A few of my family members have not made some of the “Sacraments”. One 17 year old made “First Reconciliation”, but no “First Communion”. One 22 year old has not made “Confirmation”. Will they not go to heaven, even though they are good kids?
And what would happen to the parents of these children…if they don’t go to church regularly?
last query first, if these children are baptized, their parents made a profession of faith on their behalf and a solemn promise to raise those children in the faith, including seeing to their religious education throughout their school years and bringing them to the sacraments at the age determined by their bishop. So at the least they have violated that solemn promise. If they are not attending Mass themselves they are of course in mortal sin, and the sin is compounded by failing to give their children opportunity to attend Mass. This depends on their knowledge of these obligations and the consequences
by the time the children are over the age of reason or at least in their teens they are adults for the purposes of initiation sacraments, so cannot be forced to have first communion or confirmation, so w/o knowing all the details no way to give an answer specific to this particular family, only a general answer
why on earth an adult Catholic would not be panting and thirsting for sacraments is beyond my understanding, but those charged with their religious formation will be held accountable for this lack. where are the godparents in all this, who promised to help this child be raised in the faith?
My apologies, I should have made it more clear. This is my family. I came from a Catholic family that was not as strict compared to my in-laws. They are very commited to their church. I have been presented a question from my mother-in-law…She asked my husband and I…“What will we do when we go before the “Lord” and we have not evangilized our children?”
This really was very hurtful to me. And it scared me at the same time. There are reasons they have not made some of the sacraments. But, then again that could be considered an excuse. I am wondering if this is unforgiveable and WE won’t be accepted into heaven?
I would hope that if we all went to RCIA, completed our sacraments, and go to church, that this would help.
to do this as a family would be a wonderful thing, and a source of immense graces for the entire family. Your MIL asked a legitimate question, if you are already Catholic parents and she asked out of concern for your immortal soul, and that of your children. She in no way implied, or inteded to imply that you are bad or your kids are bad, only that you have failed in this element of your duty as Catholic parents.
those who failed in your own upbringing to teach you these things are culpable if you were left in ignorance of the importance of sacraments in the life of the Catholic person and family.
only God decides who enters heaven, we do not, so speculation on that point is out of place
I want to repeat one more time at the risk of being borning, because I meet parents like this every day. No one ever taught them the true meaning of Mass and the sacraments as celebrations of and participation in Christ’s sacrifice that saves us. If they had been properly educated, nothing would keep them away from the grace of the sacraments, and they would allow nothing to prevent their children from coming to Christ. If they were poorly taught, their own guilt is much mitigated, and the burden of answering to God falls on those whose duty it was to teach them properly. So don’t be too quick to blame yourself it you never understood, or don’t understand now, why the sacraments are so important.
There is plenty of time to remedy any lack and when the whole family humbly comes to ask the Church for this grace, it is an immense blessing to the family, each member, and the whole Church. You have been provided with the opportunity for grace beyond imagining and I hope you are able to take advantage of it.
