First Communion before Reconciliation?

[poorclare]

My best friend’s daughter (who is also my Goddaughter) is going to receive her first Holy Communion this spring, as is common for second graders. In conversation with my friend, I learned that her parish does not administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation until fourth grade. I have never heard of this before. Hasn’t it always been that first penance precedes first Holy Communion?

My friend has only recently returned to church because of sacrament her daughter is about to receive. Though I’m thrilled that they have returned to the church, I feel obligated to set them on the correct course. Am I out of place? Thoughts on this?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My best friend’s daughter (who is also my Goddaughter) is going to receive her first Holy Communion this spring, as is common for second graders. In conversation with my friend, I learned that her parish does not administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation until fourth grade. I have never heard of this before. Hasn’t it always been that first penance precedes first Holy Communion?

My friend has only recently returned to church because of sacrament her daughter is about to receive. Though I’m thrilled that they have returned to the church, I feel obligated to set them on the correct course. Am I out of place? Thoughts on this?

No your correct to bring this up. That reverse order of the reception of the Sacraments, is and has been for many years strictly PROHIBITED by Rome, period end of discussion. A child CANNOT receive First Holy Communion without first having the opportunity for First Confession. A child must also have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis after First Holy Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

it would be a great kindness, if you live near the child, and certainly in keeping with your role as godparent, to assist in preparing the child for first confession (and by extension encouraging the mother) and taking her for confession when you and she feel she is ready. you don’t need anyone’s permission for this, it is not recorded anyplace. and Like Bro said it must be done before first communion. don’t make a big deal out of criticizing her parish, just proceed as if this is the way to go. as in fact it is, the parents should be the ones doing most of the preparation for confession.

 

[bpbasilphx]

In the East, infant communion is the NORM. The little ones are brought up to be fed at the Lord’s altar. Their earliest memories of Church will be about this.

Then some time between 7-10, when the parents and priest think the child is ready, s/he makes his/her first confession.

 

[puzzleannie]

In the East, infant communion is the NORM. The little ones are brought up to be fed at the Lord’s altar. Their earliest memories of Church will be about this.

Then some time between 7-10, when the parents and priest think the child is ready, s/he makes his/her first confession.

yes we know that, but OP’s question clearly refers to the Latin Rite practice.

 

[Brendan]

In the East, infant communion is the NORM. The little ones are brought up to be fed at the Lord’s altar. Their earliest memories of Church will be about this.

Then some time between 7-10, when the parents and priest think the child is ready, s/he makes his/her first confession.

Yes, the point is that one recieves the Blessed Sacrament in a sinless state. In the case of the East, and of adults who enter the Latin Rite, it is done after Baptism.

In the Latin Rite, children are admitted only after they achieve the age of Reason, (7) at which they are also culpable to sin.

So it thus required that the child recieve Sacramental Absolution prior to the reception of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In the East, infant communion is the NORM. The little ones are brought up to be fed at the Lord’s altar. Their earliest memories of Church will be about this.

Then some time between 7-10, when the parents and priest think the child is ready, s/he makes his/her first confession.

The OP is not talking about the Eastern Church.

 

[Brendan]

Here are the relevant texts

Code of Canon Law

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.

Redemptionis Sacramentum

[87.] The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution. 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. “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. 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.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Yes, the point is that one recieves the Blessed Sacrament in a sinless state. In the case of the East, and of adults who enter the Latin Rite, it is done after Baptism.

In the Latin Rite, children are admitted only after they achieve the age of Reason, (7) at which they are also culpable to sin.

So it thus required that the child recieve Sacramental Absolution prior to the reception of the Blessed Sacrament.

Not meanin gto be picky. But a Child is not required to receive Sacramental Absolution before First Holy Communion. They are required to have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[Brendan]

One other thing to keep in mind, the admission to Holy Communion requires the pastor’s approval.

Canon Law entitles anyone who is at or above the age to 7 to be admitted to Reconcilliation. The priest has no discression in the matter. If someone who is 7 or older comes to them for absolution, they are oblidged to hear the confession.

So there is no reason that a parent cannot bring their child to confession at anytime after their seventh birthday. In fact, they should.

 

[THurifer2]

My best friend’s daughter (who is also my Goddaughter) is going to receive her first Holy Communion this spring, as is common for second graders. In conversation with my friend, I learned that her parish does not administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation until fourth grade. I have never heard of this before. Hasn’t it always been that first penance precedes first Holy Communion?

My friend has only recently returned to church because of sacrament her daughter is about to receive. Though I’m thrilled that they have returned to the church, I feel obligated to set them on the correct course. Am I out of place? Thoughts on this?

The chances of this child EVER darkening the door of a confessional are SIGNIFICANTLY diminished if she does not participate in the sacrament. THe church has determined the age of reason to be around second grade. Now with that in mind if the child has reached the age of reason then the reality of sin exists.

It is an attempt by modernists to KILL the sacrament of confession.

 

[puzzleannie]

parents and godparents do not not anyone’s permission to prepare the child for first confession and bring them to the priest for that purpose when they judge the child is ready, or when the child asks for it. they do not have to wait for the “class” or the reconcilation service with the whole communion class. In fact, they must carry out this duty. If the parent does not feel up to it, this is exactly the kind of situation where the godparent (or grandparent) should step in.

 

[thann]

**CLICK HERE **for a document I prepared several years ago when the new Director of Religious Education instituted the practice of First Communion before confession.

The Microsoft Word document contains the following:

• Code of Canon Law 914
• Catechism of the Catholic Church 1457
• A Letter From the Vatican: First Penance, First Communion

It took a couple of years of my persistence, but my parish has reverted to the correct sequence. Unfortunately, two years’ worth of children probably have not yet made their first confession (it’s not a “photo opportunity” sacrament, so a lot of parents don’t see its importance).

'thann

 

[john_ennis]

Here are the relevant texts

Code of Canon Law

Redemptionis Sacramentum

Thank you for citing Canon 914, and Redemtionis Sacramentum paragraph 84. These, and the Catechism, make clear that the Church is to prepare children for first confession prior to first Communion.

My own kids were in a program that did it wrong (leftover experimental practices from the 70s, which used pedagogical philosophies to replace solid theology); I insisted that they be granted the sacrament of Confession first, and the priest and DRE allowed it.

Checking with the bishop, I found that there’s no question that my parish was doing things the wrong way. (They no longer are now, though.)

This is all cut and dried as far as Church teaching goes; it’s just a question of who’s not following it.

Peace.
John

 

[Fitz]

My best friend’s daughter (who is also my Goddaughter) is going to receive her first Holy Communion this spring, as is common for second graders. In conversation with my friend, I learned that her parish does not administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation until fourth grade. I have never heard of this before. Hasn’t it always been that first penance precedes first Holy Communion?

My friend has only recently returned to church because of sacrament her daughter is about to receive. Though I’m thrilled that they have returned to the church, I feel obligated to set them on the correct course. Am I out of place? Thoughts on this?

I have four children, and my middle two made their First Communion before their First Reconcilliation. I think it is allowed and practiced in different diocese. This was in the city of Chicago, about 20 years ago.

 

[puzzleannie]

**CLICK HERE **for a document I prepared several years ago when the new Director of Religious Education instituted the practice of First Communion before confession.

good resource and should help a lot of parents, thanks
just want to point out that the DRE has NO authority on the timing of sacraments, she could not have pulled this out without the assent of the pastor. let us place blame where it belongs.

 

[thann]

I have four children, and my middle two made their First Communion before their First Reconcilliation. I think it is allowed and practiced in different diocese. This was in the city of Chicago, about 20 years ago.

There was an experimental indult in the 1970s that allowed this practice. It was rescinded a few years later. The document I prepared (cited in my previous post) explains the history of that experimental indult.

'thann

 

[thann]

good resource and should help a lot of parents, thanks
just want to point out that the DRE has NO authority on the timing of sacraments, she could not have pulled this out without the assent of the pastor. let us place blame where it belongs.

I absolutely agree with you – my pastor is a wonderful priest, but when this DRE came on board, she was like a whirlwind, stirring up all sorts of trouble. I think he was cowed by her, but he eventually realized he was wrong. She is no longer our DRE.

'thann