First Confession---BEFORE First Holy Communion or in the 4th grade?

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Giannawannabe

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I was just wondering what your parish does. From my understanding, as a First Communion teacher, First Confession must take place before First Communion. As a child, (just after Vatican II changes) I made First Confession in 4th grade. I notice that there are still some parishes in my area that follow this line of thinking. What is correct? How can I explain this to others? I have a friend who teaches 4th grade Catechism at the local parish. She doesn’t think “little second graders” can understand Confession. I told her that Confession is much easier to comprehend than Transubstantiation and Consecration. I explained what the Catechism says on the matter, and she stared at me with a blank expression on her face. She said she “hates” going to Confession and hasn’t been in years, so how can she tell little kids that they have to go? Any thoughts would be appreciated…
 
I think you are right. Confession is a lot easier to comprehend than Transubstantiation. I received my first confession in 4th grade as well, unfortunately. And, equally unfortunately, so did my son. But it is supposed to be the other way around. I’m sorry I can’t quote you documentation on that. I’m sure someone else can.

God bless.
 
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Giannawannabe:
I was just wondering what your parish does. From my understanding, as a First Communion teacher, First Confession must take place before First Communion. As a child, (just after Vatican II changes) I made First Confession in 4th grade. I notice that there are still some parishes in my area that follow this line of thinking. What is correct? How can I explain this to others? I have a friend who teaches 4th grade Catechism at the local parish. She doesn’t think “little second graders” can understand Confession. I told her that Confession is much easier to comprehend than Transubstantiation and Consecration. I explained what the Catechism says on the matter, and she stared at me with a blank expression on her face. She said she “hates” going to Confession and hasn’t been in years, so how can she tell little kids that they have to go? Any thoughts would be appreciated…
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This could be a place for outright confrontation in a pastoral way. Are you in a supervisory position over your friend? Even if you are not, she needs to know that she is not in the classroom to teach the children that she hates confession but to teach them the beauty of this most consoling of all Sacraments.

I am sure your friend is not alone in having a problem with this sacrament. Perhaps the DRE could give a little class for the catechists and teach them to understand the beauty of Confession. Your friend’s statement is extremely troubling.
 
The following two Canons seem to remove any doubt: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.

Can. 989 After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is ob-liged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year.

I wholeheartedly agree with you; Reconciliation is a much easier concept to grasp than the Eucharistic Presence. After all, do we not try to instill in our children at a very early age the ideas of responsibility and forgiveness?

(By the way, Giannawannane, Canon 989 is also relevant for the catechist of which you spoke).😉
 
My middle son will be making his First Confession on the 28th of this month. First Communion will be following the first weekend in May.

I’m not entirely sure why there’s the big gap between the firsts. I guess to spend some time concentrating on one sacrament at a time rather than trying to teach them both simultaneously? All I know is that my oldest son was bitterly disappointed that he couldn’t start receiving Communion the next Sunday after First Confession.

Delaying First Confession until 4th grade honestly makes no sense to me. Trust me, my middle boy knows perfectly well when he’s done something he oughtn’t have, and I don’t think any properly parented child would have difficulties with that at his age (born in '98, so he’s 7-1/2 and will be turning 8 just before his First Communion).
 
It is time to return to the ancient and theologically sound practice of initiation: Baptism, Chrismtion/confirmation, and Eucharist all during the same mass. The present system carries casuistry to an illogical and harmful extreme.

CDL
 
Our parish does confession first, then First Communion, in the second grade. The part of your post that really stands out to me is that the woman who is teaching these kids about confession says that she hates to go and hasn’t been in years. Why on earth is she teaching if she doesn’t believe in the sacraments? I don’t know how you can handle this situation, though. Are you friends? Is this something you would feel comfortable talking to her about?
 
Thanks for all of your responses! Just to clarify a few things…My friend teaches at our local parish, I teach at a different parish that makes First Confession prior to making First Communion. She is a very forceful, “know it all” type person who is difficult to approach. Her son is my son’s best friend. This last time we spoke, I had a very strong urge to “explain” things to her regarding the Sacraments, so I did. She is the same age as I am (in our 40’s), and was poorly catechized. I have tried over the years to gently inform her of things. She generally takes things well, but is one to go on the defensive rather easily so I really have to be careful with how and when I approach her on things. It is frustrating when she says things like “I hate confession, and don’t understand the need…blah, blah, blah” I tried to offer her some literature, but she declined. She is definitely questioning how her parish is approaching the Sacrament of Penance, and so I want to be able to be as well informed as possible, should she continue to approach me with questions.

The DRE at her parish has actively persuaded parents to delay making First Confession in the 2nd grade. The Pastor goes along with this. They offer the “option” of making First Confession prior to First Communion, but it is entirely up to the parents. For this, and other reasons, we attend Mass elsewhere!

Thanks again for all of the good info.
 
Okay. Now, from msproule’s post, and my understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, am I responsible for somehow reporting some of these Churches that are not following through with First Confession BEFORE First Communion? I’ve talked to so many people that are simply confused over the whole matter, and when the Pastor and DRE are actually encouraging parents to wait until 4th grade (because 7 year olds can’t sin, etc.), they just go along with it.

Anyway, what can be done?
 
This issues is really not open to discussion:

SANCTUS PONTIFEX
Confession Before First Communion
Sacred Congregations of the Sacraments and for the Clergy

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CCLSANCT.HTM

The religious monk who was in charge of catechetics at my parish was released from his duties primarily because he would not follow Sanctus Pontifex.
 
And this stance was thoroughly confirmed in Redemptionis Sacramentum which was issued in March of 2004:

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

I suggest you bring a copy of this document to the DRE and the pastor. If they continue to do things their own way, I would certainly bring the matter to the attention of the bishop.
 
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Giannawannabe:
I was just wondering what your parish does. From my understanding, as a First Communion teacher, First Confession must take place before First Communion. As a child, (just after Vatican II changes) I made First Confession in 4th grade. I notice that there are still some parishes in my area that follow this line of thinking. What is correct? How can I explain this to others? I have a friend who teaches 4th grade Catechism at the local parish. She doesn’t think “little second graders” can understand Confession. I told her that Confession is much easier to comprehend than Transubstantiation and Consecration. I explained what the Catechism says on the matter, and she stared at me with a blank expression on her face. She said she “hates” going to Confession and hasn’t been in years, so how can she tell little kids that they have to go? Any thoughts would be appreciated…
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What is correct? What the Vatican decreed over twenty years ago. In the Latin Church that First Reconciliation MUST precede First Holy Communion!
 
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Melissa:
My middle son will be making his First Confession on the 28th of this month. First Communion will be following the first weekend in May.

I’m not entirely sure why there’s the big gap between the firsts. .
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So take him again before his First Communion 👍

Ours made his 1st confession on his 7th Birthday, mostly because he wanted to go to Confession and there is no reason why a Baptized Catholic who has achieved the age of reason should be prevented from going.

So we taught him his Act of Contrition and the general form of the Sacrament and took him.

He has gone about monthly since.

The rest of his class will make their first confession in Feb.
 
I clearly remember, many years ago when I was a young mother, that one year they experimented with First Communion before First Confession. Many other parishes were doing the same thing.

Not too long after that a correction was given and it was stated that the practice should immediately stop and that First Confession should precede First Communion.

Sadly, I hear in this thread that it is cropping up again. Others have pointed out that the proper order for the reception of these Sacraments, Confession before First Communion is, indeed, official.

And, it is so important for young children to begin to form a conscience. They are spiritual beings and can readily understand, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that they need to ask forgiveness through the priest when they have sinned.
 
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Brendan:
So take him again before his First Communion 👍
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Oh, the going to Confession again wasn’t the problem–it was more like as we were leaving the church after his First Confession, oldest son asked why he couldn’t start receiving Jesus right away. Probably, if I hadn’t been so far along w/ the pregnancy (twins), I would’ve talked to our pastor about letting him start receiving earlier than May. I just didn’t have the energy (the twins were originally due on the Feast of the Annunciation, but being twins, ended up being born on Ash Wednesday, which was Feb. 28 that year, and that was only a month after the First Confession–and of course, after having the twins, I was really drained. As one other parent of twins and singletons said–“I’ve had them one at a time and two at a time; I highly recommend one at a time.”)
 
Thanks for the links Altar Man, msproule, and Ham1…I may send them to my friend.
 
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Giannawannabe:
Thanks for the links Altar Man, msproule, and Ham1…I may send them to my friend.
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At the old “Catholic Community” that I belonged to, when I brought this up they said, “The Diocese left it up to us.”
I said, “Not for my daughter.”

Then of course, I escaped. 😉
 
It is indeed Reconciliation before Eucharist in the Latin Rite.

There was a DRE in a local diocese (not mine) who decided to blow off the rule, as she felt it was better to wait to fourth grade (and reached this conclusion on her own). Her pastor didn’t back her, but he didn’t stop her either.

A phone call was made to the diocese in question with the agreement that that person’s name would be kept out of it.

Now the parish in question HAS to do it in order.
 
Traditionally, children got their first confession before their first communion. In more recent years, some parishes and dioceses have reversed the order, although the Vatican hasn’t given the new protocol its o.k. yet.

The Eastern rite churches have given communion before confession for a very long time, however.
 
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OutinChgoburbs:
It is indeed Reconciliation before Eucharist in the Latin Rite.

There was a DRE in a local diocese (not mine) who decided to blow off the rule, as she felt it was better to wait to fourth grade (and reached this conclusion on her own). Her pastor didn’t back her, but he didn’t stop her either.

A phone call was made to the diocese in question with the agreement that that person’s name would be kept out of it.

Now the parish in question HAS to do it in order.
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That was a great service provided by the person who made the phone call to the diocese!
 
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