Confession, communion, confirmation in the U.S

[Mand 1]

Hi guys,

I was just reading another thread and it got me thinking. My husband (USC) and I are Catholic. He remembers making his communion, but said he has never made a First Holy Confession and has never been confirmed. Would his First Holy Confession have been part and parcel of his First Holy Communion and he just doesn't realise it? He went to Catholic school as a young boy, and made his First Holy Communion there, but went to public school for the rest so hasn't made his Confirmation.

I'm asking, cos we now live in Ireland and will be meeting the PP one of the days to talk about our future baby's christening/baptism and the possibility of the PP blessing our marriage in the church (just with ourselves, not a big shin-dig) and I guess we'll need to know these things.

Cheers lads!

[Jenn! 918]

First confession comes before first communion. I remember having it around the same time, as preparation for first communion, but I don't have any official certificate of it. I also went to Catholic school, and I highly doubt they would have allowed your husband first communion without first confession. He probably just doesn't remember it.

[Joey559 1]

I vaguely remember it - you're young so you're desperately trying to think of some offense, which of course when you're that young is, "I pushed my sister because she won the coin toss to use the Punky Brewster lunch box and I got stuck with Cabbage Patch."

You are terrified though the priest is going to condemn you - looking back they must hear some interesting stuff in first confession.

[Fuzzness 2]

from what i remember, first communion comes before first confession. although i could be wrong

[Mand 1]

First confession comes before first communion. I remember having it around the same time, as preparation for first communion, but I don't have any official certificate of it. I also went to Catholic school, and I highly doubt they would have allowed your husband first communion without first confession. He probably just doesn't remember it.

I figured that too

[Jenn! 918]

from what i remember, first communion comes before first confession. although i could be wrong

In order to receive communion, one must have confessed their sins. So it is mandatory that first confession is before first communion.

ETA: Although from some quick google searching, I see not all Catholics follow that.

Edited August 18, 2006 by jenn3539

[Fandango 1,440]

Yeah, First Holy Confession came first.

Confirmation was about when I was 11 or so.

[irishgirl73 0]

I barely remember my first confession but I agree with everyone else................it must have been BEFORE

my first holy communion.

My confirmation was when I wasn in 5th grade..........I was 11

Haven't been to confession in a while

[JenT 0]

When I was a child, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation were received prior to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Now, the order is reversed. My children received the Sacrament of the Eucharist in 2nd grade and the others were received in 4th grade.

Jen

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hi guys,

I was just reading another thread and it got me thinking. My husband (USC) and I are Catholic. He remembers making his communion, but said he has never made a First Holy Confession and has never been confirmed. Would his First Holy Confession have been part and parcel of his First Holy Communion and he just doesn't realise it? He went to Catholic school as a young boy, and made his First Holy Communion there, but went to public school for the rest so hasn't made his Confirmation.

I'm asking, cos we now live in Ireland and will be meeting the PP one of the days to talk about our future baby's christening/baptism and the possibility of the PP blessing our marriage in the church (just with ourselves, not a big shin-dig) and I guess we'll need to know these things.

Cheers lads!

It shouldn't interrupt your baby's baptism or having the marriaged blessed, but when he gets the chance, ask the Parish about it's adult RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for your husband. It is a process where he will be confirmed along with other adults who are wanting to become Catholics.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I had communion age 7, confession age 9 and confirmation age 13.

[Jenn! 918]

I had communion age 7, confession age 9 and confirmation age 13.

I find these differences pretty interesting, seeing that I remember it was a very big deal that we had to have first confession before first communion. I was under the impression that communion didn't "count" if it didn't follow confession.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think confession before communion is the more traditional way -- I think there's a modern movement (in American churches at least) that children understand reconciliation better when they're older. At least in the church I went to -- we had girl alter servers and what not, so it was a little different I guess.

[Jenn! 918]

I think confession before communion is the more traditional way -- I think there's a modern movement (in American churches at least) that children understand reconciliation better when they're older. At least in the church I went to -- we had girl alter servers and what not, so it was a little different I guess.

I know that certain things have changed. I remember the first time I saw people holding hands during the "Our Father". I was kind of taken aback.

[gwenneh 7]

Since the First Holy Communion is received at such a young age, some dioceses have elected to reverse the order the sacraments are *first* given in. Really, if your eight-year-old has committed sins worthy of confession, you have bigger problems than which order they're receiving sacraments in!

For adult members of the Church, though, the dogma still stands-you cannot take Holy Communion until you have confessed to a priest.

Edited to add: Mand, most Irish parishes that I have any contact with (which family members with their numberous Communion-age kiddos attend) still insist on it being the proper way, confession then communion. His cousins Orlaith and Niamh just did made their communions not long ago, and we got the whooooole rundown.

Edited August 18, 2006 by Gwen666