Children and the Eucharist in Roman Catholicism

This article traces the ways that the Roman Catholic Church has negotiated the relationship between children and the Eucharist from the early Church to today. It focuses in particular on the practice of infant communion, which was prevalent in Western Christianity in the first twelve centuries. By the end of the twelfth century, the practice all but ceased in the West, as a combination of practical considerations led to the separation of the sacraments of initiation. In addition to outlining the history of infant communion in the West, the article treats the development of theological explanations for delayed communion that occurred from the twelfth century onwards. It also studies further developments that occurred in the age, practices, and theology around first communion. Finally, the article draws from the theology of Vatican II and several contemporary theological approaches to argue for a restoration of the practice of fully initiating infants in Roman Catholicism, including eucharistic communion.