Eastern Sacraments, Catechesis

[pickguard1]

I’ve been recently learning about the practices of Eastern Catholics, and was discussing the practice of Baptising, communicating (communing?) and Chrismating all at the baptism with my wife. She asked me if little children and infants then continue to receive the Eucharist, or do they wait until they are older to receive again (as in 7 or 8 as is the custom in the Latin Church for First Holy Communion.) If they wait, is catechesis the reason for it? I didn’t know the answer to this, and I know that you all can help me out.

Also, she asked how infants receive their First Holy Communion. Do they receive a small fragment of the Host, or just the Precious Blood, or both (and again how - i.e. tincture etc.)

Is leavened bread used for the sacrament?

Also, are there multiple different practices among the Eastern Churches regarding this, or is it pretty universal? If not, what are the different practices? I know this is a lot of questions for one thread, but hopefully they are all simple enough to answer here.

Thanks and Blessings,
Will

 

[Diak]

I’ve been recently learning about the practices of Eastern Catholics, and was discussing the practice of Baptising, communicating (communing?) and Chrismating all at the baptism with my wife. She asked me if little children and infants then continue to receive the Eucharist, or do they wait until they are older to receive again (as in 7 or 8 as is the custom in the Latin Church for First Holy Communion.) If they wait, is catechesis the reason for it? I didn’t know the answer to this, and I know that you all can help me out.

Also, she asked how infants receive their First Holy Communion. Do they receive a small fragment of the Host, or just the Precious Blood, or both (and again how - i.e. tincture etc.)

Is leavened bread used for the sacrament?

Also, are there multiple different practices among the Eastern Churches regarding this, or is it pretty universal? If not, what are the different practices? I know this is a lot of questions for one thread, but hopefully they are all simple enough to answer here.

Thanks and Blessings,
Will

If they received Holy Communion during the Sacraments of Initiation, they should continue to receive the Mysteries. Some priests will recommend a temporary suspension during the instruction for First Confession as a proximate preparation for that Holy Mystery. It does vary between Eastern Catholic churches somewhat.

Leavened bread is used in most Eastern Catholic churches with the exception of the Armenians and the Maronites.

When the infant first receives, just a few drops are placed in his or her mouth and the priest says “Taste and see how good the Lord is”. As the child grows, more of the Holy Body can be added.

 

[pickguard1]

If they received Holy Communion during the Sacraments of Initiation, they should continue to receive the Mysteries. Some priests will recommend a temporary suspension during the instruction for First Confession as a proximate preparation for that Holy Mystery. It does vary between Eastern Catholic churches somewhat.

Leavened bread is used in most Eastern Catholic churches with the exception of the Armenians and the Maronites.

When the infant first receives, just a few drops are placed in his or her mouth and the priest says “Taste and see how good the Lord is”. As the child grows, more of the Holy Body can be added.

that makes sense, thanks Diak I think I’ll start another thread on the topic of why The Latin Church doesn’t do communin and confirmation at baptism. It’s a topic I heard a discussion about on Catholic Radio, and the speaker’s presentation made me wonder why we don’t.

 

[pickguard1]

that makes sense, thanks Diak I think I’ll start another thread on the topic of why The Latin Church doesn’t do communin and confirmation at baptism. It’s a topic I heard a discussion about on Catholic Radio, and the speaker’s presentation made me wonder why we don’t.

Which forum should that topic be posted in do you think? Eastern Catholicism or Liturgy and Sacraments?

 

[Hesychios]

Which forum should that topic be posted in do you think? Eastern Catholicism or Liturgy and Sacraments?

Personally I would say neither.

Try the Traditional Catholicism forum. They seem to be well informed on liturgical history and highly motivated to discuss past practices, pro and con.

A second option might be the Liturgy and Sacraments section, as you suggest.

 

[pickguard1]

Personally I would say neither.

Try the Traditional Catholicism forum. They seem to be well informed on liturgical history and highly motivated to discuss past practices, pro and con.

A second option might be the Liturgy and Sacraments section, as you suggest.

OK thanks

 

[bpbasilphx]

I will say I once met an FSSP clergyman who expressed to me his private opinion that the Latin church should likewise restore infant confirmation and communion.

Obviously, he’s not going to attempt it on his own.

 

[pickguard1]

I will say I once met an FSSP clergyman who expressed to me his private opinion that the Latin church should likewise restore infant confirmation and communion.

Obviously, he’s not going to attempt it on his own.

After listening to that radio program and gaining a fresh perspective on the purpose of confirmation and communion, I would say I have to agree with that priest, although as you say the change would have to come from someone way above me! I’ll post a link to the new thread I start in this one, in case any here are interested in seeing the discussion.

 

[pickguard1]

After listening to that radio program and gaining a fresh perspective on the purpose of confirmation and communion, I would say I have to agree with that priest, although as you say the change would have to come from someone way above me! I’ll post a link to the new thread I start in this one, in case any here are interested in seeing the discussion.

Here’s the link to the new thread in the Traditional Catholicism forum.

 

[Diak]

I will say I once met an FSSP clergyman who expressed to me his private opinion that the Latin church should likewise restore infant confirmation and communion.

Obviously, he’s not going to attempt it on his own.

When I was a diak before entering into orders I occasionally doubled with the FSSP schola on occasion. Both of the priests at the time would commune my (then) small children.

 

[pickguard1]

When I was a diak before entering into orders I occasionally doubled with the FSSP schola on occasion. Both of the priests at the time would commune my (then) small children.

That makes sense. By the way, I have seen references to you as Father Deacon, or viceversa. Are you ordained? does Diak mean deacon (in which language?)

 

[bpbasilphx]

Frequently for infants, communion is in one kind only–the Precious Blood.

Sometimes the priest (especially Melkites and Antiochians) will dip his finger in the chalice and allow the child to suck it off.

As one Orthodox mother put it, children understand eating very well.

I’ve heard of young children–3 years old or so, Melkite, Orthodox, and Ruthenian–who when asked what the Priest gives them to eat at Church say, “Jesus bread.”

A somewhat older girl, about 5, said, “Well, it looks like bread and wine, but it’s really Jesus.”

They have it nailed.

 

[pickguard1]

Frequently for infants, communion is in one kind only–the Precious Blood.

Sometimes the priest (especially Melkites and Antiochians) will dip his finger in the chalice and allow the child to suck it off.

As one Orthodox mother put it, children understand eating very well.

I’ve heard of young children–3 years old or so, Melkite, Orthodox, and Ruthenian–who when asked what the Priest gives them to eat at Church say, “Jesus bread.”

A somewhat older girl, about 5, said, “Well, it looks like bread and wine, but it’s really Jesus.”

They have it nailed.

Yeah, my 6 year old has no problem with the straight Truth regarding the Real Presence - I think that children’s innocence allows their vision of the supernatural to be clearer than adults. For them, there isn’t anything difficult about the mystery of Transubstantiation - it’s as plain a fact as saying here is flour, and when you add water it becomes bread. For them it’s like - here is bread and wine and when you add the words of consecration it becomes Jesus - same logical reasoning.