Mass Before First Holy Communion?

IgnatiusJRiley

Firstly, apologies if this is in the wrong place!
Secondly, I am wondering whether anyone can resolve an argument between myself (devout atheist) and a friend (supposedly devout Catholic).
I said that under the Catholic Church people don't have to go to mass until after their first holy communion. But he reckons caflics have to go from the day they're born.
Does anyone know the actual age when caflics are obliged to go to mass? (Obviously if he was right then I won't actually tell him!) If you could also list an official source that would be even better.

Thanks.

Sarky

The phrase "Devout atheist" looks very strange

Anyway, your assertion is certainly the way it happened out my neck of the woods, where they believed in the existance of God more than they believed in the postman.

Beruthiel

IgnatiusJRiley I am going to send this over to the Christianity forum which has recently been set up
I think you'll get more answers there
B

ceewa

as far as i'm aware there you dont have to go to mass until you make your first communion. when a child is baptised they are made part of the catholic church and welcomed as a member. when they make their first communion it is the first time they really participate in the mass and become more active members in the church

personally i dont think its right to bring small children to mass, they dont know whats happening and they get bored very easily. sunday mass in my parish church is a joke, theres constant shouting and talking and kids running around the place.

when children are old enough to understand whats going on and can behave themselves they should be brought to mass (i know that can vary depending on the child) they should go sometimes before their first communion so that they can begin to understand about their faith and see what mass is all about.

just my opinion

sceptre

You're right, he's wrong.

Actually, if I remember rightly, the only requirement with regard to attendance in order to retain your membership (er, not get automatically excommunicated, in Catholic parlance) is to take communion at least once between Easter Sunday and Trinity Sunday each year. Obviously if you haven't taken first communion the requirement doesn't apply and there's nothing else in its place.

Screaming children almost certainly annoy devout caflics anyway. Last time I was in the church in my home town (I suppose about ten years ago) I noticed they'd installed a crying room to keep the little devout brats out of the pews. Something appreciated by all, I'd imagine

caflics have to go from the day they're born

There's a Monty Python song going round in my head after reading that.

Mossy Monk

i wasn't brought to mass until after my first communion. my granny wouldn't have it. all those sunday lunch times watching Little House On The Prairy with my father and grandmother while mother and sisters went to mass

thomasb

The rule about Sunday Mass attendance applies to those who have reached the age of reason, which traditionally was around seven or eight.

That hasn't changed much - I'd say certainly once a child is old enough to be admitted to the sacrament of Confession, then church rules like Sunday Mass attendence would be obligatory.

It is a rule of being Catholic that you must attend Mass every Sunday. The obligation sceptre refers to is the obligation to receive once a year, but you're still supposed to go to Mass every Sunday.