Question About Reception of Communion

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smndtupidisaftr

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Hello everyone, I had a question about who is eligible to receive the Eucharist. Maybe this is better for the philosophy section, but can the mentally disabled receive the Eucharist if they are so impaired so as to not know what is going on? II was just wondering about the rationale for this or how reception works when it does not seem like the person is willingly choosing to receive. Pardon my ignorance, this subject just piqued my curiosity.
 
Yes, they can receive the Eucharist. Christ said at the Last Super, “take this ALL of you…”. He didn’t say, “take this those of you who can understand it and perceive it,” or “take this all of you except those who are mentally challenged and under the age of reason.”
 
ConstantineTG said:
Yes, they can receive the Eucharist. Christ said at the Last Super, “take this ALL of you…”. He didn’t say, “take this those of you who can understand it and perceive it,” or “take this all of you except those who are mentally challenged and under the age of reason.”
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But non-Catholics are not allowed to receive, so doesn’t this signal some requirement that an understanding of the sacrament is necessary?
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
But other non-Catholics are not allowed to receive. And isn’t this because they deny the validity of the sacrament?
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Sure.

Can babies deny the validity of the Sacrament?

We are also not to baptize anyone who doesn’t want to be Catholic. Why do we baptize babies?
 
The Eucharist is a mystery. Tell me truthfully, do you fully comprehend the Sacrament?

We Baptize infants because their parents and God parents commit themselves to bringing them up in the Catholic faith.

In the Eastern Church, infants are permitted to receive the Sacrament.
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
Hello everyone, I had a question about who is eligible to receive the Eucharist. Maybe this is better for the philosophy section, but can the mentally disabled receive the Eucharist if they are so impaired so as to not know what is going on? II was just wondering about the rationale for this or how reception works when it does not seem like the person is willingly choosing to receive. Pardon my ignorance, this subject just piqued my curiosity.
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In our Latin rite parish, there are a few mentally disabled who receive regularly. One even ushers. There is one, however, who does not and seems quite severely disabled in general. Babies generally don’t in the Latin rite, but some very young children do if the pastor agrees.🤷 The kids come in under their parents’ faith until they can make it their own, just as in circumcision for the Jewish people.
 
martininthefiel said:
The Eucharist is a mystery. Tell me truthfully, do you fully comprehend the Sacrament?

We Baptize infants because their parents and God parents commit themselves to bringing them up in the Catholic faith.

In the Eastern Church, infants are permitted to receive the Sacrament.
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So what is the difference with parents and godparent committing to the child for them to receive Communion? How sure are we the child cannot perceive Christ in the Eucharist? Perhaps infants think they are just being given a bath instead of receiving baptism. Is God limited by the mental capacity of a person?
 
ConstantineTG said:
So what is the difference with parents and godparent committing to the child for them to receive Communion? How sure are we the child cannot perceive Christ in the Eucharist? Perhaps infants think they are just being given a bath instead of receiving baptism. Is God limited by the mental capacity of a person?
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Deep, Constantine. 👍
 
  1. Parents, those who take the place of parents, and pastors are to see to it that children who have reached the use of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the eucharist as early as possible. Pastors are to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom they judge are not sufficiently disposed (Canon 914). It is important to note, however, that the criterion for reception of holy communion is the same for persons with developmental and mental disabilities as for all persons, namely, that the person be able to distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food, even if this recognition is evidenced through manner, gesture, or reverential silence rather than verbally. Pastors are encouraged to consult with parents, those who take the place of parents, diocesan personnel involved with disability issues, psychologists, religious educators, and other experts in making their judgment. If it is determined that a parishioner who is disabled is not ready to receive the sacrament, great care is to be taken in explaining the reasons for this decision. Cases of doubt should be resolved in favor of the right of the baptized person to receive the sacrament. The existence of a disability is not considered in and of itself as disqualifying a person from receiving the eucharist.
    ncpd.org/views-news-policy/policy/church/bishops/sacraments
This is what I found. It seems it could be a case by case decision
 
I apologize if i did this wrong because this is my first post, but I’m sorry to say Constantine, when Jesus said “ALL of you” at the Last Supper, He did not mean everyone may receive, non-Catholics and Catholics alike. Only those baptized into the Church may receive the Most Blessed Sacrament, and preferably those who have received penance and have a general knowledge of the Eucharist.
Now the mentally handicapped may also receive, but if their disability is to the extent that they cannot sin, there would be no reason for them to receive because they are sinless and thus they really do not need it. i know this because my cousin has severe brain damage and has received the Most Blessed Sacrament. even she had to go through a "training"though to get a general knowledge of the Eucharist.
Also, The only reason the Orthodox may receive is because they maintain apostolic succession. No other Christian church my receive the Eucharist, because they have no apostolic succession so they don’t have authentic priests. Now would it be nice for everyone to receive OUr Lord? of course and it is His will for everyone to receive. But either through their spiritual blindness or simply because of ignorance through no fault of theri own, many cannot see what the Blessed Sacrament truly is and do not know that our Church is the one true Church. But in the end, not everyone may receive. Only Catholics and Orthodox. I know it may sound exclusive and surely our loving Lord would never do such a thing, but it is the Truth.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Yes, they can receive the Eucharist.
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Canon Law for the Latin Church:

Can. 913 §1. The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.

§2. The Most Holy Eucharist, however, can be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion reverently.

Can. 914 It is primarily the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason are prepared properly and, after they have made sacramental confession, are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible. It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P39.HTM
 
triumphguy said:
My son does, reverently.

He has Down Syndrome.
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There was a young lady at my church Sunday that I had never seen before. I was standing waiting for others to pass so I could go back to my seat and kneel. She too has Down Syndrome. The serene look on her face as she returned to her seat made me smile and brought tears to my eyes.
 
I’m very proud of my son. He’s given me lots of tearful moments!:crying:
 
triumphguy said:
I’m very proud of my son. He’s given me lots of tearful moments!:crying:
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I’m sure he has. Everyone that I have met with Down’s has been so loving. A love so unconditional…just like the love of God.
 
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