Can a baptized Catholic receive communion without going through 1st communion classes?

[pettyl]

My grandson is a baptized Catholic, but his mother is a fallen away Catholic and did not sign him up to attend first communion classes. He is 8 years old and attends mass with his grandfather and I regularly. He has expressed interest in receiving communion often over the years. Can we as his grandparents explain to him the meaning behind the sacrament of communion and allow him to receive the host when he walks up to communion with us?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Code of Canon Law:

Can. 843 §1. Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.

§2. Pastors of souls and other members of the Christian faithful, according to their respective ecclesiastical function, have the duty to take care that those who seek the sacraments are prepared to receive them by proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, attentive to the norms issued by competent authority.

Can. 912 Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.

For the purposes of simplicity parishes have religious education programs. This allows for simple and orderly reception of sacraments and that the pastor knows the education the children have received. However, parish programs cannot be an absolute requirement to receive a sacrament otherwise the rights of the faithful would be violated (843 §1; 912).

When it comes to communion for children Canon Law says:

Can. 913 §1. The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.

As long as the child understands the sacrament of the Eucharist and wishes of his own will to receive the Eucharist, the parish priest can make an exception to the normal religious education and permit the child to receive communion. Of course the child will also need to make first confession before first communion (canon 914, catechism 1457).

Since you are asking the pastor to make an exception you’ll need to explain to him the extenuating circumstances and he will be able to offer a course of action.