The Importance of Early First Communion

The Importance of Early First Communion

The Eucharist is one of the fundamental sacraments in Christian life, deeply rooted in the tradition of the Catholic Church. The concern of parents about delaying their children's First Communion resonates with the teachings of saints and doctors of the Church, who have emphasized the necessity of this sacrament for the life of grace and the spiritual protection of children.

The Nature of Sacraments as Vehicles of Sanctifying Grace

In Catholic theology, the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, through which divine life is dispensed. Sanctifying grace is a supernatural gift that infuses the soul with participation in the very life of God, making us partakers of His divine nature and enabling us to live according to His will.

What Does It Mean That Sacraments Are Vehicles of Sanctifying Grace?

1. **Efficacious Signs**: Sacraments are not mere symbols or external rites. Each sacrament truly confers the grace it signifies. St. Thomas Aquinas explains that sacraments are "instrumental causes" of grace, meaning they are means through which God acts to bestow His grace (Summa Theologiae, III, q.62, a.1).

2. **Instituted by Christ**: Each sacrament was directly instituted by Christ during His earthly ministry. The Church has no authority to invent new sacraments but to faithfully administer those established by Christ. This ensures that sacraments have a divine and not a human foundation.

3. **Dispensation of Divine Life**: Through the sacraments, believers receive sanctifying grace that unites them more intimately with God. This grace is necessary for salvation, as it purifies the soul from sin, bestows new virtues, and strengthens the Christian to live a holy life. According to the Council of Trent, "grace justifies man, making him righteous and an adopted son of God" (Denzinger, 1528).

4. **Sanctifying and Actual Grace**: The grace conferred by the sacraments is primarily sanctifying, elevating human nature to the supernatural order. However, they can also confer actual grace, which are temporary helps to act according to God's will in various circumstances.

5. **Means of Sanctification**: Sacraments are channels through which Christ's grace flows. St. Augustine describes sacraments as "visible signs of an invisible reality," referring to their ability to bestow God's invisible grace through visible and tangible acts (De Civitate Dei, X, 5).

6. **Efficacy Ex Opere Operato**: The efficacy of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister who administers them or the recipient, but on the power of Christ Himself who acts in them. The Council of Trent states that sacraments "confer grace by the very fact of the action being performed" (ex opere operato), meaning by the work of Christ operating in them (Denzinger, 1608).

In summary, the sacraments are vehicles of sanctifying grace because, as efficacious signs instituted by Christ, they confer divine life and the grace necessary for the sanctification and salvation of the soul. Through them, the faithful participate in the divine nature, are purified from sin, and receive the strength needed to live according to God's will.

Early First Communion: Spiritual Nourishment and Protection

The Eucharist is the spiritual nourishment necessary for Christian life, as evidenced by Jesus' words: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (Jn 6:53). St. Pius X, in his decree "Quam Singulari" (1910), emphasizes the importance of early communion, stating that "the life of grace, given by Baptism, needs to be nourished and strengthened by the Eucharist." Here are the complete citations and arguments of St. Pius X on early communion, highlighting the urgent need for this sacrament for children.

Decrees and Teachings of St. Pius X

St. Pius X, known as the Pope of the Eucharist, promoted early communion based on Christ's love for children, as demonstrated in the Gospels: "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mk 10:14). His decree "Quam Singulari" states:

1. **Christ's Love for Children**: "It was His delight to be among them; He used to lay His hands on them, embrace them, bless them. He was indignant when His disciples kept them away, rebuking them with those grave words: Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mt 19:14).

2. **Practice of the Early Church**: "Bearing all this in mind, the Catholic Church, from its very beginnings, took care to bring little ones to Christ through Eucharistic Communion, which they used to administer even to infants" (Quam Singulari).

3. **Instruction of the Council of Trent**: "The Council of Trent, without condemning the ancient practice of administering the Holy Eucharist to children before they reached the age of reason, confirmed the decree of Lateran, anathematizing those who held the contrary opinion" (Session 21, cap. 4).

4. **Danger of Delaying Communion**: "This custom, by which, under the pretext of preserving the reverence of the Most Holy Sacrament, the faithful were kept away from it, has been the cause of many evils... the innocence of early years, kept from embracing Christ, was deprived of all inner life" (Quam Singulari).

5. **Teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas**: "When children begin to have some use of reason, so that they can conceive devotion to this sacrament, then they can already receive it" (Summa Theologiae III, q.80, a.9).

6. **Responsibility of Parents**: "The precept that children should confess and receive communion primarily concerns those who must take care of them, namely their parents, the confessor, teachers, and the pastor" (Quam Singulari).

7. **Age of Discretion**: "The age of discretion for Communion is that in which the child can distinguish the Eucharistic Bread from ordinary bread, so as to approach the altar with devotion" (Quam Singulari).

St. Pius X emphasizes that the use of reason in children begins very early and that it is essential for them to receive the Eucharist before sin can contaminate their souls. He cites various testimonies and historical examples supporting this practice:

- **Maria Sarto, sister of the Servant of God**: “He told me he had always had the desire to have the little ones approach First Communion soon. And he added: Before the devil enters, it is better that Our Lord enters.”

- **Sister Modesta of the Immaculate**: “The Bishop of Mantua used to say: - When the Lord has taken possession of those tender hearts, the devil will no longer be able to take hold of them.”

- **Agostino Vian**: “Regarding the First Communion of children, even as a Patriarch, without issuing official directives, he exhorted the parish priests to examine the little ones, and when they found them sufficiently aware, to admit them to the Sacrament without hesitation, regardless of age.”

- **Fr. Alberto Silli**: “It is better for children to receive Jesus while their hearts are still pure.”

 The Sacrament of Sacraments

The Eucharist, like the other sacraments, is a channel of grace. According to Catholic doctrine, sacraments are efficacious signs instituted by Christ to confer grace. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the Eucharist is the "sacrament of sacraments," as it contains Christ Himself (Summa Theologiae III, q.65, a.3).

Importance of the Eucharist in Christian Life

The Eucharist not only strengthens the life of grace begun in Baptism but also serves as essential spiritual nourishment for the soul. St. Thomas Aquinas explains that "just as bodily food sustains the life of the body, the Eucharist sustains the spiritual life" (Summa Theologiae III, q.79, a.1).

St. Cyril of Jerusalem asserts that "the Eucharist is the body of Christ given for the life of the world. Participating in it is participating in the life of Christ" (Catechetical Lecture IV).

St. Ambrose, in his work "On the Sacraments," states that "the Eucharist is the bread of angels, which nourishes the spiritual life and strengthens us against the temptations of the devil."

Additional Arguments from Other Saints and Doctors of the Church

St. John Bosco

St. John Bosco taught that “one should shun, like the plague, the opinion of those who wish to delay First Holy Communion to a very advanced age, when the devil has already taken possession of the youthful heart, with incalculable damage to its innocence. As soon as the child can distinguish between bread and Bread, regardless of age, let the King of heaven come to reign in this blessed heart.” St. John Bosco emphasizes the urgency of receiving the Eucharist before the child is tempted and falls into sin.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine also highlights the importance of early Eucharist in his work “The City of God,” where he states that “participating in the Body and Blood of Christ is receiving eternal life” (City of God, X, 6). St. Augustine underscores that the Eucharist protects the soul from evil influences and ensures its spiritual growth from an early age.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas, in his “Summa Theologiae,” reaffirms that “when children begin to have some use of reason, so that they can conceive devotion to this sacrament, then they can already receive it” (Summa Theologiae III, q.80, a.9).

Canonical Norms and Parents’ Rights

The Code of Canon Law supports the traditional teaching of the Church regarding the preparation and admission of children to the Eucharist. Canon 914 states that “parents, and those who take their place, as well as the pastor, have the obligation to see that children who have reached the use of reason are properly prepared and are nourished by this divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental Confession.” Additionally, Canon 912 declares that “any baptized person who is not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to Holy Communion.”

The Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent also provide clear guidance on this matter, emphasizing that the age of discretion is when the child can distinguish between the Eucharistic Bread and ordinary bread.

Response to the Modern Perspective on First Communion

In today’s society, it is common to delay First Communion for trivial reasons such as social celebration or waiting for the child to decide for themselves. From the Catholic perspective, this approach is problematic for several reasons:

1. Early Sacramental Grace: Baptism and early Communion provide sanctifying grace and spiritual protection from a young age, which is crucial for the child’s spiritual development.

2. Parents’ Responsibility: Parents have the moral obligation to introduce their children to the sacramental life as soon as possible, ensuring they receive the grace and strength needed to resist sin.

3. Church Doctrine: The Church teaches that sacraments are not merely social ceremonies but essential means of grace. Delaying these sacraments deprives children of spiritual benefits and risks their spiritual development.

In summary, the theological and pastoral tradition of the Catholic Church, supported by the teachings of saints and doctors like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Pius X, underscores the importance of early First Communion. This sacrament not only nourishes and strengthens the life of grace begun in Baptism but also acts as a powerful defense against sin. The parents’ request for the early Communion of their children is based on solid doctrinal and canonical arguments and reflects their moral duty to ensure the spiritual well-being of their children. Sacraments should not be delayed for social or trivial reasons but should be received as early as possible to ensure the grace and spiritual protection of children. In a world full of dangers, we must protect them as soon as possible, allowing their immaculate innocence to approach Our Lord early. Let us not ignore the words of Our Lord, who seems to rebuke parents today, saying, “let the children come to me.”