New wine new wineskins: revisiting Catholic sacramentality through the eyes of a child's spiritual being

Authors

Nigel I. Mackay, University of WollongongFollow
Peter Caputi, University of WollongongFollow
Gerard J. Stoyles, University of WollongongFollow
Geoffrey LyonsFollow

RIS ID

34767

Publication Details

Stoyles, G. J., Caputi, P., Mackay, N. I. & Lyons, G. (2010). New wine new wineskins: revisiting Catholic sacramentality through the eyes of a child's spiritual being. Journal of Religious Education, 58 (4), 36-44.

Abstract

This theoretical paper discusses the spirituality of childhood within the context of Catholic sacramentality, specifically the child¿s experience of the Sacrament of Eucharist. The authors argue that readiness for a child¿s reception of the Eucharist needs to take into account the spiritual being of the child, as well as the child¿s cognitive capacity to grasp the meaning of the Eucharist. Future research directions arising from this theoretical paper are discussed in the conclusion.