First Communion before First Reconciliation

[dprewett]

It was brought to my attention by another parishoner at our parish that at some parishes children receive first communion and then a year or so later receive first reconciliation. Is this true and if so how do the parishes that practice this justify it.

 

[Malmarth]

Great question, a parish I help out with used to do this as well, and I have wondered the same thing.

 

[Phemie]

It was brought to my attention by another parishoner at our parish that at some parishes children receive first communion and then a year or so later receive first reconciliation. Is this true and if so how do the parishes that practice this justify it.

All 3 of my children, in 3 different dioceses, did it that way. It was diocesan policy. I’m not sure how many are still doing it that way today. Ours changed it about 9 years ago.

 

[Belle10]

It was brought to my attention by another parishoner at our parish that at some parishes children receive first communion and then a year or so later receive first reconciliation. Is this true and if so how do the parishes that practice this justify it.

That seems backwards to me. As adults we are expected to make an examination of conscience and receive absolution in confession before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion – why would the first time one does this go in the reverse order? (I obviously received First Reconciliation and then First Communion.)

 

[rwoehmke]

There were some who considered that a child at the tender age of seven could not commit a mortal sin till they were older. As I recall some dioceses allowed an experiment to have first eucharist before first penance. Within the past ten years the Vatican called a halt to this experimental process. Our Bishop forbade it about 7 or 8 years ago, but some parish Catechists persisted in the practice for several more years. It is no longer done in my parish, but it does not surprise me that there are some who stubbornly hold out and disobey their Bishop. There may be Bishops who are still holding out as well.

If young children are not properly instructed with regard to serious sin, I would suppose that they actually may not meet the three criteria for a sin to be mortal and so may very well not need penance before first eucharist. I would not want to be a parent or catechist who failed in this duty.

 

[TheDoctor]

I believe it all revolves around the age at which First Communion is given. If it is done when the child is below the age of reason (generally 7 in the US), the thought is that the child cannot have committed a mortal sin and therefore there is no reason to postpone the sacrament. My parish does FHC in third grade (kids are >7) and thus we do first Reconciliation a couple of weeks before FHC.

Also, unless my memory is faulty, keep in mind that our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters administer all three sacraments of initiation when the child is an infant (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation). So it is not unusual to see a small child of 2 or 3 receive at the Divine Liturgy.

 

[puzzleannie]

It was brought to my attention by another parishoner at our parish that at some parishes children receive first communion and then a year or so later receive first reconciliation. Is this true and if so how do the parishes that practice this justify it.

they have no justification, they have excuses, dissent and personal preference masquerading as justification. The only time this scenario can occur is when a person is baptized, confirmed and makes first communion at EAster, and makes first confession at some appropriate later time. we are of course speaking of the Latin Rite.

 

[benedictgal]

Although this issue had been covered (embedded within another thread), it bears repeating that, according to 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.

Therefore, those parishes who schedule First Holy Communion prior to First Penance are in violation of Redemptionis Sacramentum.

 

[Phemie]

Although this issue had been covered (embedded within another thread), it bears repeating that, according to Redemptionis Sacramentum:

Therefore, those parishes who schedule First Holy Communion prior to First Penance are in violation of Redemptionis Sacramentum.

They are in violation of Canon # 914, the basis for this item in Redemptionis Sacramentum.

We often forget that Redemptionis Sacramentum is not a stand-alone document. It pulls together, from various sources, the things that pertain to the Most Holy Eucharist. When it first came out I looked at it and kind of pictured the Pope wagging his finger and saying “Listen folks, you’ve heard all these before but for some reason you haven’t listened. Now, here are all the rules you have to follow on this topic, all neatly wrapped into one package.”

 

[benedictgal]

You’re right. I guess I was too lazy to look up the appropriate canon. I’m still recouperating from last night’s Texas primary. That two-step process (primary and caucus) was waaaaay too complicated. It made debating here on these threads seem like a walk in the beach.

 

[dprewett]

Thanks for the Information. First, I was only considering the Roman Catholic Rite. Second, If your parish is not teaching by example and having the children do reconcilliation prior to first communion, I believe you have just down graded the Eucharist to that of the protestant version. I apologize but I have yet to figure out how to place a quote inside my reply so most of this was in response to THE DOCTOR.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

It was brought to my attention by another parishoner at our parish that at some parishes children receive first communion and then a year or so later receive first reconciliation. Is this true and if so how do the parishes that practice this justify it.

Those that do simply say that they didn’t get the memo from Rome 20 or 25 years ago when Rome put a stop to the practice.

 

[TheDoctor]

Thanks for the Information. First, I was only considering the Roman Catholic Rite. Second, If your parish is not teaching by example and having the children do reconcilliation prior to first communion, I believe you have just down graded the Eucharist to that of the protestant version. I apologize but I have yet to figure out how to place a quote inside my reply so most of this was in response to THE DOCTOR.

Dprewett: To place the quote inside the reply, hit the “QUOTE” button on the bottom of the message you want to quote and then start typing your reply after the box.

If you read my reply again, you will see that my parish does indeed do first reconcillation before FHC. I was pointing out the rationale that some parishes have used in the past for doing it the opposite way and explaining that it is a discipline matter in the Latin Rite but not a dogma that needs to be universally followed.

I apologize, but I don’t understand the remark about about downgrading the Eucharist as there is no Protestant version of it. There is true Holy Eucharist and then there is bread that folks think is Eucharist, but is not.

 

[benedictgal]

If you read my reply again, you will see that my parish does indeed do first reconcillation before FHC. I was pointing out the rationale that some parishes have used in the past for doing it the opposite way and explaining that it is a discipline matter in the Latin Rite but not a dogma that needs to be universally followed.

The real problem is that those who advocate the very faulty reasoning I highlighted in your post (not accusing you of doing the same, by the way), repeatedly fail to realize that Redemptionis Sacramentum states unequivocally that First Confession must precede the reception of First Holy Communion. I don’t want to run the risk of repeating what I quoted earlier in this thread.

Nonetheless, the reception of First Holy Communion cannot and must not happen until the child has made his First Confession. You cannot have the latter without the former.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I know for a fact I started gossiping in pre-k! That is a sin.

 

[a_pilgrim]

Also, unless my memory is faulty, keep in mind that our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters administer all three sacraments of initiation when the child is an infant (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation). So it is not unusual to see a small child of 2 or 3 receive at the Divine Liturgy.

Dear TheDoctor,

You are absolutely correct! Our late Holy Father +JPII did not merely recommend that the “Eastern Lung” of our Catholic Church return to the ancient order of reception of the Holy Mysteries of Initiation, but he actually encouraged it! And, yes, it is indeed a touching sight to see not only toddlers but also infants and babes-in-arms being presented by their parents to Father for the reception of Our Lord in Holy Communion during the Divine Liturgy! I cannot help but reflect on the phrase “Let the children come to Me” everytime I see it!

First, I was only considering the Roman Catholic Rite.

And therein lies part of the problem – you can’t just consider the Roman Catholic Rite, as though they represent the sum total of what Catholicism is or should be. As Catholics in full communion with each other, we are bound to accept the unique disciplines established and upheld by the other sui iuris Catholic Churches within our communion as being just as valid an expression of Catholicism as our own. For example, as a Byzantine Catholic myself, I fully recognize and accept that it is a discipline of the Latin Church to withhold full and complete initiation of her members (i.e. the reception of all three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist) until some arbitrary criteria are met, be it preparatory classes, achievement of the “age of reason,” or what have you. Although I and others of my Byzantine Catholic Church may view these Holy Mysteries (sacraments) as a free, “no strings attached” gifts from God, we must also be willing to accept the constraints that our Latin Catholic brethren have placed on their own reception of these sacraments as a condition of our communion. I do wish, however, that this attitude of mutual acceptance were more reciprocal amongst us Catholics. We can’t say one way is right and the other is wrong without putting the communion we Catholics share at risk. That is, after all, the very basis of our shared Catholicism – unity, not uniformity.

Second, If your parish is not teaching by example and having the children do reconcilliation prior to first communion, I believe you have just down graded the Eucharist to that of the protestant version.

From this statement I can only infer that it is your belief that my own parish, my own Catholic parish, which is every bit as Catholic as yours and which does, in fact, admit youthful members (even newborn infants!) to Holy Communion prior to the Holy Mystery of Reconciliation has also “down graded,” as you say, the Eucharist. And frankly, I’m more than a little bit offended by the accusation, especially coming from a fellow Catholic with whom I share full communion.

 

[TheDoctor]

…From this statement I can only infer that it is your belief that my own parish, my own Catholic parish, which is every bit as Catholic as yours and which does, in fact, admit youthful members (even newborn infants!) to Holy Communion prior to the Holy Mystery of Reconciliation has also “down graded,” as you say, the Eucharist. And frankly, I’m more than a little bit offended by the accusation, especially coming from a fellow Catholic with whom I share full communion.

Al - I believe dprewett was addressing his comments on “downgrading of the Eucharist” to me, so please allow me a comment. I think dprewett was looking at the situation in a very narrow light and did not mean the remark to apply to nor did he consider those in other rites with other disciplines. Please allow me to humbly apologize for all my Latin Rite brothers and sisters if this thread caused you to believe that we (Latin) think that non-Latin Eucharist is deficient. We know in the fullness of our hearts that Jesus steps forth from the altars of our Eastern brethren in Eucharist exactly the same as he does in all rites within the Church. If the slight was there, I don’t believe it was intentional.

 

[dprewett]

I am sorry if I offended someone who worships within another catholic rite. By saying that I ment only the roman catholic rite I ment that it is the only one I am familiar with. I am sure that within say the Syrian Rite there are Catholic customes that I do not fully understand. After reading my response I am sure it could have been taken the wrong way.

 

[Lepanto]

In addition to violating Canon Law and Redemptionis Sacramentum, as others have pointed out, this is in violation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (which is an even higher magisterial document than Canon Law or Redemptionis Sacramentum).

Catechism article 1757 (last paragraph):

According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.” Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.