Let The Children Come To Me

We have become accustomed to seeing children around the age of seven receive First Holy Communion. But did you know this is a relatively recent practice in the Catholic Church? In the first couple of centuries of the Church, Christians were under persecution. All three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist) were administered at the same time, to persons of all ages, by a bishop. Once Constantine declared Christianity to be legal in 313 in the Edict of Milan, the Church began to freely spread.

This created an unusual problem: there were too many who wished to enter the Church than the bishops could handle. The faculty to confer baptism was granted to priests. But the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist remained together and were celebrated around the age of 12 or so when the bishop of the diocese could make the travel to the various parishes.

It was Pope Pius X who, in 1910, reasoned that children who were as young as seven (the age of reason) had the capacity to appreciate the Eucharist, and should be able to receive. And so he promulgated this in his decree Quam Singulari, noting how Jesus called the children to himself when the disciples were rebuking them (“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for of such is the kingdom of God,” Mark 10:14). Thus, the practice of First Holy Communion was separated from Confirmation and celebrated at a much younger age.

It’s important for us to foster what Pope Pius began. Young children and their families need regular reception of the Eucharist, and we should pray for them and welcome them warmly to every Mass.

We need to remember we are children as well – children of God. Jesus calls us to himself. Let’s all commit to regular reception of the Eucharist, starting in this second year of the National Eucharistic Revival.

“Those who have charge of the children should zealously see to it that after their First Communion these children frequently approach the Holy Table, even daily if possible, as Jesus Christ and Mother Church desire, and let this be done with a devotion becoming their age.” - Quam Singulari, No. 6.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at eucharist@stmli.org.