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Glory to Jesus Christ! Many Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia want to return to the original practice of communion for children immediately after the baptism and holy myron. We have just made some first steps. I published on our web page two articles on the topic http://grkat.nfo.sk/Texty/eucharistiadetom1.html and http://grkat.nfo.sk/Texty/eucharistiadetom2.html and we started a discussion on http://grkat.nfo.sk/diskusia.html (all only in Slovak). I would be grateful for any suggestion regarding "know-how" - how the ByzCath church in USA returned to this original practice, i.e. - the consecution of steps made in your church, which mistakes we should not do you have made, etc. Was there a pass-over period? How long? Which problems you had? Please, put down your suggestion here (or send me an e-mail - andreios@nfo.sk, if you think it is too sensitive.) God bless you! andreios Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia [grkat.nfo.sk] P.S. Sorry for my terrible English.
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Hello Andreios: Your English is not "terrible." You write more clearly than many people who have grown up speaking and writing English. If you go to the website for my church: www.epiphanyofourlord.org [ epiphanyofourlord.org] and write to Deacon El, he might be able to help you. He has just completed a lecture series where he talked about Latinizations and some of the history of returning to Byzantine traditions. Sometimes Deacon El posts on the forum. You have a great website! Thanks for sharing the URL with us. Originally posted by andreios: Glory to Jesus Christ!
Many Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia want to return to the original practice of communion for children immediately after the baptism and holy myron. We have just made some first steps. I published on our web page two articles on the topic http://grkat.nfo.sk/Texty/eucharistiadetom1.html and http://grkat.nfo.sk/Texty/eucharistiadetom2.html and we started a discussion on http://grkat.nfo.sk/diskusia.html (all only in Slovak).
I would be grateful for any suggestion regarding "know-how" - how the ByzCath church in USA returned to this original practice, i.e. - the consecution of steps made in your church, which mistakes we should not do you have made, etc.
Was there a pass-over period? How long? Which problems you had?
Please, put down your suggestion here (or send me an e-mail - andreios@nfo.sk, if you think it is too sensitive.)
God bless you!
andreios
[b] Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia [grkat.nfo.sk] P.S. Sorry for my terrible English. [/b]
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Dear Andrew,
Here's a practical suggestion which has proved helpful in North America. One can introduce the giving of Holy Communion to infants and young children by beginning with the children of the clergy. When questions are then raised, the clergy (and the wives of the clergy) can then answer those questions easily, providing the relevant documentation (which I hope is available in Slovak). One then moves to the next step by incorporating the administration of Holy Communion into the liturgy of Baptism and Chrismation. Step three is a patient encouragement, over time, for the parents and/or godparents to bring the infants and young children to Communion - infants and young children who are brought to the Chalice regularly will receive Communion without any difficulty.
Finally - and this can be traumatic - one can slowly begin to get rid of the "First Communion" celebrations, which in some Catholic cultures have become completely out of hand, with utterly inappropriate and irreligious features, as though they were occasions for making money and having commercial entertainment.
Incognitus
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Thanks to all for your suggestions and contacts.  Originally posted by incognitus:
... One can introduce the giving of Holy Communion to infants and young children by beginning with the children of the clergy. When questions are then raised, the clergy (and the wives of the clergy) can then answer those questions easily, providing the relevant documentation (which I hope is available in Slovak). Not yet, there are only some parts of documents of the Church regarding the question on my site. An article on the history of the problem should be published in Slovak in few months, I hope. But there is still a lack of material with theological explanation.  Dear Incognitus, was there not a problem with people who have said - why the children fo priest yes and our not? What is our problem, till today our bishops have not given an instruction to begin with the original practice. And I do not know if it would be good to begin doing it "undergroundly". How it was in USA? Was there a letter by bishops/metropolitan that had started restoring the original tradition? Or the practice allready existed and the bishops only confermed it after? In Christ, andreios http://grkat.nfo.sk
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Originally posted by incognitus:
...the "First Communion" celebrations, which in some Catholic cultures have become completely out of hand, with utterly inappropriate and irreligious features, as though they were occasions for making money and having commercial entertainment. In the last years, this problem has appeared in our country too, for some families the "First communion" is like a small wedding - sometimes with 40 or 50 guests with a feast in restaurant. The children mostly receive gifts like computers, handys etc. andreios http://grkat.nfo.sk
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Originally posted by andreios: Originally posted by incognitus:
[b] ...the "First Communion" celebrations, which in some Catholic cultures have become completely out of hand, with utterly inappropriate and irreligious features, as though they were occasions for making money and having commercial entertainment.
http://grkat.nfo.sk [/b]Handys - oh it's a while since I heard that term - I presume you mean mobile phones ?
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Originally posted by Our Lady's slave of love:
Handys - oh it's a while since I heard that term - I presume you mean mobile phones ? Yes, you are right. Probably, I have token the word "handys" from German. andreios Byzantine Catholics in Slovakia [grkat.nfo.sk]
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Andreios writes:
Dear Incognitus, was there not a problem with people who have said - why the children fo priest yes and our not?
I don't remember such a problem arising. But if it does, the solution is quite simple: children may of course receive Holy Communion, provided that they have been baptized (!) and that a parent, god-parent or close relative presents them for Holy Communion. No trouble.
What is our problem, till today our bishops have not given an instruction to begin with the original practice. And I do not know if it would be good to begin doing it "undergroundly". How it was in USA? Was there a letter by bishops/metropolitan that had started restoring the original tradition? Or the practice allready existed and the bishops only confermed it after?
To the best of my memory, the resumption of Holy Communion for infants and young children began spontaneously; some hierarchs even resisted it. Eventually the Holy See saw the point, and confirmed the traditional practice; I've not heard of any hierarchal resistance in recent years.
Incognitus
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