3 year old at Mass

[paul11b]

How can I explain to my 3 year old son why he cannot receive the Eucharist? When we go up to receive he says the whole time "I want one today," and I try to tell him, it's Jesus you can't have it until you're a little older. Then on the way back to the pew he is screaming, crying, and mad that I wouldn't let him "eat." Any advice or tips?

[Bookcat]

Teach him a little prayer to Jesus he can pray at that time....

[Rainaldo]

Originally Posted by paul11b

How can I explain to my 3 year old son why he cannot receive the Eucharist? When we go up to receive he says the whole time "I want one today," and I try to tell him, it's Jesus you can't have it until you're a little older. Then on the way back to the pew he is screaming, crying, and mad that I wouldn't let him "eat." Any advice or tips?

Teach him the Spiritual Communion prayer and ... work on being more firm with him in other areas where you have to tell him "no".

[gh4]

Honestly, I'd take him to see the priest and let the priest help explain it to him. Sometimes children just need to hear it from someone other than Mom or Dad.
Good luck.

[Wisely]

Take him to a Eastern Catholic Church.
There he can recieve Christ as it should be.

[JharekCarnelian]

Originally Posted by Wisely

Take him to a Eastern Catholic Church.
There he can recieve Christ as it should be.

Actually I am a strong proponent of restoring infant communion throughout the Church but this is bad advice as he is bound by the disciplines of his own Church which do not generally allow this. Also the slap at communion as dispense in the Roman Catholic Church is verging on polemics.

[TypesAndShadows]

Personally, and obviously everyone is different, I'd be very clear with him that when he is older, and has learnt lots more about Jesus, and has carefully prepared, then he will be able to receive Communion like the adults do. I would also point out the children older than him who are not receiving Communion, and point out how nicely those "bigger boys and girls" are going up for their blessings.

I would actually avoid going too much into "why" he cannot receive right now, apart from saying that he will be able to when he is older and has learnt more. He is learning about negotiation, and he will think it is negotiable if you go too much into what is preventing you from saying "yes".

If you must, you could even talk about how "when you've been going to big school for a few years" and "have learnt lots more about Jesus and what Communion is" and "have got much bigger", "you'll receive Communion for the first time, and we'll have a party to celebrate" and "we'll invite [insert relatives]". "Won't that be exciting? But not until you've grown up, and been to big school for a while". Maybe reinforce again "see how big those children are, and they don't receive Communion yet". Perhaps even "it won't be until we've had your birthday, and Christmas, and your birthday again, and Christmas again, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5,...(counting up)] times."

Basically, I would make it something that happens at a given point that he hasn't reached yet, and won't reach any time soon. Make it as certain as starting school, or celebrating Christmas: you can't do it earlier.

[acatnamedorangy]

I am dealing with a similar ordeal with my son. He's much older but he has developed a serious fear of hell now. He is obviously not as much theatrics as a 3 yr old would be though. I'm sure he just wants what he perceives to be a snack. I hate to seem deceptive but you might consider carrying an animal cracker in your pocket. After he is blessed and you have received communion pull it out of your pocket and give it to him to eat while you walk away. It's just an idea to pacify him till he is old enough to understand. Good luck!

[DebChris]

Great Advice from Types and Shadows.

My grandson used to throw temper tantrums when he couldn't receive, not only because of age but also because he is not Catholic. I love the response of one priest, "Wouldn't it be great if everybody desired the Eucharist as much!" After that statement, he never again threw a tantrum.

[Stylites]

Originally Posted by DebChris

I love the response of one priest, "Wouldn't it be great if everybody desired the Eucharist as much!"

Amen.

[Aggies08]

We tell ours it is for "Mommies and Daddies and 'bigger bigger' children" She calls all adults mommies and daddies/big kids 'bigger bigger'. That works for her, as there are many things she wants but cannot have- ride the school bus, hold her sister alone, etc. She's used to us saying when she is bigger she can.

We also saw first communion, and explained to her that those kids are getting to receive for the FIRST TIME, and when she is bigger she will get to do that, too.

[Mrs Sally]

Originally Posted by Aggies08

We also saw first communion, and explained to her that those kids are getting to receive for the FIRST TIME, and when she is bigger she will get to do that, too.

That is a great idea!

[Deo Gratias42]

Originally Posted by Wisely

Take him to a Eastern Catholic Church.
There he can recieve Christ as it should be.

Our priest was asked about this and Latin Rite Catholics are to follow the Rules of their right with regards to the sacraments when visiting other rites. Specifically, if a child hasn't received the sacrament in their own rite, the are not to receive the sacrament in the other rite.

[Laetus]

Originally Posted by Wisely

Take him to a Eastern Catholic Church.
There he can recieve Christ as it should be.

ONLY if the infant has received first communion and Christmation in an Eastern Catholic Church and ONLY if the celebrant has been notified before hand.

[MariaG]

Originally Posted by Wisely

Take him to a Eastern Catholic Church.
There he can recieve Christ as it should be.

Wish all the Latin rite would give all three sacraments of initiation to babies. Sadly, no eastern Catholic churches in my area or else I would seriously see what I needed