Which sacrament did you have first

ootmother2 · April 2011

First Communion or First Reconciliation?

M had her First Communion first, at age 7

Reconciliation was at age 9.

Back in the old days, we had Reconciliation first, then First Communion, both at 6

Hope61 · April 2011

Hmmm... I thought that sounded odd, and this is what I found with a quick search:
Redemptionis Sacramentum
87.] The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution.[...]
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

I've never heard of First Commuion first-- I'm pretty sure I had my First Confession before First Communion.

ootmother2 · April 2011

From what I've seen and heard they are reversing the sacraments. My guess is that the age of reason at 7 is uncomfortable for many..

Katie, read the post below about teaching a First Communion classes

HandBanana · April 2011

7 when I made my Communion and I know my God daughter is making hers this year. She is 8 (older end because of a late birthday) and now that I think of it, I'm not sure if she had Reconciliation.

HandBanana · April 2011

I know I received Reconciliation before Communion. I feel like it was a full year before but it may have only been a month.

Huh I always assumed that Reconciliation is before Communion because we are suppose to confess sins before we ever receive Eucharist.

ootmother2 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_sacrament-did-first?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:00900e9d-1279-4daf-8a60-3f5cf18b899fPost:3f1dcfc5-ebb1-42ed-be1e-40ef797b9902">Re: Which sacrament did you have first</a>:
[QUOTE]I know I received Reconciliation before Communion. I feel like it was a full year before but it may have only been a month. Huh I always assumed that Reconciliation is before Communion because we are suppose to confess sins before we ever receive Eucharist.
Posted by HandBanana[/QUOTE]

And how old were you at the time?

Hope61 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_sacrament-did-first?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:00900e9d-1279-4daf-8a60-3f5cf18b899fPost:278e4f2e-2257-46b1-9f0e-1857e62842ca">Re: Which sacrament did you have first</a>:
[QUOTE]From what I've seen and heard they are reversing the sacraments. My guess is that the age of reason at 7 is uncomfortable for many.. Katie, read the post below about teaching a First Communion classes
Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]
Thats interesting... It seems that that is very clearly against Church instruction, though. Makes sense too... if a kid is too young to understand what confession is, I would think they're too young to understand what the Eucharist is as well. So if anything, both should be pushed back.

<p>I received both sacraments when I was 7.</p>

ootmother2 · April 2011

I'll ask my priest tomorrow, I'm sure he'll know.

ootmother2 · April 2011

I know that I was confirmed at 12.

These days is 14+

catarntina · April 2011

Reconciliaton first and then the following week was 1st Communion. I was in 2nd grade and 8 years old. I went to Catholic school. Not sure if that had anything to do with it. The teachers seemed to prepare us pretty well for it. I know I definitely understood what I was doing.

GulfCoaster · April 2011

I did Reconciliation a week before Easter, then confirmation, then Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. And at the Easter Vigil, confirmation does occur before first Eucharist, which I found interesting.

But I think you were asking mostly about kids.

For kids at our parish, they have their first confession a week or two before their first communion -- in the spring of third grade. (Why it is third grade and not second, I don't really know.)

ETA: And confirmation in our archdiocese is in 11th grade.

bel138 · April 2011

I definitely had Reconciliation first. I was 8 for both. DH was the same way.

Most Eastern churches have moved back to the tradition of giving the Precious Blood immediately after Baptism. Then Chrismating at the same time. First Reconciliation is still around second grade.

mica178 · April 2011

I did First Confession/Reconciliation first, then First Communion. I think both were when I was in 2nd grade, although I could be wrong (it could have been the 3rd grade). Both were definitely during the same school year

[Deleted User] · April 2011

I was baptized Catholic when I was 6 months old, but then never received the rest of the sacraments.

I went through RCIA 2 yrs ago. It will be 2 yrs ago this Easter since I have been Confirmed.

bklyn10910 · April 2011

I went to a Catholic elementary school, and we did Reconciliation first, then First Communion, both in 2nd Grade. I also thought Reconciliation had to come first?

Bec20 · April 2011

I received my first communion in May of Grade 2 (7.5) and first confession in November of Grade 4 (just after I turned 9).

My sister is 18 months younger than me and received both of hers in Grade 3 (8.5 for confession and just turned 9 for communion) at the same parish as me.

We were both confirmed in November of Grade 8 (I had just turned 13, she was 13.5).

bibliophile2010 · April 2011

It seems really backward to me to have first communion before first reconcilliation, unless you receive communion/confirmation as an infant.

As I alluded to in the other post, The Diocese of Phoenix now does confirmation at the same time as first communion. I realize that this is a historically accurate order (to complete initiation, not as an adult rite of passage), but it is still strange. I think this is a situation where accepting a cultural understanding (confirmation as a rite of passage that marks adult acceptance of faith and brings down the deeper gifts of the Holy Spirit) deepens the meaning, and does not detract from it, but that is just my opinion.

aimers1525 · April 2011

Hmm I had First Communion first, in 2nd grade so 8 years old I think. Reconciliation was in 4th grade, so 10 years old.

ootmother2 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_sacrament-did-first?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:00900e9d-1279-4daf-8a60-3f5cf18b899fPost:405800da-4608-4192-83b6-91a7669215a3">Re: Which sacrament did you have first</a>:
[QUOTE]I'll ask my priest tomorrow, I'm sure he'll know.
Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]

I meant on Sunday but now I really curious if there's any real reason for the timing

Calypso1977 · April 2011

confession first, then first communion.

i honestly dont know why you would do these in reverse, since we are taught that you must be as free of sin as possible prior to receiving communion.

Calypso1977 · April 2011

i also personally dont like specific ages being assigned/required. it shoudl all be dependent upon the child. if a child is ready for a sacrament they should nto be forced to wait for it. conversely, if they are not ready they shoudl nto receive it just because the diocese age is X for sacrament Y.

oot, i believe i was 7 when i got both.

doctabroccoli · April 2011

Another Catholic school attendee here.

We got Reconciliation and Communion in 2nd grade - Reconciliation was a couple months before Communion. I was confirmed in 8th grade. Those were the standard (and required I think) ages for our school.

ootmother2 · April 2011

damn! I asked after mass tonight and the priest said it depended on the chuch.

M went to an all girls, independent school that was probably 65% Catholic so they did First Communion and First Reconciliation as a group.

I know they were two years apart (haha, mostly because I remember the trial of finding the dresses)

gwendolynclare · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_sacrament-did-first?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:00900e9d-1279-4daf-8a60-3f5cf18b899fPost:c5647687-ff64-47d8-b216-d4553b2ce287">Re: Which sacrament did you have first</a>:
[QUOTE]i also personally dont like specific ages being assigned/required. it shoudl all be dependent upon the child. if a child is ready for a sacrament they should nto be forced to wait for it. conversely, if they are not ready they shoudl nto receive it just because the diocese age is X for sacrament Y. oot, i believe i was 7 when i got both.
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]

Your parish can't keep you (well, your child more probably) from receiving the sacraments if he or she has demonstrated an understanding of them and is of the age of reason. You can contact your diocese and get permission to receive them whenever. However, it would be considered uncharitable towards your parish and communicates disrespect towards the time of the diocese to do so. And of course, if at the standard age for the sacrament in your parish, you feel your child isn't ready for them, there's not problem in keeping them from receiving until they have a better understanding.

Calypso1977 · April 2011

gwendolyn, my sister had this issue with one of her kids. they ultimately just went to another church where hte priest was more than happy to give her child first communion. she told her regular priest they did this, and he seemed indifferent, and there were no issues the following sunday when the child went up for communion.

i honestly cannot understand how its disrespectful to a parish to express that your child is ready for a sacrament before the cookie cutter age. parents are the primary teachers of the faith to their children. in theory, they are to know their child best.

this is all part of the bureacracy that the church has become, in many ways. we are most fortunate that we have an old school priest.

ootmother2 · April 2011

This school includes all girls from all different parishes but I really don't remember if there was any girl who went early or later.

The school had priests from St. Ignatus, a Jesuit church in the area.who administered the sacraments. Perhaps they were the one who though the appropriate age for reconciliation should be later, I didn't ask.

I liked the girls at the school all having their sacraments together, it was a beautiful ceremony with a reception following.

Which sacrament did you have first

Re: Which sacrament did you have first

Choose Another Board

Search Boards