At what point is your child obligated to attend Mass

[expectthebest]

After 1st communion?

 

[1ke]

Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.

 

[Corki]

Besides the canon law reference, which is what the Church requires, most parishes won’t let a child begin preparation for First Holy Communion without some assurance that he/she is regularly attending Mass.

 

[expectthebest]

How do u determine sufficient use of reason in a child and what is meant by unless the law specifically states otherwise?

 

[Margaret_Massey]

I’m not sure at what age children are obligated to attend Mass. However, I’ve taken my little boy - who is now 2-every week since birth - unless he has been ill. To me this is the best option as :

1. He doubtless obtains blessings from attending Mass even though he is too young to fully understand what is going on.
2. He has already learnt to recognise pictures of Jesus and Mary, to genuflect, to say “Amen” and to start to begin to make the Sign of the Cross.
3. Church attendance is something he is accustomed to (if we had waited until he was say five it would doubtless be harder to get him accustomed to regular attendance.).
4. He is learning what behaviour is expected of him in Church.
5. He is already part of the parish community, happily interacting with our parish priest and parishioners and sometimes asks me if we can go to Church.

And yes, at times it is hard. He is not always well behaved - and I have spent the large part of quite a few Masses in the porch. However, any inconvenience to me is massively outweighed by the blessings that he is receiving.

 

[fermat]

How do you determine sufficient use of reason in a child and what is meant by unless the law specifically states otherwise?

Sufficient use of reason is when they are old enough to understand the basic idea of what is going on in the Mass.

The line in question from the canon is stating that unless there is an overriding or superseding point of the law, completion of seven years of age is the norm.

 

[Corki]

How do u determine sufficient use of reason in a child and what is meant by unless the law specifically states otherwise?

The Church generally defines the age of reason as “around” age 7. It may vary slightly but, for a child without some kind of developmental delay, this is the age when, psychologically, they can not only perceive the difference between right and wrong but also to feel personal guilt when doing wrong.

Since, in the Latin Church, children must receive the Sacrament of Confession before FHC, the ability to discern right from wrong and to express contrition are necessary skills.

By calling it an obligation to attend Mass, we also attach a consequence to NOT attending Mass. This only makes sense when the child is old enough to understand that it is wrong to miss Mass, even if he/she does not have a complete understanding of why it is wrong.

 

[1ke]

How do u determine sufficient use of reason in a child

The age of reason is about 7 or 8 years old. It is when one has formed the ability to know right from wrong. Those who never attain the use of reason or who lose it-- i.e. the mentally infirm-- do not have an obligation.

and what is meant by unless the law specifically states otherwise?

It means what it says. Ecclesial laws bind those who are 8 years old. Some laws have other ages specified, for example the canons on fasting, abstaining from meat, marriage, ordination, etc.