tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821259194776849231.post4765856767401761433..comments2023-04-25T23:54:42.948-04:00Comments on Theology PhD Mom: CommunionTheology PhD Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088953060303425283noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821259194776849231.post-23903222954223721992011-05-16T20:28:49.035-04:002011-05-16T20:28:49.035-04:00I think your pastor is spot on - showcasing exactl...I think your pastor is spot on - showcasing exactly why we had the idea at one time of moving East.<br /><br />The way they recognize first reconciliation is neat - that DOES require an amount of reasoning that three year olds are not able to do, I think.Theology PhD Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088953060303425283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821259194776849231.post-76523275192801633402011-05-16T19:22:36.009-04:002011-05-16T19:22:36.009-04:00Ironically, I just had a conversation with my past...Ironically, I just had a conversation with my pastor about this. He's dual rite Byzantine/Roman and he was relating how excited infants get about receiving communion. He said as they're approaching in the communion line they open their mouths and start wiggling their tongues (most likely in anticipation of the wine, rather than the wafer, since it's intinction). He was saying how beautiful he thinks it is for a child of that age to consume nothing but mother's milk and the Eucharist.<br /><br />He was saying that he thinks theologically it just makes so much more sense to receive the sacraments of initiation all at one go (for cradle Catholics, infancy) - - the conversation began by my inquiring about the confirmation age in our diocese. Then he was telling me how in the Byzantine rite the kids have their first "solemn" communion after the first time they receive the sacrament of penance. Not that they were communicating unworthily prior to that, but it shows that the acknowledgement of their sin and desire to be absolved prior to receiving the Eucharist indicates some kind of "age of reason" or whatever you would like to call it. At this first solemn communion they dress in white (like the Roman first communion).<br /><br />Anyway, I know that some bishops will give permission for early communication if a child shows a profound desire. I would be interested in it for our eldest except that her Mass behavior generally doesn't indicate the kind of respect for the Eucharist that we'd like to see in association with communication. Then again, perhaps if she had been receiving since her infancy, she would feel more personally invested in the Mass.Theologian Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16919247935256202972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821259194776849231.post-47739105752325853432011-05-15T23:15:40.969-04:002011-05-15T23:15:40.969-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Herbie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06606203546555035732noreply@blogger.com