SESS, XXI, C

lstruzione per quei che debbono la Prima volta ammettersi alla S, Com- ‘1, append, 111, P. 2.

renier En iirer-émoersenmesaelbel È

LU om Po eee DEL Le LUE De

Page:

ass

GRR

EN er

guish the Eucharistie from common and material bread ani knows how to approach the altar with proper devotion.

À perfect knowledge of tte articles of faith is, therefore, not necessary as à few elements alone are sufficient ; nor is the full use of reason required since the beginning of the use of reason that is some kind of use of reason suffices. Wlivrefore to put off Communion any longer or to ?xact à riper ase for the reception of the same is to be rejected absolutely ani the saine has been repeatedly condemned by the Holy Ke, Thus Pius IX, of happy memory, in the letters of Cardinal Antonelli to the bishops of France given on the 12th dav of March 1866, severely condemned the growing custom existinu in some dioceses of putting off Holy Communion to a mature age and rejected the number of years as fixed by them.

The Sacred Congregation of the Council on the 15th of March 1851 corrected à chapter of the Provincial Council of Rouen in which children under 12 years of age were forbilden to receive Holy Communion. This same Congregation of the discipline of Sacraments, acting in à similar manner in à case proposed to it from Strassburg on March 25, 1910, in which it being asked whether children of 12 or 14 years coul be admitted to Holy Communion, answered : “ Boys and iris are to be admitted to Holy Communion when they arrive at the age of discretion or attain the use of reason ”

Having seriously considered all these things the Sacred Congregation on the discipline of Sacraments, at a weneral meeting held on the 15th of July 1910, in :rder that the above mentioned abuses might be removed and the chikiren of tender years become attached to Jesus, live His life, and

obtain assistance against the dangers of corruption, has juled

and fore 4; is use here r are and DITER linal MAO À # nr Uret th ot l of bi n of in à } h iris ue at red 4:

iel'al the iron ind led

it opportune to lay down che

children to First Holÿ Communion to be observed every-

following norm for admitting where.

I The age of discretion required both for Confession or

Communion is the time when the chili] becins to reason. that

is about the 7th ÿear, more or less, From this time on the

obligation of satisfying the precept of Loth Confession and Communion begins.

IT. Both for First Confession and Fir

st Communion a complete and perfect knowledge of C

aristinn Doctrine is not necessary. The child will, however,

be obliced to gradually learn the

whole eatechism according to its ability.

TL The knowledge of Christian Doctrine required in chiled for First Holy Commuaccording to their Capacity those nysteries of Faith which are nec

dren in order to be properly prepar

nion is that they understand

ESSATY a3 à means of saiva-

ion, that they be able to distirguish the Eucharist from

toimnon and material brea 1, and also approach the sacred

ble with the devotion becomine their ace, IV. The obligation of the precept of Confession and Comnon which rests upon the child, falls back

principally pon those in whose care they are,

that is. parents, contessors, tachers and their pastor. It belo | JE

ngs to the father, howeve) » the person taking his place, as also to the pastor, to alnit the child to First Holy Communion.

\. The pastors shall take care to

tnnounce and distribute

al times a Year to the children and on these occasions they shall

General Communion once or sever

admit not only First

Communicants but a!so others, who with the consent of their parents and the past r, have already been admitted to the sacred table before. For both classes several days of instruc-

tion and preparation shall precede.

VI. Those who have the care of children should use 4ll diligence so that after First Communion the children shall

BVSBNTET TR À Boire Ut 4

often approach the holy table, even daily, if possible, as Jesus

Christ and Mother Church desire, and that they do it with à

devotion becoming their age. They should bear in mind their

on ne pre

arr SUR

most important duty, by which they are obliged to have the children } resent at the public instructions in catechisin, other. wise they must supply this religious instruction in some other

Way,

VII The custom of not admitting children to confession, or of not absolving them, is absolutely condemned. Wherefore tne Ordivaries of nlaces, using those means which the law

gives them. shall see that it is done away with.

VIIL It is an utterly detestable abuse not to administer

Viatieum and Extreme Unction to children having attainel

PA Sn AQR EE AE

the use of reason and to bury them according to the manner

of infants. The Ordinaries of places sha | proceed severely

against those, who do not abandon this custom.

These resolutions of the Eminent Fathers, the Cardinals ot

this Sacred Congresation have been approved by Our Most

Holy Lord Pope Pius X in an audience given on the &venth “ #”

day of the currenc month, and he has comimanded the present

decree to be edited and promulyated, He has command al

the Ordinaries that the present decree Should be made known

of their

to the

iustruc-

1 use all ‘en shall as Jesus

with à nd their ave the n, other-

ne other

afession, herefore

the law

minister attuined minnèer

sSev! r'elv

not on!y to the pastors and the clergy, but

to whom it shall be read early at Easter *ime in the verna-

also to the people,

cular language.

The Ordinaries themselves w

ill be obliged at the end of every five years (togethe

r With the other affairs of their diocese) to give an account of the observance of this decree to

the Holy See, together with the other affairs of their diocese.

Everything else to the contrary notwithstanding.

Given in Rome at the residence of the same Sacred Con gregation on the eighth day of August 1910.

D. Card, F ERRATA, Prefect.

PH. Giusrixi, Secretary.

SERRE: 2 à Léo MNT à LOUE

Dearly Beloved Brethren,

You have just heard the Pontitical Decree concerning th age at which children are allowed to receive Holy Communion for the first time.

These luminous regulations do not need much comment. The very objections, liable to be raiscd by certain customs, have, herein, been forestalled and refuted, This law is but the complement of the teachings of Our Holy Father, Pius X, où the Blessed Eucharist and Holy Communion. We welcome it gladly, as a decision, that will free us from the last vestige of inexact notions and erroneous practice respecting the participation by all the faithful in the most august of all the Sacraments. Jansenism, the cause of so many evils in the Church, has received a final blow.

Henceforth, the pressing invitation addressed by Christ to all the faithful to eat His Flesh and drink His Blosl, in order to possess Eternal Life, will be better understood. Every one will thus, earlier in life, be permeated with the spirit of Christ and more closely united to Him. We shall at last, be convinced, that Jesus has not bequeathed Himself to us, in the Blessed Eucharist, either as the reward of our knowledge or virtue, but as the supernatural food destin: to keep and develop within our souls the divine life of grace

The Pope, as Christ’s Vicar on earth, speaks in the narue of

Him who is Truth Itself ; his word, then, is sure — ani can

4 th

ment

tous, it the X,on me 1t re Of tic ACTA

urch,

never lead us astray. Ifin the Past, there was à difference in practice, from what our Holy Father prescribes to-day, the fault lay in existing customs. His present directions, his counsels shall be followed to the letter, Itis in Go ls name, that he gives them to us, and, as such, we receive them with tilial veneration, submission and gratitude.

The discipline, formerly existing in many countries, respecting the age at which children were admitted to First Communion, was based on the idea that n comprehensive knowledwe of all the Truths of religion was required : the Catechism had to be thoroughly conned, Therein, lay the error. Without doubt, every christian is obliged to leprn his Catechism, but it is a mistaken idea to Suppose that he must Kaow it perfectly. before First Communion. The instruction deteSsary for the reception of the first Sacriunents consists in a browlelge of the principal misteries of our holy religion

ver Concerns the sacraments about to be adimninis-

the Holy Eucharist, it suffices to distinguish bet.-

: Sac: imental Bread and material bread. “The age

t discretion -equired both for Confession and Communion ”, says the Decree, “ is the time when the child begins to reason,

that is about the seventh ÿears, more or less. From this time

2 the obligation of satisfying the Precept of both Confession ad Communion begins, ”

The enactment of the Holy See relative to Confession for

children has long been carried into effect in our diocese, Holy

Communion was given between the ages of nine aud ten, Our Position then praCtically ditféred little from the new regulatons, and we shall not have the slightest difficulty inentirely

Saforming to the Present ordinance of the Sovereign Pon- LH

Li, Es Raphael one:

mn rctrhesn D PRE EN

lie

Without exacting the words of the text-book, it will be an easy matter to give the children, in a few simple lessons, the necessary ideas respecting the principal mysteries 9f Faith, such as the existence of God, His Providence, the Blessed Trinity, the Incarnation, the Redemption, the Blessed Eucharist, fostering, at the same time, in their young hearts à tender love towards Our Lord — and thus they will be qualitied to receive Holy Communion.

Note, that to the father or to the person who fills his plaee, and to the Confessor, belongs the right to judge of the child's mental development.

As to the Catechism, it will be taught as conscientiou<ly as in the past — in the church, by the pastor, and in the school-room, by the teacher. This little book must ever remain the first and the most important of all books, but, First Cormunion Will no longer be subordinate to that strenuous course of religious study formerly followed for a year ©. nor in First Communion classes. The parish Priest ought to visit his schools as often as possible ; he should question the pupils and complete the explanations given by the teacher. He mizht also hold special examinations in Catechism, continuins to impart instruction in their Sunday reunions, — in à wori, he must take every means of extending the children’s knowl-dze of Christian Doctrine and Morals,

We have, already, often recommended parents to let their children attend school as long a time as possible, and nt withdraw them on the slightest pretext. With some parent there appeared to be a special period in which their ci: iren could easily bid farewell to study — and that was after First

Communion. It would seem as if these parents believe! that

s, the Faith, lessed juchaa ten-

alitied

plaee, child's

iously in the emain Cor:

course ore In sit his pupils

might

the child was then suff iently instructed to bein his career,

or, at least, that he knew everything about » ligion, since he

bad learned the ( atechism from 1 finning to en L— Deplorable

illusion ! The poor child was still ignorant of much sacred ns

well a3 profane learning, and, by this short sighted decision

of his Parents, his future was often Compromised, Now, the

date of leaving schcol. formerly tixed by an unfortunate

Custom, will no longer exist since the child wil] have, as à rule,

already received Communion

at the ave of seven years, So now, we trust the child will

remain longer under his devoteg

teichers, who Will, thus, be enabled to give him a nore

thorough education.

Henceforward, as SCOn 45 their minds can grasp the funda-

mental truths explained by parents, teacher. Or pastor, the

little children will be brought to Jesus, who lovingly bids

thein come uuto Him. Their soul. very often still] shinine

With" tismal grace, will be nourished With the Sacred

Bread t'air hearts Will be enamoured Of Its heavenly SWeetness, The Divine Banquet will have for them an irre.

sistible attraction. They Will partake of it often, and find,

therein, an unfailing light to know their duties with the

strength to fulfil them. By It, they will be Strongly armed to

struvele against the first attack Of the Passions, Though

Young, they will fight Many à glorions battle, crowned with Victory. It is Consoling to think that our children will Le Kept pure, and if by accident. they should fall they will know how to quickly regain gra :. In à word, they will be true iolowers of Christ, they will be able to SAY with St. Paul

that Christ truly lives in them, and they in Him — and if

Christ be with them. who can be against them ?

We are sure that a new era has begun with the introduc. tion of this blessed Decree, and it is a very great happiness for us to receive and promulgate it on the morrow of our Eucharistic jubilee.

It is then our duty to see that all the children, who havi not, yet, made their First Communion, but who, accordin:: to the dictates of our Holy Father, are ready and bound to do so, fulfil this obligation as soon as possible. For this, we rely on the zeal of our parish priests, on that of the directors and chaplains of our Educational houses, and Orphan asylums,

Nothing need prevent this Communion which will bring our children into accordance with the wishes of the Holy See from being general and marked with solemn rejoieings. We strongly desire that these prescriptions be, everywhere, curried oùt, before the close of the present Vear which, for mans reasons, Will pass to posterity under the beautiful title of our “ Eucharistic Year ”, No special dress will be exacted for the cerenony.

All the rules laid down by the Sovereign Pontitf must be strictly followed in every subsequent Communion of these little ones.

The children may be prepared for First Communion. individually or :n groups, if this affords a better means of ins tructing n and increasing their fervor.

The general and solemn Communion, which the l:cree mentions, may be made several times duriag the veur : it should take place, at least, once each year, and should ! preceded by several days of religious instruction and pious exercises. We indicate, as the most favorable occasions fr this

ceremonv, that of KRetreat at the re-opening of the «ch

around Easter time, and that of Confirmation.

ntroducappiness

of our

ho h ivt rdine to nd to do this, we lirectors asvlums, il bring Lol Se gs. We ere, Car- DT any le of our for the

must be

f these

n, indi-

Of ins-

Let all who have charge of Children take

Sreat care to see that after their First Communion they appr ach the Holy Table, often, daily, if possible, and always w

i the devotion expected of their age,

Holy Viaticum and Extreme Unction Will always Le given to the children who have reuched the

age of reason, as before eXplained, and the buri

al Service « f these c] üldren will

like Æormable to the cere

that of adul ts, be «

monial of the Church.

The Decree um si nyulsri shall be read to the fn ithful, each year, at Easter time.

This Pastoral letter Shall be

read at the parochial Mass

and in Other chu rches Where ji held, and in the Chapter of al] the

Prone of overx- Jivine Service is

religious Communities

on the first Sunday after its reception, Üiven at Montreal, under our sien and seal, and th voun-

ter-signature of our Chancellor, the

sixth of thousand nine hundred and ten.

ovenber, one PAUL, An LOF MoXrRear.

Bv oder of His (

il'ace,

EMILE Lo,

Canon Chancellor,

MGR L'ARCHEVÈQUE DE MONTREAL

CLERGÉ DE son DIOCÈSE

| le 2] novembre 1910).

E — Serment antimoderniste, IL. — Examen des jeunes prêtres, [TE — Retraite pastorale,