One additional issue with Solution 1 is that, depending on how it's implemented, it could lead to an even poorer comprehension of the significance of the Eucharist than is already evident in the general population. At the moment, first holy communion is associated with first reconciliation, which at least attempts to make it clear that t…
One additional issue with Solution 1 is that, depending on how it's implemented, it could lead to an even poorer comprehension of the significance of the Eucharist than is already evident in the general population. At the moment, first holy communion is associated with first reconciliation, which at least attempts to make it clear that there's something dispositional about participation in that sacrament. Perhaps an Eastern catholic could weigh in about how first reconciliation is handled in churches which administer the Eucharist to infants? But regardless, in the Latin Church there's already a cavalier approach to reception of the Eucharist, I think brought on by a complete misunderstanding of ex opere operato. I have been subjected twice in the last 6 months to homilies at my local parish in which Father Pastor passionately argued that by having a requirement to be a Catholic in the state of grace, "we are keeping away the people who need the healing of Jesus most, and don't we believe that Jesus will always heal those who come to him? They can't possibly leave that encounter unchanged. So aren't we, as the church, putting walls around Jesus that he wouldn't want put there? I'm just asking questions. I really hope and pray that someday our Church will realize how misguided all these rules are, just like we've recognized our other serious mistakes."
I can't imagine this is the only priest in the US making arguments like this, whether in homilies or in the internal forum. With the theological understanding of even the priests in such a dire state, it seems to me that administering the Eucharist to infants could result in an absolute collapse in devotion to the Eucharist, including a total loss of morale among laypeople who thought they understood at least a little bit how serious and fearful a thing it is to receive the lord of the universe into one's very body. Not saying it's insurmountable, but I think it's important to think through what the consequences would be for the masses of poorly formed Catholics' understanding before we make sweeping changes to the way the faith has been practiced in living memory. We've made a whole bunch of sweeping changes already in living memory, with the best of intentions and in the name of ressourcement, with, I think we would all agree, mixed results.
All great thoughts and well reasoned- it’s a shame things have deteriorated so, isn’t it?
There is a family in my parish who is Eastern Catholic and their children all receive the sacraments with baptism, but they go to our Roman parish since there is no option locally in their ritual- I know that recently one of their kids completed her first reconciliation upon reaching the age of reason. I would imagine that is the typical way to handle it, to add in the sacrament of penance to the already existing sacramental life of the child when appropriate
As a Byzantine Ruthenian, I would say our approach to the Eucharist is more in line with Pope Francis's comments that it is good for the sick. Our kids received all the sacraments, in order, as babies and continue to receive Christ ever since.
While in the US there was a trend to make first confessions a pseudo first communion, my observation is that the modern trend is that children are prepared as appropriate to their maturity and then go. The prior practice grew largely out of a lack of confidence in our historical practice, and a desire on the part of rite transferring Latin Rite Catholics to have an equivalent to what they had as kids.
FWIW, my observation is that neither path is a failsafe against falling away. Plenty of my peers who got dressed up in white shirts and gowns for first confession have fallen out just as many Latin Rite Catholics drop out after First Communion or Chrismation. Ultimately it matters a lot more what example the parents set and what they teach. That said, I've never understood why the Latin Rite made it harder on parents by denying access to the graces of Confirmation and Communion ASAP.
One additional issue with Solution 1 is that, depending on how it's implemented, it could lead to an even poorer comprehension of the significance of the Eucharist than is already evident in the general population. At the moment, first holy communion is associated with first reconciliation, which at least attempts to make it clear that there's something dispositional about participation in that sacrament. Perhaps an Eastern catholic could weigh in about how first reconciliation is handled in churches which administer the Eucharist to infants? But regardless, in the Latin Church there's already a cavalier approach to reception of the Eucharist, I think brought on by a complete misunderstanding of ex opere operato. I have been subjected twice in the last 6 months to homilies at my local parish in which Father Pastor passionately argued that by having a requirement to be a Catholic in the state of grace, "we are keeping away the people who need the healing of Jesus most, and don't we believe that Jesus will always heal those who come to him? They can't possibly leave that encounter unchanged. So aren't we, as the church, putting walls around Jesus that he wouldn't want put there? I'm just asking questions. I really hope and pray that someday our Church will realize how misguided all these rules are, just like we've recognized our other serious mistakes."
I can't imagine this is the only priest in the US making arguments like this, whether in homilies or in the internal forum. With the theological understanding of even the priests in such a dire state, it seems to me that administering the Eucharist to infants could result in an absolute collapse in devotion to the Eucharist, including a total loss of morale among laypeople who thought they understood at least a little bit how serious and fearful a thing it is to receive the lord of the universe into one's very body. Not saying it's insurmountable, but I think it's important to think through what the consequences would be for the masses of poorly formed Catholics' understanding before we make sweeping changes to the way the faith has been practiced in living memory. We've made a whole bunch of sweeping changes already in living memory, with the best of intentions and in the name of ressourcement, with, I think we would all agree, mixed results.
Thank you for laying this out so clearly, Clare.
All great thoughts and well reasoned- it’s a shame things have deteriorated so, isn’t it?
There is a family in my parish who is Eastern Catholic and their children all receive the sacraments with baptism, but they go to our Roman parish since there is no option locally in their ritual- I know that recently one of their kids completed her first reconciliation upon reaching the age of reason. I would imagine that is the typical way to handle it, to add in the sacrament of penance to the already existing sacramental life of the child when appropriate
As a Byzantine Ruthenian, I would say our approach to the Eucharist is more in line with Pope Francis's comments that it is good for the sick. Our kids received all the sacraments, in order, as babies and continue to receive Christ ever since.
While in the US there was a trend to make first confessions a pseudo first communion, my observation is that the modern trend is that children are prepared as appropriate to their maturity and then go. The prior practice grew largely out of a lack of confidence in our historical practice, and a desire on the part of rite transferring Latin Rite Catholics to have an equivalent to what they had as kids.
FWIW, my observation is that neither path is a failsafe against falling away. Plenty of my peers who got dressed up in white shirts and gowns for first confession have fallen out just as many Latin Rite Catholics drop out after First Communion or Chrismation. Ultimately it matters a lot more what example the parents set and what they teach. That said, I've never understood why the Latin Rite made it harder on parents by denying access to the graces of Confirmation and Communion ASAP.