First Penance with the Catholic Church

Recently my grandson completed his First Penance with the Catholic Church in preparation for his first Holy Communion. He made his confession to the priest and said his prayer(s) of penance. When I was a child, I did not have the wonderful ceremony they have today. I and my classmates just made our first confession with the priest during a regular PSR class (back then it was referred to as Catechism).

On August 8, 1910, Pope St. Pius X issued the decree for Quam Singulari, which allowed a child who had attained the age of reason (about seven years of age) to receive the sacrament of Penance and to receive the Holy Eucharist. At this age a child knows right from wrong, the commandments, what sin is and the different types of sin, mortal and venial. First Penance was not always practiced until May 23, 1973 when with the approval of Pope Paul VI the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy and the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments declared that "these experiments... should cease and that everyone everywhere should conform to the decree Quam Singulari."

The First Penance ceremony is very moving experience for both children and parents. The children, two-by-two, make a procession down the middle aisle of the church while a song is being sung. They make their way to the Alter, bow and are then seated in the first couple of pews.

The priest (depending on the parish, there may be more than one) enters and starts by welcoming everyone and making the sign of the cross. A reading is usually said by one of the children and then the Gospel is read by the priest. The priest will give the homily based on the gospel he just read or it may be geared more toward the main event of the evening, confession and penance in order to put the children at ease. Many priests are very good at this, explaining what a sin is at a level the children can understand and also reassuring them that there is nothing to be afraid of during the confession process.

After the homily, one or both of the parents or guardians accompany their child to the confessional. They introduce themselves and their child to the priest and then leave, waiting outside until their child is finished.

The children have been given a printed card beforehand with instructions on the process of how to make a confession that they can refer to if they get too nervous and can't remember what to say. The card also has the Act of Contrition prayer on it which is required during every confession.

Once the child is finished making their confession, they go with their parent to the baptismal fountain, bless themselves and receive a lighted candle from an attendant. The child and parents walk to the Alter and place the candle on a table. At this time the child is given a ribbon or button and then the child and parents kneel near the Alter and say the child's Penance prayer(s) together. After this they return to their seats.

When all the children have finished the priest will give a final blessing. Afterwards there may be a small reception where the children will receive a First Penance certificate.

I asked my grandson afterwards how he felt about this first experience in his life, and he related he felt good about it because he knows Jesus loves him.

Source: Catholic Education Resource Center