Opening the Sacrament of the Eucharist to more?

[ProVobis]

thistle;11450922:

Since having an argument or being in a bad mood are not mortal sins, I would argue (in a friendly way ) that these are precisely the times when you should receive the “medicine” of the Eucharist!

Yeh, to have husband and wife both approach the altar while arguing. I think I’d stay away from that.

 

[TimothyH]

Maybe the Holy Father will reopen the Sacrament of the Eucharist to all baptized children like it used to be in the West.

“Those who say that infancy has nothing in it for Jesus to save, are denying that Christ is Jesus for all believing infants. Those, I repeat, who say that infancy has nothing in it for Jesus to save, are saying nothing else than that for believing infants, infants that is who have been baptized in Christ, Christ the Lord is not Jesus. After all, what is Jesus? Jesus means Savior. Jesus is the Savior. Those whom he doesn’t save, having nothing to save in them, well for them he isn’t Jesus. Well now, if you can tolerate the idea that Christ is not Jesus for some persons who have been baptized, then I’m not sure your faith can be recognized as according with the sound rule. Yes, they’re infants, but they are his members. They’re infants, but they receive his sacraments. They are infants, but they share in his table, in order to have life in themselves.” - St Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 174

“And what else do they say who call the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper life, than that which is written: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven;” and “The bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world;” and “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye shall have no life in you?” If, therefore, as so many and such divine witnesses agree, neither salvation nor eternal life can be hoped for by any man without baptism and the Lord’s body and blood, it is vain to promise these blessings to infants without them. Moreover, if it be only sins that separate man from salvation and eternal life, there is nothing else in infants which these sacraments can be the means of removing, but the guilt of sin…” - St Augustine of Hippo, On the Forgiveness of Sins and the Baptism of Infants, Book 1, Ch 33

"Question XVII [to Pope St Leo the Great]. Concerning those who have been captured by the enemy and are not aware whether they have been baptized but know they were several times taken to church by their parents, whether they can or ought to be baptized when they come back to Roman territory?
“[Pope St Leo of Rome’s] Reply. Those who can remember that they used to go to church with their parents can remember whether they received what used to be given to their parents. But if this also has escaped their memory, it seems that that must be bestowed on them which is not known to have been bestowed because there can be no presumptuous rashness where the most loyal carefulness has been exercised.” - Pope St Leo of Rome, Letter CLXVII, Ch 3

This is interesting. I’m reading the document now and not sure that this is what His Holiness has in mind but it is interesting.

I have always wondered why we stopped allowing children to receive, stopped confirming at Baptism, and stopped baptizing by immersion.

-Tim-

 

[fastenatingguy]

fastenatingguy;11449936:

By the way I meant to type should and not must be properly disposed. It could be lots of things. For example, heated argument with your wife on the way to Mass, got out of bed on the wrong side and in a bad mood etc. Things like that.These don’t ruin your state of grace but it would be hard to argue that you are properly disposed to receive Communion.

Thistle and theistgal-

Thanks, I understand both!

 

[ProVobis]

I have always wondered why we stopped allowing children to receive, stopped confirming at Baptism, and stopped baptizing by immersion.

I don’t know about immersion but personally I like the fact I was able to remember my First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation.

 

[GangGreen]

I was taught that there is a requirement that the person receiving must believe that what he’s receiving is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

That’s true as well. Then again, I don’t get why someone would receive if they don’t believe that, but I’m sure plenty do.