Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Daughter receiving Holy Communion	Rachel	Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Question: Brother, My daughter is 3 1/4 years old. She recognizes Jesus in the Eucharist, understands that the Holy Spirit changes the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Jesus at the consecration, and has expressed a desire to receive (we are Latin Catholics). I know that the norms state that she may not receive until she has had her first sacramental confession; however, is this a strict requirement, or can it be dispensed? If at all possible, I would love for her to be able to receive the Lord at Mass. She loves Jesus and the Blessed Mother, loves to pray, and has even (without my prompting) expressed a desire to be a nun. Thank you in advance, and I suppose it's never too early to ask you to pray for her discernment. :)
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Rachel: The two canon laws that cover this issue are Canons 913 and 914: Can. 913 §1 For holy communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion. §2 The blessed Eucharist may, however, be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion with reverence. 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. However, in the commentary to this Canon (commentary is not law, but opinion) it says: Children should be prepared for and should be encouraged to approach the sacrament of penance as part of their preparation for first communion. However, penance before communion is a doctrinal requirement only if a person is in a state of serious sin... Therefore, if the parents, who have the primary responsibility for the child's catechesis (cc 226, 793,797, 798, 835.4), should determine that their child is not yet ready for first penance but is ready for first communion, the child should not be denied the right to the sacrament.* [see J. Provost, "The Reception of First Penance," J 47 (1987) 294-340; J Huels, Disputed Questions in the Liturgy Today (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988) 67-74.] Now, remember this is an opinion of the commentators of the Canon Law Society of America, not law. What you need to do is to approach your parish priest about this, or perhaps your bishop. The bishop is the one who has primary authority over this. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes:* This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Daughter receiving Holy Communion

Rachel

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Question:

Brother,

My daughter is 3 1/4 years old. She recognizes Jesus in the Eucharist, understands that the Holy Spirit changes the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Jesus at the consecration, and has expressed a desire to receive (we are Latin Catholics). I know that the norms state that she may not receive until she has had her first sacramental confession; however, is this a strict requirement, or can it be dispensed? If at all possible, I would love for her to be able to receive the Lord at Mass. She loves Jesus and the Blessed Mother, loves to pray, and has even (without my prompting) expressed a desire to be a nun.

Thank you in advance, and I suppose it's never too early to ask you to pray for her discernment. :)

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Rachel:

The two canon laws that cover this issue are Canons 913 and 914:

Can. 913 §1 For holy communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion.
§2 The blessed Eucharist may, however, be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion with reverence.
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.

However, in the commentary to this Canon (commentary is not law, but opinion) it says:

Children should be prepared for and should be encouraged to approach the sacrament of penance as part of their preparation for first communion. However, penance before communion is a doctrinal requirement only if a person is in a state of serious sin... Therefore, if the parents, who have the primary responsibility for the child's catechesis (cc 226, 793,797, 798, 835.4), should determine that their child is not yet ready for first penance but is ready for first communion, the child should not be denied the right to the sacrament.*
*[see J. Provost, "The Reception of First Penance," J 47 (1987) 294-340; J Huels, Disputed Questions in the Liturgy Today (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988) 67-74.]

Now, remember this is an opinion of the commentators of the Canon Law Society of America, not law.

What you need to do is to approach your parish priest about this, or perhaps your bishop. The bishop is the one who has primary authority over this.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum