Correct order for receiving the sacraments?

[cwcarp]

I was wondering if there is an official order to receive the sacraments. My priest says: 1st. communion, 1st. reconciliaton, confirmation. I believe 1st. confession should be before 1st communion but he disagrees with me on this point. 6 years ago I had asked that my son receive 1st confession first and was denied. My son received it 1-2 months after his 1st communion. I have another son who will be starting religious ed next year and I’m wondering if I should go to another Catholic church.

 

[Brendan]

I was wondering if there is an official order to receive the sacraments. My priest says: 1st. communion, 1st. reconciliaton, confirmation. I believe 1st. confession should be before 1st communion but he disagrees with me on this point. 6 years ago I had asked that my son receive 1st confession first and was denied. My son received it 1-2 months after his 1st communion. I have another son who will be starting religious ed next year and I’m wondering if I should go to another Catholic church.

Canon Law requires that 1st Confession be done before a child is permitted to recieve the Eucharist
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Can. 914 It is primarily the duty of parents and of those who take their place, as it is the duty of the parish priest, to ensure that children who have reached the use of reason are properly prepared and, having made their sacramental confession, are nourished by this divine food as soon as possible. It is also the duty of the parish priest to see that children who have not reached the use of reason, or whom he has judged to be insufficiently disposed, do not come to holy communion.

This is reiterated clearly in Redemptionis Sacramentum

87.] The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution.[169] Moreover First Communion should always be administered by a Priest and never outside the celebration of Mass. Apart from exceptional cases, it is not particularly appropriate for First Communion to be administered on Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper. Another day should be chosen instead, such as a Sunday between the Second and the Sixth Sunday of Easter, or the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, or the Sundays of Ordinary Time, since Sunday is rightly regarded as the day of the Eucharist.[170] “Children who have not attained the age of reason, or those whom” the Parish Priest “has determined to be insufficiently prepared” should not come forward to receive the Holy Eucharist.[171] Where it happens, however, that a child who is exceptionally mature for his age is judged to be ready for receiving the Sacrament, the child must not be denied First Communion provided he has received sufficient instruction.

There was an indult that allowed the US to offer First Holy Communion first, and then 1st Confession. But that indult expired in the 80’s and has not been renewed.

As a parent, you have the right to present you child for the Sacraments.

There is no reason at all that you could not prepare the child for Reconcilliation yourself and have them recieve the Sacrament from behind the screen. A priest has NO authority what so ever to refuse this Sacrament to a Baptized Catholic who has achieved the age of reason.

 

[puzzleannie]

I was wondering if there is an official order to receive the sacraments. My priest says: 1st. communion, 1st. reconciliaton, confirmation. I.

we are currently having this rather animated discussion on another thread, something about logic of age for confirmation. bottom line, it depends on your diocese but even within in some dioceses (such as Cleveland) some parishes have been given limited permission to experiment with the age for sacraments and with “restoring the original order of the sacraments.”

Original order is baptism, confirmation and first communion at one ceremony (as is still done for infants in the Eastern Church, and is done with adults at the Easter Vigil), with first confession sometime after baptism (after the age of reason) with suitable preparation.

Traditional order in dioceses of the US for the last 100 years or so has been baptism, first confession, first communion, confirmation, with the age for first communion and confirmation anywhere from 7 to 18.

US Bishops have said first confession must be before first communion, and I know of no diocese that officially contradicts that rule, although there may be some parishes not in compliance. Ask your pastor to see it in writing with the Particular Law of the Diocese on sacraments.

 

[az_4_faith]

Diocese of Phoenix:

1. Baptism
2. Reconciliation (2nd Grade)
3. Confirmation and Holy Communion (Given together in 3rd Grade)

 

[BlestOne]

Here in the Peoria Diocese it is:

1. Baptism(preferably soon after birth but must be before reconcilliation)
2. Reconcilliation (usually November of 2nd grade year)
3. First Eucharist (April of 2nd grade year, all canidates required to go to reconcilliation within the 2 weeks before First Eucharist)
4. Confirmation (Bishop makes his rounds every 2 years so 8th and 9th grade are confirmed every 2 years. )

 

[thann]

Several years ago there was an experimental indult in the United States to allow First Communion before First Confession. That indult was rescinded.

**THIS LINK **goes to a Microsoft Word document I put together for my own parish. It explains the history of the indult, the fact that it was rescinded, and official supporting Church documents referring to the situation. Print it out and show it to your pastor.

The Church documents referenced in my document are as follows:
*Code of Canon Law *- Canon 914
*Catechism of the Catholic Church *- Paragraph 1457
*A Letter From the Vatican: First Penance, First Communion *- 31 March 1977

'thann

 

[cwcarp]

Thank you all for your replys. I appreciate it. Unfortuneatly, this parish does a lot of things that are not the norm even compared to other churches in the Diocese. I’ve talked to the priest about several problems but he always makes me feel like I’m clueless and always states, “The church has changed a lot”. A few months ago I had a meeting with him because I disagreed with the practice of sending the kids who are going to be confirmed this year out of mass at the offering. I just don’t understand why you would want them to miss out on Jesus in the Eucharist when it strengthens them for the week. But I was told its a sacrifice that they can grow from. He also told me they receive Jesus in the Gospel so they aren’t missing out. To me it’s totally not the same but I have let it go so my kids can finish their confirmation class.
Thanks again!

 

[Brendan]

Thank you all for your replys. I appreciate it. Unfortuneatly, this parish does a lot of things that are not the norm even compared to other churches in the Diocese. I’ve talked to the priest about several problems but he always makes me feel like I’m clueless and always states, “The church has changed a lot”.

That’s pretty interesting, because Redeptionis Sacramentum was issued in 2002, so ask him if the Church has really changed that much in 4 years. Also, ask him were they published this change in sacramental order.

A few months ago I had a meeting with him because I disagreed with the practice of sending the kids who are going to be confirmed this year out of mass at the offering. I just don’t understand why you would want them to miss out on Jesus in the Eucharist when it strengthens them for the week. But I was told its a sacrifice that they can grow from.

Again, from Redemptionis Sacramentum

[115.] The abuse is reprobated by which the celebration of Holy Mass for the people is suspended in an arbitrary manner contrary to the norms of the Roman Missal and the healthy tradition of the Roman Rite, on the pretext of promoting a “fast from the Eucharist”.

He also told me they receive Jesus in the Gospel so they aren’t missing out. To me it’s totally not the same but I have let it go so my kids can finish their confirmation class.
Thanks again!

What he is doing is denying the children the Full Participation in the Liturgy that was decreed by Vatican II.

[38.] The constant teaching of the Church on the nature of the Eucharist not only as a meal, but also and pre-eminently as a Sacrifice, is therefore rightly understood to be one of the principal keys to the full participation of all the faithful in so great a Sacrament.[97] For when “stripped of its sacrificial meaning, the mystery is understood as if its meaning and importance were simply that of a fraternal banquet”.[98]

I’d really write a letter to the bishop on this matter and cc the pastor.

 

[puzzleannie]

". A few months ago I had a meeting with him because I disagreed with the practice of sending the kids who are going to be confirmed this year out of mass at the offering. I just don’t understand why you would want them to miss out on Jesus in the Eucharist when it strengthens them for the week. But I was told its a sacrifice that they can grow from. He also told me they receive Jesus in the Gospel so they aren’t missing out. To me it’s totally not the same but I have let it go so my kids can finish their confirmation class.
Thanks again!

if you are speaking of baptized Catholic youth preparing for Confirmation (and not RCIA catechumens who are dismissed after the Gospel) this is a grave abuse and really should be reported to the bishop of the priest has not given a satisfactory response. These children are obligated under pain of mortal sin to attend the entire Mass if they are over the age for first communion. To deny them is to deny the sacraments, by itself a grave canon law abuse, to use that specious reasoning betrays a real mis-statement of Jesus’ presence in the Mass.(obviously if there is any mortal sin here, the guilt is not the children’s)

 

[cwcarp]

These children age, 12, 14, & 16 have all received 1st. communion. The confirmation process at our church is handled through RCIA. I brought up the point that at other churches its only the catechumins that are becoming Catholics and have not had 1st. communion that leave the church after the gospel. I did show the priest the Cathechism of the catholic church where it states that it is a grave mortal sin to not participate in the mass to the end. He had a reason (a spin) on why they do what they do and I can’t remember the specifics but it was explained that if they gave it up for the period of time January t0 Easter that it would make it more important to them. I continued to explain that I thought the children should receive Jesus each Sunday to protect them from the temptations of sin and to protect them from the devil. He told me the kids would be better for it and so I conceded. But, now I’m in turmoil again. Originally, I went to talk to the priest because the RCIA teacher was telling the kids it was okay to go to a non-catholic church on Sunday (and not attend a Catholic mass) and she was telling them that there are only 2 mortal sins so confession other than once a year is not needed. He said he would have a talk with her but basically defended her and said that he wasn’t there and there must have been a misunderstanding. She recently told other kids that it was ok for poor people to steal because they had no other choice! Argh!! (I learned that one today) So, I guess I need to write the Bishop. I had procastinated because we live in a very rural small town and I think I’m the only one who has a problem with all this. Other parents who have had a problem leave to a neighboring church 45 mins. away. Thanks for your advice.

 

[LeahInancsi]

Sounds to me like that 45 min drive might be worth your while on a permanent basis or at least until the current pastor is replaced.

 

[kage_ar]

Contact the Bishop, contact the office for Religious Education at the Diocise - the folks in charge need to be aware what is going on.

 

[jmcrae]

It is completely inappropriate for Catholics who are preparing for Confirmation to be treated like Catechumens.

It’s not even appropriate for baptized people who are converting from Protestantism to be treated like that.

 

[cwcarp]

Thanks so much for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I contacted the religious education department at the Diocese. Hopefully I will hear back soon. I’ll let you all know what happens.