My daughter received communion but wasnt supposed to

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FMLJoliecouer

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I am hoping that someone can answer this question.
My daughter who is 16, has a developmental delay, and SUnday evg there was a youth mass. I wasnt sitting with her and so couldnt remind her not to receive communion. I have only been going to the Catholic church since earlier this year…and am not yet confirmed, and my daughter just recently started going. SHe was baptized, but at two days old in the hospital, by a minister friend of mine.
Part of her problem is she doesnt remember things and doesnt get it when it comes to not being able to receive communion. So she went up and accidentally received communion.

I havent been looking but I have noticed a big difference in her…she has been going through a really rough time… under alot of stress and she was at the doctor today…and even the doctor noticed a huge difference in her…
to me she seems like the daughter I havent seen in awhile…
I dont know how long it will last, but is it just possible that by receiving communion (by accident) that she received some graces or something. I cannot think of another explanation.
Please know that I reminded her about the rules receiving communion, but she has a rather low IQ and still does not get it.

ANy explanations would be welcome on her vast improvement.
 
God is seen and unseen.
Meaning I think your daughter knows what she needs and wants… She wants Jesus!
She knows Him in her heart and was called .God calls all of us, daily to Him
I do not believe God makes accidents or that your daughter received Jesus by accident.
I hope that she is going to religious education to receive the rest of her sacraments.
God will guide her, you may be surprised how much she knows about God. and how she shares in his sufferings already. you know “The Way”
Peace and God bless you!

P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 
I agree with the words of flowergrdn.

I assume your daughter was baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Even if she were not, there is an old canon that covers this. “If any of the unbaptized shall in innocence receive the Divine Mysteries, they are to be baptized immediately, as this is a sign that God has surely called them.” (BTW, this canon dates from the time when the Catechumenate was 1-3 years.)

God has surely called your daughter! What a blessing. :byzsoc: If she has not been properly baptized, contact your priest and see to it at once! Even if she doesn’t understand things cognitively, her soul is still yearning for God.

(Were I your pastor, I would receive you, too, under the circumstances. But I’m not.)
 
Ditto flowergrdn and basil

A number of years ago, I read an article in an issue of “The Latin Mass” magazine about a
girl named Donna Camileri who had down syndrome. One day at Mass, at the age of 5, while
her mother was totally engaged in post-Communion thanksgiving, she sneaked up and rec-
eived Communion. Later on she explained: “I felt I was ready to receive Jesus.”. She knew
what she was doing, Whom she was receiving. What a childlike innocence and love! If only
all Catholics could have the same faith! Can`t find the article, but if my memory is ok, Donna
was given special permission to continue to receive our Lord.

These people may have a mental handicap, but they can teach us a few things. Its a pity the rest of us werent a bit more like them. “Unless you become like little children…”

FML: sounds like you and your daughter are truly blessed.
In any case, what your daughter did was done in innocence.
 
In the depth of your heart, soul and mind do you really think that God is upset with a human being that, partly due to a personal shortcoming, sat before Him under any circumstances? May I suggest you read in the New Testament of the several occasions where Jesus had direct contact with different individuals, in what was not considered appropriate conditions, and note how He reacted.

One Man’s opinion[BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]
 
Just for clarification here: is the reason she is not allowed to recieve becuase she is not yet confirmed?

At any rate, it seems to me that she recognizes Jesus in the Eucharist. It seems to me that despite her limitations, she is seeking him with all her heart. I am thinking of the woman with the issue of blood in the gospels. She was unclean, and not to touch anyone. That didn’t stop her at all from running up to Jesus and touching the hem of his garment. Technically, she wasn’t at all supposed to do that. According to the rules, she made a big boo-boo. Did Jesus chastize her for that? Not at all. The woman knew she needed Jesus, and wasn’t letting anything, including religious ceremony, stand in her way.

Am I advising people to break ceremony and recieve because they think they really need it? No. I am just saying that your daughter knew she needed Jesus, and Jesus spoke to her in that moment. And just like the woman with the issue of blood, she let nothing stand between her and her Lord. She reached out to him, and she was blessed. Continue in religious ed and gether fully in to the church. God meets us where we are, and I am sure Jesus met her where she needed him. I think sometimes we forget that the “rules” exist to show us God, and serve us with a guideline to follow him. Jesus is not bound by those rules. I think he made that abundantly clear, especially to the Pharasees 😉
 
FMLJoliecouer said:
I am hoping that someone can answer this question.
My daughter who is 16, has a developmental delay, and SUnday evg there was a youth mass. I wasnt sitting with her and so couldnt remind her not to receive communion. I have only been going to the Catholic church since earlier this year…and am not yet confirmed, and my daughter just recently started going. SHe was baptized, but at two days old in the hospital, by a minister friend of mine.
Part of her problem is she doesnt remember things and doesnt get it when it comes to not being able to receive communion. So she went up and accidentally received communion.

I havent been looking but I have noticed a big difference in her…she has been going through a really rough time… under alot of stress and she was at the doctor today…and even the doctor noticed a huge difference in her…
to me she seems like the daughter I havent seen in awhile…
I dont know how long it will last, but is it just possible that by receiving communion (by accident) that she received some graces or something. I cannot think of another explanation.
Please know that I reminded her about the rules receiving communion, but she has a rather low IQ and still does not get it.

ANy explanations would be welcome on her vast improvement.
Click to expand...
She received Holy Communion and the Graces from the Sacrament because she is Baptized and most likely is incapable of personal sin and was in a state of Sanctifying Grace.
 
Quote Re: My daughter received communion but wasnt supposed to
In the depth of your heart, soul and mind do you really think that God is upset with a human being that, partly due to a personal shortcoming, sat before Him under any circumstances? May I suggest you read in the New Testament of the several occasions where Jesus had direct contact with different individuals, in what was not considered appropriate conditions, and note how He reacted.

One Man’s opinion

Of course I do not think GOd was upset by it…you missed my question…
I was asking for an explanation of the huge change in her, which I realized after she received communion…
I’m sure she is incapable of sin, with an IQ of 70. (or so,cant remember)
I was wondering if someone can receive the graces from the sacrement even if they were not supposed to receive it (according to the rules of the RC church_)

Thanks for your response though and peace be with you
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
She received Holy Communion and the Graces from the Sacrament because she is Baptized and most likely is incapable of personal sin and was in a state of Sanctifying Grace.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation…it is what I was looking for.

Wow…that is amazing.😃
Amazing Grace
 
One other thing…
I dont see my daughter being able to attend classes with other kids her age for religious ed.
SHe goes to special ed in a regular school
Also, her memory and sense of time and space are off, probably due to the stroke she had at birth.

Developmentally, she is only affected intellectually, not in any other way…physicially, emotionally, socially etc so she appears quite normal and people take for granted that she is taking in information, when she in fact isnt.

She just knows at this point, she likes the youth group and likes to sing…thats it…She knows and understands nothing about the Catholic faith and how its different than other religions and I think that it doesnt matter. THe point is …God is working on her at her level.

Also, she knows her mother is becoming much closer to Jesus Christ because I talk about Him all the time.

Thanks be to God…
 
FMLJoliecouer said:
One other thing…
I dont see my daughter being able to attend classes with other kids her age for religious ed.
SHe goes to special ed in a regular school
Also, her memory and sense of time and space are off, probably due to the stroke she had at birth.

Developmentally, she is only affected intellectually, not in any other way…physicially, emotionally, socially etc so she appears quite normal and people take for granted that she is taking in information, when she in fact isnt.

She just knows at this point, she likes the youth group and likes to sing…thats it…She knows and understands nothing about the Catholic faith and how its different than other religions and I think that it doesnt matter. THe point is …God is working on her at her level.

Also, she knows her mother is becoming much closer to Jesus Christ because I talk about Him all the time.

Thanks be to God…
Click to expand...
You say she “knows nothing about the Catholic faith” but that she knows you are becoming closer to Jesus. If she believes in Jesus and can be made to understand that in Holy Communion we receive Jesus, not ordinary bread, she is very likely ready for preparation to receive the sacraments “officially.” Talk to your pastor. Kids with special needs do not need to attend regular CCD classes and understand all the nuances of Catholic theology. If they know right from wrong and can say “I’m sorry” to God, they can be prepared for Confession. If they can be made to understand that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread, they can be prepared for First Communion. They can be individually prepared on their own level, by you the parent, in a class with other special needs kids, or one-on-one with a priest or catechist who can work at their level of understanding.
 
PhilotheaZ said:
You say she “knows nothing about the Catholic faith” but that she knows you are becoming closer to Jesus. If she believes in Jesus and can be made to understand that in Holy Communion we receive Jesus, not ordinary bread, she is very likely ready for preparation to receive the sacraments “officially.” Talk to your pastor. Kids with special needs do not need to attend regular CCD classes and understand all the nuances of Catholic theology. If they know right from wrong and can say “I’m sorry” to God, they can be prepared for Confession. If they can be made to understand that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread, they can be prepared for First Communion. They can be individually prepared on their own level, by you the parent, in a class with other special needs kids, or one-on-one with a priest or catechist who can work at their level of understanding.
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Absolutely and Amen! The parish can find a way to prepare her for her sacrements, so don’t wait to start!

As to the effects, you darn well bet Jesus can be a healing effect on her. His grace can flow to anyone, especially the little children, who He commanded us to bring to Him.
 
\One day at Mass, at the age of 5, while
her mother was totally engaged in post-Communion thanksgiving, she sneaked up and rec-
eived Communion. Later on she explained: “I felt I was ready to receive Jesus.”\

**Hallejuiah!

As it is written, “The Lord knows who are His.”

The general Eastern tradition (Catholic and Orthodox) is to communicate the little ones from the time of their Baptism.

When asked what the Priest gave her to eat in Church, a 3 year old girl said, “Jesus bread!”

An older, more theologically sophisticated child of 5 said, “Well, it looks like bread, but it’s really Jesus.”

They’ve got it nailed.**
 
FMLJoliecouer said:
I am hoping that someone can answer this question.
My daughter who is 16, has a developmental delay, and SUnday evg there was a youth mass. I wasnt sitting with her and so couldnt remind her not to receive communion. I have only been going to the Catholic church since earlier this year…and am not yet confirmed, and my daughter just recently started going. SHe was baptized, but at two days old in the hospital, by a minister friend of mine.
Part of her problem is she doesnt remember things and doesnt get it when it comes to not being able to receive communion. So she went up and accidentally received communion.

I havent been looking but I have noticed a big difference in her…she has been going through a really rough time… under alot of stress and she was at the doctor today…and even the doctor noticed a huge difference in her…
to me she seems like the daughter I havent seen in awhile…
I dont know how long it will last, but is it just possible that by receiving communion (by accident) that she received some graces or something. I cannot think of another explanation.
Please know that I reminded her about the rules receiving communion, but she has a rather low IQ and still does not get it.

ANy explanations would be welcome on her vast improvement.
Click to expand...
But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.

The Lord of the Universe, our savior Jesus Christ was recieved by your daughter with the faith of an innocent child through the Holy Eucharist. God has granted her great Grace because of this through the Sacrament. Praise God:)

I would speak to your parish Priest about how best to proceed from here. It seems as if she is recognizing the body and blood of the Lord, therefore should be able to recieve the rest of her sacraments, including confirmation and continuing to recieve Holy Communion. I think the Holy Eucharist definitely gave her some special Graces because of the state of her soul when she recieved. 👍

Merry Christmas, and your family is in my prayers 🙂
 
If she has too many developmental challenges to discern between the right and wrong of what she did, why are you beating yourself up over this? There’s no culpability on her part. It seems pretty clear to me, and you did your best to try to make her understand.

Chill, continue on your Christian walk, pray for her and remember that sweet Jesus, ever merciful, will not condemn anyone who shows up in front of Him with a child’s heart and sincere desire for Him.

If ever there was a case to not worry about the legalistic aspects of the Eucharist, this is it.
 
Sorry to have apparently upset you.

You see, I was addressing what I consider the most important concern you indicated; whether God would give the ‘graces’ or whether the “rules” of the RC church were violated.

And I ask you the question: which is more important – God’s character or the RC rules?

Why did she act different? Maybe God is healing her. Maybe she had a sense of accomplishment. Maybe a part of her is more aware of what is going on than we want to acknowledge. Be thankful to God for the change!

One Man’s opinion :bible1:
 
goldenfrog said:
Sorry to have apparently upset you.

You see, I was addressing what I consider the most important concern you indicated; whether God would give the ‘graces’ or whether the “rules” of the RC church were violated.

And I ask you the question: which is more important – God’s character or the RC rules?

Why did she act different? Maybe God is healing her. Maybe she had a sense of accomplishment. Maybe a part of her is more aware of what is going on than we want to acknowledge. Be thankful to God for the change!

One Man’s opinion :bible1:
Click to expand...
Oh, I wasnt upset…I guess I made it sound like in my post that the most important thing was the fact that she should not have received communion, but did it…
I know that God saw the innocence in what she did. And I am not beating myself up about it…

I was only looking for an explanation on why she seemed so different afterwards.

If this is the case, why cant all children who feel called, come for communion…
it doesnt make sense to me…
Yes I have heard the explanations before…they need to understand the sacrament and they need to have this and that…
I just dont see that Jesus only reserved communion for those who fit into the RC churchs’
criteria. I have read canon law and I dont need an explanation again…just the wisdom in it…thats the part I am missing.

I will never be able to receive communion then. But thats another story…Its an on-going saga on many other threads…dont wanna go there.
 
Thanks for responding, basil. I get discouraged when it looks like no one has bothered to
read the stuff. @$#%& depression! Don`t ever suffer from it!

FML: why do you say that you will not be able to receive Communion? Sounds so sad.
Sorry if you explained it in an earlier post, and I missed it.
Dont be too frightened to open up; youre among friends.
 
FML, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches do give communion to infants. Why westerners don’t, I’m not sure, but I’ll bet there’s a historical reason for it.
 
FML: why do you say that you will not be able to receive Communion? Sounds so sad. said:
It has been on several previous threads of mine…I get tired of repeating the same story
but thanks…for saying I am among friends:blessyou:

One other thing…I think sometimes I just get discouraged because I want to receive Jesus very badly, but I have a long way to go…and I still dont know what the outcome will be…
I am trying to trust that God will lead me the way I need to go to be faithful to CHrist.
Click to expand...
 
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