Children and 1st Communion

[Usige]

So you teach them the catechism and prepare them?

Yes. We take our responsibility as the primary catechist very seriously. I cannot see a reason to farm out formation to others that may or may not be orthodox in their teaching. We use both the diocesan approved “Faith and Life” series as well as the St Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism - First Communion Catechism.

Do they also attend classes at the parish?

No. We talked to a number of parents who had gone through the parish program and they talked about how watered down it was. Many said that the program focuses almost exclusively on the message that “Jesus is love” and really down plays sin and in particular what happens if one dies in a state of mortal sin. We had asked the DRE if that was true and she said “they don’t want to scare the kids” and “focus on the good in life”. Plus the felt banner brigade really irritates me.

I think that I will have to rely on myself to teach the and prepare the kids because we are expats and will be moving and this could be complicated. Plus, I want to makes sure they really learn and understand the material. (We also homeschool.)

If you want to catechize at home, then I would talk to the pastor about what is required. We had to make certain concessions to meet diocesan requirements, but our pastor is very accommodating of working with homeschoolers.

Even if you go the parish program route I would strongly suggest you teach them as much as possible at home. I would also ask what program the parish uses and get copies of the instructor’s guide so you can fill in the blanks that might not be covered in the program. It also allows you to correct any misinformation that they might be given (i.e. “Ms Heterodox says it’s okay to miss Mass if you want to go hiking because God is everywhere.”)

We integrate catechism as part of their total home school education. This isn’t just first and second grades, but throughout their education. Based on teaching high school catechism at the parish and helping in some home school co op classes for 1-4th graders, those 4th grade homeschoolers were well beyond the 10th and 11th graders in the parish.

 

[Brendan]

So you teach them the catechism and prepare them? Do they also attend classes at the parish?

The pastor publishes information on what he desires potential First Communicants to known.

How the Communicants come by that knowledge is a parental decision. The parish does offer Catechism classes at all levels, and the parents are certainly welcome to participate in those classes, but it is not required.

We do have a larger than normal population of homeschoolers at our parish, and Fr recognizes that the homeschooling families can incorporate the required subjects into their religious ed corricula.

To be admitted to First Holy Communion, the pastor has appointed several members of the parish being qualified to test the youngsters. The parent must arrange times during the academic year for the child to be tested on knowledge of common prayers, theology on the Eucharist etc… This is true regardless of if the child is being homeschooled, in a Catholic school somewhere or participating in the parish classes. All children are treated equally in this regard.

In addition, the pastor also makes unconsecrated wafers available for the children to practice receiving with.

After passing the exams, and after having participated in Sacramental Reconciliation, the child may be admitted to First Holy Communion. This can be as part of a class, but, in keeping with Church teaching, encourages the child to make their FHC as soon as reasonable. That can be at a scheduled daily Mass, a Sunday Mass or, if needed, at a special Mass.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Yes. We take our responsibility as the primary catechist very seriously. I cannot see a reason to farm out formation to others that may or may not be orthodox in their teaching. We use both the diocesan approved “Faith and Life” series as well as the St Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism - First Communion Catechism.

This is what I’m afraid of. The current parish is orthodox but I think that the problem is that the general attitude these days is that kids shouldn’t be burdened with the hard stuff, like actually memorising and knowing something. This is one of the reasons why we homeschool. I don’t want sunday school to remain about colouring and silly songs. I want my kids to engage with the best of Catholic thinking as they mature. I sometimes feel that college students have never really graduated past the colouring stage when it comes to their faith formation.

 

[MissRose73]

Originally Posted by Contra Mundum View Post
Has anyone here asked permission for their child to receive their 1st Communion earlier and independently from their peer group? (Or do you know of anyone?)

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The year I received, we did not have the whole class at one Mass. Parents were allowed to pick the Mass within a certain time frame after the sacramental prep was done. I do remember I did share the day with another classmate. My sister was similar but she was the only one at the Mass she had her FHC.

It seems to be more of a custom these days from reading bulletins and websites that it is preferred for all the students to be in a group at 1 Mass for all the First Communicant class.

 

[InThePew]

Is it necessary to wait that long, and does anyone know at what age was it allowed before mid 20th century?

In the Western Rite, children are able to receive communion from the age of reason (typically about 7). In the Early Church, communion was administered to infants. Although this practice died out in the West it is still maintained by some Eastern Rites. Over time, the age crept up to about 10 or 14. However, in 1910 Pius X lowered (or at least regularised) the age to the age of reason which is where today’s practice dates from. As an aside, nothing was said about confirmation which is why the age for that sacrament remains (in some places at least) older than 1st communion.

 

[babochka]

Has anyone here asked permission for their child to receive their 1st Communion earlier and independently from their peer group? (Or do you know of anyone?)

The Godparents of one of my children have an exceptionally mature daughter. She received her First Communion at an FSSP parish at the age of 5. Their basic policy was to allow it if the child could sit through the classes and pass the test.

 

[Phemie]

When our oldest was ready to prepare for First Communion we were in a parish with no catechesis. There was a Catholic school system but our daughter didn’t learn the way they taught (they taught whole language and she was teaching herself to read using phonics) so we opted to keep her in the school 5 minutes from our home on the military Base.

The military parish provided the parents of those children in the military school system with the materials they were expected to learn and we parents were responsible for teaching them. All families gathered as a community 3 times during the year for a meal and further catechesis for the parents.

Once the children had done all the work they met with the Padre for an interview and, as long as he was satisfied that they had the proper understanding of what they were asking to do, he heard their confession and they were allowed to receive at the next Mass they attended.

 

[dans0622]

… While canon law does not set an age for the use of reason, many hold that 7 is that age based in part of Pope Pius X’s encyclical, Quam Singulari. In reality a child might have the use of reason before that age, but it would be a tough sell for many to admit a 5 or 6 year old to confession and the Eucharist.

Hello,

In another section of the Code, it says that those who have reached the age of seven are presumed to have the use of reason (c. 97.2). As you say, this does not mean that children under the age of seven cannot or do not have the use of reason. It only means that once a child reaches seven years old, the law presumes he will have the use of reason. Someone who suggests otherwise has the burden of proof.

Dan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Thank you for the comments everyone. This has been very informative.

 

[Usige]

Hello,

In another section of the Code, it says that those who have reached the age of seven are presumed to have the use of reason (c. 97.2). As you say, this does not mean that children under the age of seven cannot or do not have the use of reason. It only means that once a child reaches seven years old, the law presumes he will have the use of reason. Someone who suggests otherwise has the burden of proof.

Dan

Dan, thanks for the clarification. I thought there was something like that in the canons but couldn’t find it.

 

[Vico]

Dan, thanks for the clarification. I thought there was something like that in the canons but couldn’t find it.

CIC Can. 97
§1. A person who has completed the eighteenth year of age has reached majority; below this age, a person is a minor.
§2. A minor before the completion of the seventh year is called an infant and is considered not responsible for oneself (non sui compos). With the completion of the seventh year, however, a minor is presumed to have the use of reason.

CIC Can. 99
Whoever habitually lacks the use of reason is considered not responsible for oneself (non sui compos) and is equated with infants.