APPENDIX III: ON THE FIRST COMMUNION OF CHILDREN

1315. - "As regards children," says the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore,⁴ "who approach the Sacred Table for the first time, let it be permitted to apply to our matter the excellent words of the Fathers of Ravenna. It cannot be but that the manner in which one receives Holy Communion for the first time contributes much to the whole plan of Christian life, and indeed even to eternal salvation itself. Hence let all rulers of souls carefully see to disposing for it girls and boys whom by age and sufficient understanding of spiritual things they judge capable. Let them instruct them with special zeal, diligently inquire into their life, and admit to the Sacred Table those whom they understand to be already sufficiently instructed in the rudiments of Christian doctrine, and to be commended by probity of morals and piety, sending the rest away to another time, all human respect being set aside. But for three days before Communion, let them be prepared proximately for it both by pious exercises and especially by general Confession; but on the day itself, with the greatest solemnity, let them receive the Divine Bread, with the whole people looking on, and especially the parents, to whose care afterwards those souls, refreshed by the heavenly Banquet, will have to be commended by Pastors with the most fervent zeal of charity."¹

"But at what age children ought first to be refreshed with the Eucharistic Food has not been defined by the Church. St. Thomas, having used a general form of speaking, taught that this Sacrament can be conferred on them when they begin to have some use of reason, so that they can conceive devotion for this Sacrament."² Therefore it will belong to pastors to inquire diligently concerning this matter, lest anyone either through carelessness be admitted too soon, or through severity be kept away longer than is fitting. But this general rule, which nevertheless admits its exceptions, seems safely able to be established, namely that, ordinarily speaking, no one ought to be made a sharer of the Bread of Angels before the tenth year, nor after the fourteenth year ought it to be denied to anyone otherwise worthy."³