infant Eucharist

Father Mateo (76776.306@compuserve.com)
04 Mar 96 08:34:26 EST

To: cinaskf@catinfo.cts.com
960212.10
> From: Ajig Alcalde <ajig@max.ph.net>
> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 00:25:41 +0800 (GMT+0800)
> Subject: Infant Eucharist
>
> Dear Fr Mateo,
>
> We Catholics believe that baptism is essential to the
> salvation of the child. Therefore, we do not hesitate to
> baptize him even before he has the ability to profess his
> own personal faith. But it seems to me that Christ's
> teaching is that the Eucharist is just as essential for
> eternal life: "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood,
> you have no life in you" (I am quoting from memory). Why do
> we then wait until the child is around 7 years old before he
> can receive Christ in the Eucharist? Are we risking his
> eternal life? Can't his parents' faith substitute for his
> in this case?
>
> (As I type up this question, some answers come to me: A
> newborn baby can't chew yet; if the child is too young, he
> may spit out the Eucharist, etc. Is this the reason?)
>
> Regards, Ajig Alcalde

Dear Ajig,

The Council of Trent, session 21*, teaches: "Little children without
the use of reason are not bound by any necessity to the sacramental
Communion of the Eucharist, since having been regenerated through the
bath of baptism (Titus 3:5) and having been members of the Body of
Christ they cannot at that age lose the grace of the children of God
which has already been attained."

It is a defined doctrine (dogma) of divine and Catholic faith that the
actual reception of the Eucharist is not necessary for the salvation
of infants (Council of Trent, session 21, canon 4).

The Eucharist is morally (not absolutely) necessary for adults to
persevere for a long time in the state of grace.

The Church is the guardian and minister of the sacraments. Her
teaching and practice show us how to make use of the sacraments
according to God's will.

Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo

- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -

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* Council of Trent Files on CIN by:

FILENAME SIZE | DESCRIPTION

TRENTBUL.ZIP 10,112 | Convocation of the Council of Trent. 1542
TRENT1.ZIP 858 | First Session of the Council of Trent, 1545
TRENT2.ZIP 3,045 | Second Session of the Council of Trent, 1546
TRENT3.ZIP 2,189 | Third Session of the Council of Trent, 1546
TRENT4.ZIP 4,283 | Fourth Session of the Council of Trent, 1546
TRENT5.ZIP 7,952 | Fifth Session of the Council of Trent, 1546
TRENT6.ZIP 18,759 | Sixth Session of the Council of Trent, 1547
TRENT7.ZIP 10,078 | Seventh Session of the Council of Trent, 1547
TRENT8.ZIP 1,267 | Eighth Session of the Council of Trent, 1547
TRENT9.ZIP 1,661 | Ninth Session of the Council of Trent, 1547
TRENT10.ZIP 3,919 | Tenth Session of the Council of Trenth, 1547

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