Do you guys think 2nd grade is too early/young?

[curtins]

Do you guys think that 2nd grade is too early or young to receive first Communion. I really did grasp what the Eucharist was till at most 2 years ago and I'm 15. And I still dont know. I just dont think a 2nd grader can begin to comprehend what the Eucharist truly is or means.

[theculturewarrior]

I think it should be given to babies.

[dspen2005]

traditionally the age of reason has been 7 years --

[theculturewarrior]

I trust the prudence of the Church, but some Catholics are permitted to receive the Eucharist as babies. I trust the Church, but that seems better to me. He doesn't start being God when you start believing in Him.

[Colleen]

I don't think they're too young. It depends on the kid, of course, and whether the child has been properly taught about the Eucharist. Pope St. Pius X allowed a four-year-old to receive Communion when the little boy had demonstrated that he knew it was Jesus. In the Eastern rites, I believe babies receive the Eucharist at the time of Baptism.

[curtins]

When they were preparing us for First Communion, they never told us that receiving communion in state of mortal sin was a big no no and they never taught us about the correlation between Confession and Communion. Then again I was under the impression that the only mortal sin was murder until I was in 7th grade.

[Colleen]

[quote name='curtins' date='Oct 2 2005, 03:40 PM']When they were preparing us for First Communion, they never told us that receiving communion in state of mortal sin was a big no no and they never taught us about the correlation between Confession and Communion. Then again I was under the impression that the only mortal sin was murder until I was in 7th grade.
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I would say that that was a form of injustice that your teachers never properly educated you about sin and the Eucharist. I'm very sorry to hear that.

But I am glad that you have since learned the truth.

[homeschoolmom]

I think seven is a great time. Children have such great faith. Why wait until they become sceptics?

[quote]I just dont think a 2nd grader can begin to comprehend what the Eucharist truly is or means. [/quote]

I doubt I can comprehend what the Eucharist truly means either...

[curtins]

i dont know I feel that I've gotten a alot more respect and reverence for the Eucharist since I really found my faith. I always knew it was something important but I coulnt really grasp it in the way I do now.


I do think better preparation is in order.

[ofpheritup]

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON, not the age. I read somewhere that 30% of Catholics do not believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. They see it as a symbol.

My daughter at the age of 5 made a scene in church when I told her she couldn't go to communion with me. She stood up on the kneeler and SCREAMED, "I want some Jesus, do you think I'm stupid? I know who that is I want some Jesus too." I had to carry her out of the church.

It depends on the person, not the age.

[curtins]

thats very true

maybe the whole point im getting at here is they need better preparation at least where i live

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='ofpheritup' date='Oct 2 2005, 05:33 PM']My daughter at the age of 5 made a scene in church when I told her she couldn't go to communion with me.  She stood up on the kneeler and SCREAMED,  "I want some Jesus, do you think I'm stupid? I know who that is I want some Jesus too."  I had to carry her out of the church.
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I'm sorry... that's funny. (thanks for taking her out, though)... My son also felt that way. He "gets it" as well as a first grader can. When we first became Catholic, he'd ask me to "bring him back a cracker" so we had a little talk about the Eucharist. He gets it.

[morostheos]

I would agree that children in general need to be better educated, I was also not told anything about mortal sin and recieving the Eucharist or about how confession was good to go to more than just once, and every few years or so at retreats.

In regards to the age, a very wise priest once told me that the grace children recieve from recieving the Eucharist would far outweigh any bad effects of not understanding fully. I thought he made an excellent point.

[zabbazooey]

I didn't REALLY know what the eucharist truly was till AFTER I was received into the church at 16.

Bad catechesis, methinks.

[Philippe]

[quote name='curtins' date='Oct 2 2005, 01:40 PM']When they were preparing us for First Communion, they never told us that receiving communion in state of mortal sin was a big no no and they never taught us about the correlation between Confession and Communion. Then again I was under the impression that the only mortal sin was murder until I was in 7th grade.
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thats the same with me except i learned in 9th grade

[jmjtina]

[quote name='ofpheritup' date='Oct 2 2005, 04:33 PM']My daughter at the age of 5 made a scene in church when I told her she couldn't go to communion with me.  She stood up on the kneeler and SCREAMED,  "I want some Jesus, do you think I'm stupid? I know who that is I want some Jesus too."  I had to carry her out of the church.

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BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! :

and Halirious!!!! She knows EXACTLY who Jesus is!!!!!

Edited October 3, 2005 by jmjtina

[Dudette]

[quote name='curtins' date='Oct 2 2005, 07:53 PM']thats very true

maybe the whole point im getting at here is they need better preparation at least where i live
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yep, at 7 I didn't understand what the Eucharist was. I only understood when I was about 12 years old.

[cmotherofpirl]

Personally I think they should wait until 3rd grade. The comprehension level soars dramatically in that year.

Edited October 3, 2005 by cmotherofpirl

[homeschoolmom]

Honestly, I wish it weren't a particular grade level at all. My daughter was a third grader amid some two hundred second graders. It would be nice if it were more dependant upon their formation and spirtual maturity rather than when their birthday happens to fall.

[cmotherofpirl]

That would be the ideal situation.