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

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 3 2005, 08:10 AM']That would be the ideal situation.
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I mean, I can see why it's become a second grade occurance-- how can the priest determine the spiritual maturity of hundreds of children?

Our daughter could have received Holy Communion when we did. She would have been a second grader. But she wasn't ready. She didn't understand. So, we held her back a year, had her go through the "normal" sacramental prep with lots of follow up from us on how this was different than protestant communion. In the end, it was right. The First Communion service was lovely (even though it SNOWED on May 1st)... One of these days I'm going to post some pix (especially the one of my daughter in her first communion dress and veil running around in the snow. )

[thessalonian]

We petitioned the priest to allow our daughter to recieve this year in first grade and he granted it. She is so excited and knows what the Eucharist is already. I am quite sure she could have recieved last year, though actually I would not be opposed to having children who do not fully understand recieve. Even infants as someone said above. She was so cute saturday morning. Cartoons are on but I was surprized to see he come to the table before anyone else but me was up with her Catechism book. She did a lesson on her own. (she's homeschooled). I asked her questions afterward and she had learned well all by herself.

Our son was quite ready in 2nd grade and perhaps could have recieved earlier. One of the boys from her previous marriage recieved when he was five and in retrospect by the criteria that they should have some understanding, he was borderline.

Blessings

Edited October 3, 2005 by thessalonian

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Oct 2 2005, 05:25 PM']I doubt I can comprehend what the Eucharist truly means either... 
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I think if people truly understood fully, we'd be in the chapel every single day 24/7...

Edited October 3, 2005 by goldenchild17

[zabbazooey]

Amen to that!

[Didacus]

I think it is a good time. It shows at a young age the importance of God and gives children the opportunity to learn the sanctity of being part of the Catholic church.

One has to keep in mind that confirmation is also coming a little later in life, and at that time children are more prompt to understand the Catholic church in 'adult' terms. Until then, I am fully confident that the Lord understands children's shortcomings and innocence like 'confessions' and what not.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='Oct 3 2005, 10:08 AM']I think if people truly understood fully, we'd be in the chapel every single day 24/7...
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No, no we wouldn't. We would be sinning if we were to do that. The Church, and thus Christ, has commanded us to be about the temporal affairs of the world, evangelizing, and building up the Church.

[morostheos]

In many hispanic cultures children recieve first Communion when the parents think they are ready for it. My home parish has a large hispanic population and my little sister's first Communion was the first time they decided to have the hispanic first Communions together with the rest of them, and it caused some confusion when all the kids weren't the same age The moms who wanted to have the 3rd grade moms plan stuff for the 2nd graders were in such a tizzy!

I think it's a good thing though

[Theoketos]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Oct 3 2005, 10:21 AM']No, no we wouldn't. We would be sinning if we were to do that. The Church, and thus Christ, has commanded us to be about the temporal affairs of the world, evangelizing, and building up the Church.
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God had to tell Peter the same thing on Mt. Tabor after the Transfiguration.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Oct 3 2005, 10:21 AM']No, no we wouldn't. We would be sinning if we were to do that. The Church, and thus Christ, has commanded us to be about the temporal affairs of the world, evangelizing, and building up the Church.
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Actually I would have to agree that if Christ had not veiled himself under the appearances of bread and wine, we would in fact be before him day and night. In fact that is what heaven is all about.

[jgirl]

At my old parish where I made my first communion, the day school students received it in 2nd grade, and the PSR students received it in the third grade, so they could get extra catechesis.

[Proud2BCatholic139]

I also beleive it is a good age to recieve.
They are young, and learning about their faith.
I know it helped me.