_dog
Guest
Don’t you need a basic understanding of what is transpiring in order to receive. That at the consecration that the bread becomes the body blood soul and divintiy of Christ. It is Christ.
Aimee I know you could teach a mildly autistic child that this is what has happened (one of my cousins). But I have concern whether another of my cousins who is severly autistic could ever understand, let alone that he is prone to severe outburst and violence, in which case anything could happen to the Body and Blood of Christ. In both cases it does not matter since they are dutch calvinists.
Aimee I know you could teach a mildly autistic child that this is what has happened (one of my cousins). But I have concern whether another of my cousins who is severly autistic could ever understand, let alone that he is prone to severe outburst and violence, in which case anything could happen to the Body and Blood of Christ. In both cases it does not matter since they are dutch calvinists.
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jmcrae
Guest
The Church distinguishes between people who are smart enough (or will become smart enough) to know the difference (in which case, they are required to know the difference) and those who don’t have this ability.
The Church does not ever require what is not possible - this is one of the things that I find very attractive about the Catholic Church - it challenges us to the top of our abilities, but not beyond.
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puzzleannie
Guest
please go to the US bishops website and consult their letter about sacraments for those with disabilities. bottom line, the sacraments may not be refused to anyone canonically entitled to them.
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jc-servant
Guest
It is my understanding that in the Orthodox church they administer a tiny bit of the Eucharist at the same time as baptism to infants. I don’t know if eastern rite churches in full communion with Rome do this also, but it is an interesting question. I know that the Catholic church does not deny people their baptism until an age of reason or something like many Protestant churches. I think the same argument could apply to Eucharist if the need was there with a lack of mental capacity since baptism would wash away original sin as was already stated. I’m going to try to find the answer because now I’m curious.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
I have long worked as an EMHC to the sick and homebound. My experience has been chiefly with the elderly, but the same considerations would apply in these cases. Our rule has been that as long as they recognize that the Eucharist is special, is more than just bread, they can receive. I had one who was almost unconcious, but anytime I held up the host and said “The Body of Christ”, he would make the sign of the cross. This was judged adequate by my pastor.
While they don’t fully understand the meaning of the Eucharist, neither do I. It’s a matter of degree for us all.
While they don’t fully understand the meaning of the Eucharist, neither do I. It’s a matter of degree for us all.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
Indeed, they do (as well as Chrismation (Confirmation) – when the East initiates someone into the faith, they initiate him
)tee
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wannabee
Guest
Yup - indeed and we do .Indeed, they do (as well as Chrismation (Confirmation) – when the East initiates someone into the faith, they initiate him
tee
And they continue to receive the Holy Mysteries throughout their life
I LOVE seeing a wee baby receiving Spiritual Food
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Evan
Guest
In fact, you can go further. When the time comes, make sure he receives confirmation. The church does not withold sacraments because of mental disability.
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Evan
Guest
Recall in the Eastern RItes of the Catholic Church, Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are all recieved within the first week after birth. My daughter (at 5) was so jelous that all those 2 year olds were going to communion but she had to wait (we are Latin Rite) and they were also confirmed, something that she won’t receive for another couple years.
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maria_rose
Guest
I have two sons with autism. My oldest has had his First Holy Communion and receives regularly. my middle one will start preparing in the fall.
God loves all his children and allows them to receive him.
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Sarabande
Guest
My husband’s grandfather has alzheimers. Before it got really bad, he was able to attend our wedding. It was the last time he was really out at any family event. When looking at the raw footage of our wedding, we saw him go up to our priest, receive the host, said Amen, reverently crossed himself and with the help of one of our aunts, made his way back to the pew. What was so touching about this was that even though he basically didn’t know anyone there, except recognized faces, he still remembered that he was a devout Catholic and rememberd his prayers, etc. I don’t see why someone like that wouldn’t be allowed to receive communion. We also have a dear family friend whose son is mentally disabled. He was able to complete his sacrament with an elementary understanding of it, but he still believes in God all the same and receives communion. He is now in his 20s.
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puzzleannie
Guest
just want to repeat the point, because it cannot be said to often, that parents of children with disabilities should do everything they can to bring their child to the sacraments, including and especially confirmation. If a child’s condition means life expectancy is threatened, confirmation should not be delayed. The soul, no matter what the condition of mind or body, benefits immensely from the grace of the sacraments and the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Bear in mind also that reception of communion requires the physical ability to do so as well as understanding (according to the child’s capabilities) of the difference between ordinary bread and wine and the Eucharist and desire to receive Jesus. This can be communicated non-verbally to those who know and care for the child. A child who has not or never will have the mental capacity to sin–to understand the difference between good and evil and to freely choose sin–is under no obligation to receive communion (or to attend Mass). Of course anyone who is not capable of assiting at Mass for any reason has no obligation.
Bear in mind also that reception of communion requires the physical ability to do so as well as understanding (according to the child’s capabilities) of the difference between ordinary bread and wine and the Eucharist and desire to receive Jesus. This can be communicated non-verbally to those who know and care for the child. A child who has not or never will have the mental capacity to sin–to understand the difference between good and evil and to freely choose sin–is under no obligation to receive communion (or to attend Mass). Of course anyone who is not capable of assiting at Mass for any reason has no obligation.
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aimee
Guest
My son who is autistic did have confirmation…
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tee_eff_em
Guest
I’m not aware that reception of the Eucharist is limited only to those with the capacity to sin? Nor that such incapacity dispenses with the obligation to receive at least once per year (Canon 920)?
And I do think it important for persons with disabilities, as far as they are capable, to be admitted to Communion – As important as admission to Baptism and Confirmation – As these three are the sacaraments of initiation into the Church.
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puzzleannie
Guest
Eucharist in the Latin Rite is for those who have reached the age of reason, and the capacity to understand and consent to sin is the commonly accepted benchmark for that. The obligation to receive once a year, and to assist at Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, is imposed at that time. refer to the document I cited earlier, and to canon law, no one may be kept from the sacraments who is canonically entitled to them and who is prepared and worthily disposed. in case of doubt the presumption is always toward reception. Since in the Eastern Rites Eucharist is conferred on infants, there is no canonical reason why the discipline could not change in the Latin Rite, but that is the law at present.
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