Eucharist and menstruation

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huggyu2

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The Orthodox church does not allow women to receive communion during their menstrual cycle. I am told this was true in Catholocism during ancient times. Is this true, or was it a handful of bishops acting on their own? If so, when did the law change allowing them to receive it during this time?
 
This is the first time I have ever heard this. Do you have some documentation that the Orthodox church has such a rule? It sounds like “so and so told me, and I know they are right because they are Orthodox,”. Just curious…
 
The Lord ENCOURAGES ALL to recieve him in the Eucharist…I cant fathom him laying out ANY rules for NOT recieveing other than being in a state of mortal sin…having a period is NOT a mortal sin…PLUS…recall, the woman in the bible who was afflicted with an ISSUE OF BLOOD for MANY years…when she TOUCHED the hem of the Lord’s garment…he didnt reprimand her…he told her that her faith had HEALED her. 👍
 
Imagine a time when, in order to bathe and wash clothing, one had to drag in and heat buckets upon buckets of water… a time when there were no nice, soft, disposable garments: one had to weave one’s own cloth… now, ladies, think about how you would feel about going out during that “time of month” . . . the prohibition from Mass in those times might just have been seen as a positive boon for us ladies. . . tis no wonder that the rule crept in back then and no longer applies today . . .
 
I would think that this prohibition would be viewed as archaic, along with many others I read in the canon document referenced in one of the previous posts…back in the day, I guess it would be rather impractical to go out anywhere during that time of the month, and who would want to, given issues of hygiene :o …

It’s very interesting, but thankfully does not apply to the Catholic Church…sorry for anyone whom it does apply to, that is if these canons are all still “valid”.

Peace…
 
This prohibition in the East is true, though it is not strictly adhered to in the last century or so. There is also prohibition of a woman attending church until the forthieth day after giving birth (there are special blessing at theis time, as well as a service for “rechurching” the mother in the services books). This is all directly related and received from Jewish tradition. There is another prohibition that is very strictly adhered to everywhere in the Byzantine East i have seen or heard of-if anyone is bleeding, he cannot even be in the Altar (the area behind the Ikonstas/chancel screen, or, if you prefer, the altar rail). He/she cannot receive the Eucharist. So if the priest should cut himself during Liturgy, he must immediately leave the Altar until he stops. Originally this had to do with uncleanliness issues, but in the Christian acceptance of this point of Torah, it became an issue of holiness-the sanctity of blood, the source of life, cannot be in the presence of the Sanctity of Blood, the Source of Life (the former being our blood, the latter being Our Lord’s precious and Life-giving Blood).

In Christ,
Adam
 
I don’t know about the rule for women. But remember, not so long ago, most Catholics only received Holy Communion 4 times a year. Thats why the Holy Name Society was so popular; you could receive 12 times a year. Even in religious life one did not receive every day, but maybe only on Sunday.

I think most Orthodox Churches in the US have more liberal rules. Strickly speaking, women are not allowed in the church until 40 days after giving birth. I don’t know if this is enforced or not.

I am Byzantine Catholic. A buddy of mine is in charge of the altar boys, but cut himself shaving one Sunday morning and couldn’t go behind the iconostas. I believe that we should hold on to the ancient traditions.
 
Yes, the prohibition (not enforced) is also due to mourning for the life that might have been (Russian tradition).

As far as the 40 days after giving birth, Our Lady did the 40 day ritual – Feast of the Purification is Feb 2, 40 days after Christmas. In addition to a thanksgiving after birth, it is also a freedom to bond with one’s baby without being obligated to do anything else – basically the first “maternal leave act”. Of course, when one is absent from the sacraments and community for that long, a rite of purification is important to “catch up” to the rest of the community, who have been able to partake in Confession, Communion, etc. It’s a beautiful tradition of the East.
 
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