| This file contains Magisterial texts on the obligation of First Confession before
First Communion and the efforts of the Holy See over a period of two decades to end abuses
of the rights of children and of sacramental discipline. I. Sanctus Pontifex - Congregation for the
Discipline of the Sacraments (1973)
II. In quibusdam Ecclesiae
partibus - Congregations for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and
Congregation for the Clergy (1977)
III. Responsum - Sacred
Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and Sacred Congregation for the Clergy
(1977)
IV. Code of Canon Law, c914 -
Pope John Paul II (1983)
V. Catechism of the Catholic Church - Pope
John Paul II (1994)
I. Sanctus Pontifex
Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments
Declaration on children's confession prior to their first communion, 24 May
1973: AAS 65 (1973) 410
Pope St. Pius X, basing himself on the prescription of canon 21 of Lateran Council IV,
rules through the Decree Quam singulari, 8 August 1916 (AAS 2 [1910]
577-583) that children were to receive the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist as soon
as they reached the age of reason. Put into practice throughout the universal Church, this
precept has yielded many good results for the Christian life and spiritual perfection and
continues to do so.
The "Addendum" to the General Catechetical Directory, promulgated by
the Congregation for the Clergy, 11 April 1971 (AAS 64 [1972] 97-176), confirmed
the practice in which children's first communion is preceded by the sacrament of penance
in these words: "Having weighed all these points and keeping in mind the common and
general practice, which per se cannot be derogated without the approval of the Apostolic
See, and also having heard the conferences of bishops, the Holy See judges it fitting that
the practice now in force in the Church of putting confession ahead of first communion
should be retained" (no. 5).
The same document took into consideration new practices introduced in some regions whereby
reception of the Eucharist was permitted before reception of the sacrament of penance. The
document merely permitted the continuation of these experiments for the time being if
"they have first communicated with the Holy See, which will gladly listen to them,
and if they are of one mind with the Holy See" (ibid.).
The Congregations for the Discipline of the Sacraments and for the Clergy have considered
this matter thoroughly and taken into account the views of the conferences of bishops.
With the approval of Pope Paul VI, therefore, the two Congregations by the present
document declare that an end must be put to these experiments -- which now have gone on
for three years -- to coincide with the close of the school year 1972-73 and that
thereafter the Decree Quam singulari must be obeyed everywhere by all. [emphasis
added]
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II. In
quibusdam Ecclesiae partibus
Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and Sacred Congregation for the
Clergy Letter to the conferences of bishops, on children's first confession prior to
first communion, 31 March 1977 (SCSDW and SCC Prot. N. 2/76)
In some parts of the Church and in some centers for catechetics, even though the
Declaration Sanctus Pontifex was published on 24 May 1973 jointly by the Sacred
Congregations for the Discipline of the Sacraments and for the Clergy (see AAS
65, 1973, 410), & dissension and doubts still remain about the ecclesiastical
discipline relevant to children's receiving the sacrament of penance before they receive
their first communion. Many inquiries and requests have come to this Apostolic See from
bishops, priests, and parents. One apostolic religious institute, exercising its minis-
try in many countries, has posed the question explicitly: after the promulgation of the
Declaration, is it still lawful for first communion to precede first confession as a
general rule in those parishes where this practice has been in force for the last several
years?
Moreover, recent surveys by the Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship have
established the need of inculcating the Church's norms regarding this issue and also the
timeliness of explaining again, to the extent required, the mind and force of this
declaration. This is done by giving an official reply to the query raised by the religious
institute already mentioned.
It is certainly not necessary to explain the reason for publishing the Declaration. All
are fully aware of the grave disturbance, created by some opinions based on psychological
and pedagogical reasons, that was undermining the accepted practice of the Church. It is
interesting to note, however, that, before the Decree Quam singulari (see AAS
2, 579), according to the general opinion, children who reached a certain age could be
admitted to confession, but not to communion; now, conversely, it is claimed that children
may receive communion, but that it is not right for confession to precede. The Decree Quam
singulari itself placed the origin of the regrettable practice in question in the failure
to settle clearly the age of discretion suited to receiving the sacraments: "The
abuses we censure spring from this, that the age of discretion was not properly or
correctly settled and that some assign one age for confession and another for the
Eucharist." For this reason in no. 1 of the legislative section, the Decree
prescribes that there is only one age for these sacraments and that when it is reached,
the obligation begins of receiving both according to the designated order, i.e.,
confession before communion: "The age of discretion both for confession arid for
communion is the age at which the child begins to reason, i.e., around the seventh year,
either before or after. That is the time when the obligation begins of fulfilling the
precept both of confession and of communion."
That confession should precede communion is clear from the order in which these two
sacraments are listed in the Decree, as well as from the fact that the repudiated abuses
concerned the admission not to confession but rather to communion.
The need for safeguarding and protecting worthy participation in the Eucharist has
compelled the Church to introduce as the norm in its discipline and pastoral practice that
confession should precede communion. In this way it respects the right of the faithful,
both adults and children, to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Moreover, St. Paul's admonition (see 1
Cor. 11:28) truly establishes a directive norm that applies even to children. They
too, therefore, should examine their conscience before receiving the Eucharist. But often
children are not able to examine their conscience clearly and surely without help; they
will be able to do so more easily and safely if the assistance of a priest confessor is
available to them. Many children feel troubled by small and unimportant things, while
others may fail to recognize or make little of more serious faults.
It is further to be remembered what many good pastors have learned from their catechetical
and ministerial experience, namely, the great benefits and saving power that first
confession has in the life of children if it is carefully prepared, properly adapted to
their age and their capacity to perceive spiritual things, and carefully administered.
When they arrive at the age of discretion, children already possess in the Church the
right to receive both sacraments. It would be an absurd and unjust discrimination and a
violation of conscience if they were prepared for and admitted only to communion. It is
not enough to say that children have the right to go to confession, if this right is
excluded in practice.
When children are sufficiently instructed and are aware of the special nature of these two
sacraments, it will not be difficult for them to go first to the sacrament of
reconciliation, which, in a simple but fundamental way, arouses in them the awareness of
moral good and evil and aids them to bring a more mature disposition to their happy
meeting with Christ in the Eucharist. A deep conviction about the need of the greatest
purity for the reception of the Eucharist worthily, if prudently and properly instilled in
children right from the time of their first communion, will accompany them for the rest of
their lives and lead to a greater esteem for, and a more frequent use of, the sacrament of
reconciliation. Pope Paul VI taught this in the letter he wrote through the Secretary of
State on the occasion of the 26th Liturgical Week celebrated in Florence: "The Pope,
finally, places a special emphasis on children's confession, particularly their first
confession. This must always pre- cede their first communion even if an extended period
between the two is helpful. From the earliest years an evangelization must begin that will
make ever stronger and more conscious the support of a living faith for their celebration
of the sacrament and above all for a sure and consistent way of living the Christian
life."
It may well be remarked that the special conditions of society and culture in different
countries are not a legitimate reason for establishing a different discipline. Human
nature is basically the same everywhere and the goals of spiritual development that belong
to the sacrament are set equally before everyone. And indeed, whatever their social or
cultural situation, if children can receive the Eucharist in a conscious way, suited to
their age, they can also have an equal awareness of sin and ask God's pardon in
confession.
Finally, one must remember that the reform and reinvigoration of the sacrament of penance
so needed today and so desired by pastors in the universal Church, cannot come about
unless it has its foundation and beginning in the careful and effective preparation and
reception of the sacraments of Christian initiation.
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III. Responsum
Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and Sacred Congregation for the
Clergy Reply to a query on first confession and first communion, 20 May 1977: AAS
69 (1977) 427; Not 13 (1977) 603
After the Declaration of 24 May 1973, is it still lawful for first communion to precede
first confession as a general rule in those parishes where this practice has been in force
for the last several years? The Congregations for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and
for the Clergy, with the approval of Pope Paul Vl, have replied:
No, in accord with the mind of the Declaration.
That mind is that a year from promulgation of the Declaration there be an end to all
experiments in which first communion is received without prior reception of the sacrament
of penance and that the discipline of the Church return to the spirit of the Decree Quam
singulari.
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IV. Code
of Canon Law
Pope John Paul II (1983)
Canon 914. It is the responsibility, in the first place, of parents and those who take the
place of parents as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the use of
reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible,
preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any
children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the use of reason or whom he judges
are not sufficiently disposed.
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V. Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Pope John Paul II (1994)
1457 According to the Church's command, "after having attained the age of discretion,
each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least
once a year." Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive
Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received
sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is
no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before
receiving Holy Communion for the first time.
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