First Communion without confession?

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carol_marie

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My nephew, a 2nd grader is making his first communion this April. I asked him if he’s been to confession yet and his mom told me that he won’t go to confession prior to making his first communion. She said that confession can be whenever the parents feel it is necessary - at a later date. She said that’s the way this parish does it.

I thought kids always went to confession first. What gives?
 
carol marie:
My nephew, a 2nd grader is making his first communion this April. I asked him if he’s been to confession yet and his mom told me that he won’t go to confession prior to making his first communion. She said that confession can be whenever the parents feel it is necessary - at a later date. She said that’s the way this parish does it.

I thought kids always went to confession first. What gives?
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What gives is that their parish and the parents are completely wrong.

The Sacrament of Reconcilliation is administered first and then the Sacrament of the Eucharist is next. The child should have been taught about this in CCD class and the class would have all gone to confession on a certain day.

Ken
 
I thought so… he goes to a Catholic school even… I questioned her repeatedly but she insisted this was the “new way” it’s done. They live in Minneapolis… not sure if that makes a difference?
 
There was a period after Vatican II when some dioceses allowed this on the theory that a 7 year old could not commit a mortal sin. That day has now passed and wiser heads have prevailed. First Confession is to proceed First Eucharist as it was practiced in the past. There are still some folks around, both priests and laity. who seem to have an emotional tie to the now proscribed experiment. Someone needs to let the Bishop know what is going on.
 
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rwoehmke:
There was a period after Vatican II when some dioceses allowed this on the theory that a 7 year old could not commit a mortal sin. That day has now passed and wiser heads have prevailed. First Confession is to proceed First Eucharist as it was practiced in the past. There are still some folks around, both priests and laity. who seem to have an emotional tie to the now proscribed experiment. Someone needs to let the Bishop know what is going on.
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I know my nephew. TRUST me when I say that confession would be a good thing for him. :rolleyes:
 
carol marie:
My nephew, a 2nd grader is making his first communion this April. I asked him if he’s been to confession yet and his mom told me that he won’t go to confession prior to making his first communion. She said that confession can be whenever the parents feel it is necessary - at a later date. She said that’s the way this parish does it.

I thought kids always went to confession first. What gives?
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Children are actually not “required” to go to Confession prior to First Communion. They are required to be catechized in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and sin and it’s effects. They are to be taught how to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and that they can go any time they feel the need. They must also be given the opportunity to go, but can never be required to go or prove that they went.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Children are actually not “required” to go to Confession prior to First Communion. They are required to be catechized in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and sin and it’s effects. They are to be taught how to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and that they can go any time they feel the need. They must also be given the opportunity to go, but can never be required to go or prove that they went.
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Technically, that is correct. No Sacrament can be coerced.

Translation: They need to go to Confession. They need to be taught to WANT to go to Confession. They need to be taught to refrain from receiving Communion unless they are in a state of grace.
 
Canon 914
Can. 914 It is primarily the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason are prepared properly and,** after they have made sacramental confession,** are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible. It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion.
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It seems pretty clear. Those who have reached the age of reason are to be admitted AFTER a Sacramental Confession.

Those who have not obtained the Age of Reason are not to be admitted at all.
 
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Brendan:
Canon 914

It seems pretty clear. Those who have reached the age of reason are to be admitted AFTER a Sacramental Confession.

Those who have not obtained the Age of Reason are not to be admitted at all.
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Attending a Sacramental preparation workshop given by the head of a tribunal. They indicated that any parish that issued First Reconciliation certificates risked actually violating the seal of Confession. Since the seal also includes the fact of whether a person did or did not go to Confession. Also since the penitent can go to Confession anonymously it may not be possible for a priest to know if a specific person actually went. They also said to parade each child up onto the stage or sanctuary area in front of everyone else would also violate the seal. No one should ever know or acknowledge if any specific person actually ever went to Confession or not.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Attending a Sacramental preparation workshop given by the head of a tribunal. They indicated that any parish that issued First Reconciliation certificates risked actually violating the seal of Confession. Since the seal also includes the fact of whether a person did or did not go to Confession. Also since the penitent can go to Confession anonymously it may not be possible for a priest to know if a specific person actually went. They also said to parade each child up onto the stage or sanctuary area in front of everyone else would also violate the seal. No one should ever know or acknowledge if any specific person actually ever went to Confession or not.
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Yet Canon Law begs to differ and who art thou to disobey it?

When I was in Catholic School we were taught of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation and the Eucharist. On one day we were all to make our first confession and we did, all of us and the next day we went to forst Holy Communion- and were told that if we sinned after that first confession the priest is available in the confessional AS USUAL BACK THEN to hear our confession.

Ken
 
The Seal of Confession DOES NOT mean keeping knowledge of the fact of going to confession secret.

The Seal of Confession is kept only by the priest who hears the confession not to disclose to anyone what the confessee has confessed. The priest can even tell a judge or a jury the fact a criminal went to him for confession but cannot tell them what he confessed.

I hate all this post vatican 2 junk- glad I am in a parish that does things the previous way legally!!!

Ken
 
The Eucharist is spiritual food, good for anyone of any age.

In the Byzantine East the rule is communion at the time of baptism, and continually for the rest of ones’ earthly life. It has always been so. Confession begins at the age of reason.

Eastern Christians believe that it is wrong to deny a child communion just as it is wrong to deny the child a baptism. The CCEO provides for the administration of this sacrament to infants.

http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/July/688/Detail/WCong03Sun10.jpg
http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/September/762/Detail/DSC_0080.jpg
 
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Hesychios:
The Eucharist is spiritual food, good for anyone of any age.

In the Byzantine East the rule is communion at the time of baptism, and continually for the rest of ones’ earthly life. It has always been so. Confession begins at the age of reason.

Eastern Christians believe that it is wrong to deny a child communion just as it is wrong to deny the child a baptism. The CCEO provides for the administration of this sacrament to infants.
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Mr. Hesychios,

This does concern a child who has reached the age of reason.

As you very well know, in the Latin rite, first communion is not administered until the age of reason, that is why it is important that a child at this point understand confession and what it means to our souls, and our relationship to our Lord.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
. No one should ever know or acknowledge if any specific person actually ever went to Confession or not.
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It was my understanding that the Seal of the Confessional pertained to the contents of the Confession, not the act of itself.

Otherwise, the very rows of penitents waiting to enter the confessional would be a violation of the seal.

Certainly we would never know what the penitent confessed, or if they recieved a Sacramental Absolution, but it would be public knowledge that a specific person entered into the confessional and exited after a specific amount of time.
 
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kleary:
The Seal of Confession DOES NOT mean keeping knowledge of the fact of going to confession secret.

The Seal of Confession is kept only by the priest who hears the confession not to disclose to anyone what the confessee has confessed. The priest can even tell a judge or a jury the fact a criminal went to him for confession but cannot tell them what he confessed.

I hate all this post vatican 2 junk- glad I am in a parish that does things the previous way legally!!!

Ken
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The seal is what as well as who.
 
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Hesychios:
The Eucharist is spiritual food, good for anyone of any age.
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Yes, there is little doubt among anyone that the Eucharist is good for anyone of any age. It’s is Christ Himself, so how could it be otherwise.

But I’m sure you would acknowledge that the Eucharist should not be recieved in a way contrary to the directives of one’s Metropolitan.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
The seal is what as well as who.
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Br. Rich.

The priest who attended the execution of Timothy McVeigh stated that Timothy sought to have a Sacramental Confession, confessed his sins and recieved a Sacramental Absolution.

The priest did not mention what Timothy confessed.

Did the priest break the seal of the confessional?
 
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Brendan:
It was my understanding that the Seal of the Confessional pertained to the contents of the Confession, not the act of itself.

Otherwise, the very rows of penitents waiting to enter the confessional would be a violation of the seal.

Certainly we would never know what the penitent confessed, or if they recieved a Sacramental Absolution, but it would be public knowledge that a specific person entered into the confessional and exited after a specific amount of time.
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That is correct. It is public knowledge that the person stood in line, entered the confessional, exited the confessional and left. It is not known if they actually received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the priest cannot acknowlegde if they did or not. That is how I have been instructed.
 
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Brendan:
Br. Rich.

The priest who attended the execution of Timothy McVeigh stated that Timothy sought to have a Sacramental Confession, confessed his sins and recieved a Sacramental Absolution.

The priest did not mention what Timothy confessed.

Did the priest break the seal of the confessional?
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I would have to see the actual transcript. For example changing a few letters changes the whole statement.

“The priest who attended the execution of Timothy McVeigh stated that Timothy sought to have a Sacramental Confession, confessed his sins and recieved a Sacramental Absolution.”

and

The priest who attended the execution of Timothy McVeigh stated that Timothy sought to have a Sacramental Confession, to confess his sins and recieve a Sacramental Absolution.

The second version does not actually say if he did.

What did his Bishop say after he said this?
 
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