First Communion without confession?

[Brendan]

Br. Rich SFO:

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?

In either case, should the Bishop be upset with that priest?

In the first case, you would claim that the priest broke the seal of the confessional.

In the second, it would seem that the priest denied the Sacrament to one who sought to confess his sins (on his deathbed even)

 

[Hesychios]

Brendan:

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.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Hello Brendan,
Agreed. Further I recognize that this is an internal matter for the Latin church alone to decide. It is also very clearly a discipline, and not a doctrine otherwise the variance in practice would not be justifiable.

Please take my postings to be informational only, for it is very easy to forget in a discussion like this that there are Catholics and Orthodox who would view this issue from a completely different perspective, and it could have import in reconciliation discussions.

To me the western concept seems to be a strict focus on the rules, but not as much on the why of the rules.

I think we can all agree that no one should approach the chalice unworthily. The question then becomes how do we determine the worthiness of a prospective communicant. In the west this seems to require the proper catechesis of the individual and enough reason to be able to discern one’s own worthiness. In the east childlike innocence is enough, no more is asked of the individual.

This is a very good illustration of how cultural attitudes have shaped our thinking over these matters, and helps us understand why there is a difference in our concepts of Original Sin, the conception of the Theotokos, Limbo and Purgatory, Mortal and Venial sins, worthiness of married men to serve at the altar and a whole host of other minor issues.

In Christ Jesus
Michael

 

[Beaver]

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.

Paul had it right “We are a new creation in Christ”, but how is it that he is right. I know that some of you have never attended a Mass, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, but we are going to lead you on the adventure of the Mass anyway. The first part of the Mass is the reading from the New and Old Testaments of the Bible.

The second part starts with the overshadowing of the Gifts of Bread and Wine, and just like the Overshadowing of the womb of Mary brought forth the Real Presence, so does the Priest at the Mass. The angel Gabriel said “The Holy Spirit shall overshadow you, therefore the one born shall be the Son of God”, the Real Presence of God.

Now the congregation is the vary Womb of Christ’s bride, and it is about to receive the Eucharist. This Eucharist may or may not penetrate the members heart. This depends on how harden the heart is do to sin, but the Church has a way of softening harden hearts, it is call confession or reconciliation. Once a heart is soften the Eucharist can enter, and the member will become a New Creation in Christ.

The tradition of reconciliation before First Communion make sense, for we should all desire to be a New Creation in Christ, therefore all taught the correct order of these events.

 

[carol_marie]

Thanks to all of you who responded. I’m still confused though… is it acceptable for my nephew to make his First Communion without having gone to Confession or is his parish/school wrong in doing it that way?

Also, when I was in RCIA last year we all went to confession on the same day. It didn’t seem optional in the least… it was part of the schedule and everyone knew on that day we would be going to confession. Br. Rich - wouldn’t that go against what you said was correct - that no one should know if we go to confession?


Thanks,
CM

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

carol marie:

Thanks to all of you who responded. I’m still confused though… is it acceptable for my nephew to make his First Communion without having gone to Confession or is his parish/school wrong in doing it that way?

Also, when I was in RCIA last year we all went to confession on the same day. It didn’t seem optional in the least… it was part of the schedule and everyone knew on that day we would be going to confession. Br. Rich - wouldn’t that go against what you said was correct - that no one should know if we go to confession?


Thanks,
CM

Your nephew must be catechized in the meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be given the opportunity to go period. Same goes for RCIA. A Candidate could say I will go at another parish.

 

[carol_marie]

Br. Rich SFO:

Your nephew must be catechized in the meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be given the opportunity to go period. Same goes for RCIA. A Candidate could say I will go at another parish.

Got it. Thanks.

 

[Elzee]

The last sentence of #1457 in the CCC states:

“Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.”