Mother of a nursling, and reception of Holy Communion?

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i’ve never seen those pictures in MY church or any other church i’ve been to. those pictures are just an artist’s rendering of their own accord. do you really think Mary posed for those photos??? c’mon now!! nobody is saying you should not nourish your child. i am saying there are ways to provide nutrition to your child w/o leading to scandal. AGAIN…according to the CATHOLIC DICTIONARY by Donald Attwater (Tan Publication)… scandal is "AN ACTION WHICH, THOUGH GOOD, APPEARS EVIL TO THE ONLOOKERS, SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS GRAVE INCONVENIENCE WOULD RESULT FROM ITS OMISSION. and AGAIN…i don’t know why you are twisting words to say that the women are being sexual…i am NOT saying that in any way, shape, or form. YOU are saying that. i am saying that the act may promote thoughts in others that may lead to mortal sin. just like the previous post from the sacristan…this person has to sit opposite you when you are feeding your child. this person obviously gets distracted from this activity through no fault of his own. w/o that activity occurring, distraction would not happen…cause and effect… every action has a reaction. READ THE DEFINITION!!
 
limbo6 said:
do you really think Mary posed for those photos??? c’mon now!! nobody is saying you should not nourish your child.
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I think the point was that those responsible for displaying art in the Vatican, Santa Maria Maggiore’s Basilica, and presumably other churches throughout the world find no objection to the depiction of Holy Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child in places of worship. If these bishops aren’t worried about scandal, why are we?

But anyway, breastfeeding does not meet the Catholic definition of scandal because, I would argue, it does not “appear evil” to onlookers.
 
limbo6 said:
i’ve never seen those pictures in MY church or any other church i’ve been to. those pictures are just an artist’s rendering of their own accord. do you really think Mary posed for those photos??? c’mon now!! nobody is saying you should not nourish your child. i am saying there are ways to provide nutrition to your child w/o leading to scandal. AGAIN…according to the CATHOLIC DICTIONARY by Donald Attwater (Tan Publication)… scandal is "AN ACTION WHICH, THOUGH GOOD, APPEARS EVIL TO THE ONLOOKERS, SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS GRAVE INCONVENIENCE WOULD RESULT FROM ITS OMISSION. and AGAIN…i don’t know why you are twisting words to say that the women are being sexual…i am NOT saying that in any way, shape, or form. YOU are saying that. i am saying that the act may promote thoughts in others that may lead to mortal sin. just like the previous post from the sacristan…this person has to sit opposite you when you are feeding your child. this person obviously gets distracted from this activity through no fault of his own. w/o that activity occurring, distraction would not happen…cause and effect… every action has a reaction. READ THE DEFINITION!!
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The tradition of the church has been that these images are holy, sacred, and more than appropriate to decorate the church. Would you put your own view over that of the church across the centuries?
 
limbo6 said:
"AN ACTION WHICH, THOUGH GOOD, APPEARS EVIL TO THE ONLOOKERS, SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS GRAVE INCONVENIENCE WOULD RESULT FROM ITS OMISSION.
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Breastfeeding does not appear evil to any onlooker.
 
Honour said:
Men should not use public restrooms for fear that a man who struggles with same-sex temptation catch a glimpse of him “fondling” his private parts and be lead to an impure thought. Better yet, a man should not be seen entering into a public restroom because I might see him going in there, and knowing why he is going there, be lead to think about him handling his private part, and have an impure thought.
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thanks for putting this out there for our scrupulous members to obsess over.:rotfl: http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/Smileys/fishy/laff.gif http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/Smileys/fishy/tongue.gif http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/Smileys/fishy/salute.gif http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/Smileys/fishy/jestera.gif http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/Smileys/fishy/rofl.gif
 
aileronguy said:
As a Sacristan, I would ask you NOT nurse in the pews, but in a private location, especially if the church is full. Also, are you OK with bringing a bottle of breastmilk instead of nursing for that one instance? In that case just feed the child and be able to participate in the full Mass.

Just my 2 centavos.
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As a Sacristan its none of your business :twocents:
 
G.I.R.M. No.105 A liturgical function is also exercised by:
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a) The sacristan, who diligently arranges the liturgical books, the vestments, and other things that are necessary for the celebration of Mass.
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nope ,nothing about breasts.
 
mommamaree said:
Okay, I have emailed my pastor about this and have received no response for weeks, despite his acknowledgement that he received the email. So I can only assume he is too busy or he does not know what to tell me. So I will ask here.

Does there exist any guideline on reception of Holy Communion by a nursing mother who is unable to be present for much of the Mass, due to needing to nurse a baby?

Ever since my youngest was born, I have been struggling to be able to get to Mass and remain in the church. I am able to get all my other little ones fed and dressed and my husband drives all of us to church on time. But by the time I get there, the baby is hungry again and needs to be fed. So I send the other children in with their father, and I either remain outside in the car to nurse the baby, or I go in to stand in the bathroom for nursing. Many times, I am unable to enter the church and sit down until the end of the Liturgy of the Word. I may or may not hear the Gospel or the homily.

I have been told that if I do not arrive before the reading of the Gospel, even if it is because of nursing the baby, that I must not receive, or I am in danger of committing desecration of the Eucharist. So, despite the fact that I did receive one Sunday before I knew about that horrible sin, I now refrain from receiving Holy Communion most Sundays, because I cannot get inside the church in time. I know that, as a parent of an infant, I may have as an excuse from my Sunday obligation the care of my infant, but I am actually making it TO church, and want to participate as fully as I am able. And sometimes, I feel sad and starved about not being able to receive Jesus when I have worked so hard to get us all there (I know, I am a melodramatic martyr, I should just probably not receive and put a smile on my face and suck it up).

Am I understanding these things rightly? Was I told correctly? Are there any pastoral guidelines for this particular circumstance?

I do know that this period of time in my life will pass, and probably quicker than I anticipate, but I just need some clear answers on what to do when I get to Mass, so that I can make informed and virtuous decisions about participation. Thank you!
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Why can’t you make arrangements with the Priest to receive the Eucharist from either himself or a Eucharistic Minister following the Mass if you are called away when the rest of the parishioners are going up for Communion. The Eucharistic Ministers take the Sacrament to shut-ins after Mass so why should your case be any different?
 
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