Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are all three Sacraments received at one time in the Eastern Catholic Church?

     This practice was common to all Churches in the first centuries.  For various reasons and over the centuries, the Western Catholic Church began to separate the Sacraments known as Baptism, Communion and Confirmation so they would be celebrated at different points in one's spiritual development, as is done with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The ancient practice was maintained by the Eastern Catholic Churches, however, as the religious cultures of Western and Eastern Catholics mingled in the past three centuries, various traditions and rites of Eastern Catholicism was lost. 

Why should we return to ancient practices?

        Vatican Council II exhorted Eastern Catholic Churches to restore their rich spiritual practices.  This was further punctuated by the late Pope John Paul II in his encyclical, Light of the East, where he exhorts both Western and Eastern Catholics to breathe through both lungs.

When I receive Eucharist, the priest says "for the remission of sins".  How can a baby be sinful?

        When an infant or child who has not yet celebrated the Mystery of Reconciliation receives Eucharist, the priest (or deacon) says: Taste and see the beauty of the Lord.  It is a beautiful recognition of the innocence of the child and Christ's command to  "let the children come to me".

How is communion actually given to a baby?

        Only the Precious Blood, usually with a very tiny particle of the Precious Body is given to a baby.