Is there a canon explicitly mandating 40 days churching for women?

[Vasselle B.]

This is my first posting.

I would like to know if anyone knows of a canon that says a women who has given birth MUST wait 40 days before bringing the baby to be churched. I would like to know if there is anything wrong with being churched at 38 days if it means the mother is able to received holy communion at Pascha.

Thanks,
Vasselle

[Michael Stickles]

I don't know of any canons mandating this (though there may be one); what I have read is that it is in remembrance of the Theotokos and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the temple when He was 40 days old, in accordance with Jewish observance.

However, as to whether there is anything "wrong" with being churched at 38 days instead of 40, I think this depends more on the counsel and direction of your parish priest, rather than on an impersonal reading of canons or traditions. I assume from your question that you have been told one must wait the full 40 days. If that rule or tradition is held to in your parish, then if it is to be relaxed I believe it would have to be with the priest's blessing.

In Christ,
Mike

[Father David Moser]

I would like to know if there is anything wrong with being churched at 38 days if it means the mother is able to received holy communion at Pascha.

If the priest is willing then there is no problem. It probably would be best to have the child baptised at the same time if that has not already been accomplished.

Fr David Moser

[Anthony Stokes]

My wife was in the same situation last year. We did the churching right before the baptisms on Holy Saturday. I think it was a few days earlier than 40. As has been said, it's up to the priest usually.

Subdeacon Anthony



This is my first posting.

I would like to know if anyone knows of a canon that says a women who has given birth MUST wait 40 days before bringing the baby to be churched. I would like to know if there is anything wrong with being churched at 38 days if it means the mother is able to received holy communion at Pascha.

Thanks,
Vasselle

[Matthew Namee]

My wife was in the same situation last year. We did the churching right before the baptisms on Holy Saturday. I think it was a few days earlier than 40. As has been said, it's up to the priest usually.
Wow, that's funny, my wife was in the same situation last year too. I think Pascha was at Day 32 or something like that, and we were told that we couldn't do the churching after Lazarus Saturday, which (we were told) would be too early. So both of us ended up missing Pascha, which was disappointing. To commemorate the feast, at midnight we sang all the reader and choir parts of the Pascha service. I have no doubt that, having missed a year, we will have a greater appreciation for Pascha in the future.

[Anthony Stokes]

That is funny. I'm the choir director, so either way, I would have had to be at Pascha. It's in the job description ;)! We also weren't the only ones. We had 4 babies born around the same time last year in our church. A total of 6 last year.

Subdeacon Anthony



Wow, that's funny, my wife was in the same situation last year too. I think Pascha was at Day 32 or something like that, and we were told that we couldn't do the churching after Lazarus Saturday, which (we were told) would be too early. So both of us ended up missing Pascha, which was disappointing. To commemorate the feast, at midnight we sang all the reader and choir parts of the Pascha service. I have no doubt that, having missed a year, we will have a greater appreciation for Pascha in the future.

[Vasselle B.]

My situation is that my parish priest gave me the option of being churched during the service on great and holy Saturday (my 40th day is bright Tuesday) so I could receive communion that morning in case it was too difficult to come for the evening service. My mother was told by our metropolitan that it was canonical that one should come on the 40th day and not before. Since I'm hearing this second-hand (and sometimes my mother can misinterpret what she's been told) I was hoping someone would be able to point me to the canon (if one exists).

[Father David Moser]

My situation is that my parish priest gave me the option of being churched during the service on great and holy Saturday (my 40th day is bright Tuesday) so I could receive communion that morning in case it was too difficult to come for the evening service. My mother was told by our metropolitan that it was canonical that one should come on the 40th day and not before.

Remember that it is your parish priest and not your mother who is responsible before God for the salvation of your soul. Your parish priest is also the local "agent" of the Metropolitan and so the official "line" runs from the Metropolitan to the priest to you. What the Metropolitan may have said to your mother is simply a matter of personal conversation, not the rule of the Church.

Fr David Moser