6/8/26 - Fr. Christopher Mahar - Why Can’t Young Children Receive Communion?

About this episode

Father Christopher Mahar discusses various questions related to the Eucharist, Catholic teachings, and the role of children in receiving communion.

Father Christopher Mahar earned a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from Providence College in 2000 and subsequently completed his Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2003. He was ordained a deacon in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 2003 and a priest in the Diocese of Providence in 2004. He currently serves as Pastor at St. Augustine Church in Providence, Rhode Island. In Today's Show: If we don't receive the Eucharist, do we receive any graces/blessings from attending Mass? How do we tell other Catholic parents not to do Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny? Why isn't Holy Thursday a Holy Day of Obligation? What is the difference between burnout and sloth? Does separation violate the marital vows of caring in sickness and in health? Does a priest need to have his stole on for a sacrament to be valid? What are the different occasions of sin? What is the most effective way to pray for holy souls in purgatory? Why are young children not able to receive the Eucharist despite their understanding of it? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of…

People in this episode

Guest: Father Christopher Mahar

Topics covered

• Eucharist
• children and communion
• Catholic teachings
• prayer
• sacraments
• marriage vows
• purgatory

Keywords

• Eucharist
• young children
• communion
• Catholic parents
• Holy Thursday
• sacrament validity
• prayer for souls
• marital vows
• occasions of sin

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Diocese of Providence, Pontifical Gregorian University, Providence College

Places: St. Augustine Church, Providence, Rhode Island, St. Peter’s Basilica

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