Infants and Holy Communion

[spiritually inclined]

In the Orthodox Church, it is believed that since infants benefit from the sacrament of baptism without understanding it, so do they benefit from the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion.

I understand the concept of delaying confirmation until the child is older and can affirm his/her own vows, though this practice developed more because of necessity (lack of bishops), and was only later reinforced with theological reasons in the Roman Catholic and Anglican Communions.

In the Episcopal Church, however, one needs only to be a baptized Christian to take Holy Communion. Is an infant therefore eligible to receive communion if his/her parents wish for the child to receive the sacrament?

James

 

[lunamoth]

In the Orthodox Church, it is believed that since infants benefit from the sacrament of baptism without understanding it, so do they benefit from the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion.

I understand the concept of delaying confirmation until the child is older and can affirm his/her own vows, though this practice developed more because of necessity (lack of bishops), and was only later reinforced with theological reasons in the Roman Catholic and Anglican Communions.

In the Episcopal Church, however, one needs only to be a baptized Christian to take Holy Communion. Is an infant therefore eligible to receive communion if his/her parents wish for the child to receive the sacrament?

James

Baptized babies can take communion. My daughters have both been receiving communion since they were baptized at the ages of two and four.