The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-04-22
w "Easter birds"

rather than OF edlncatlOn. Iney are
sometimes, and not inaptly, styled
Easter Birds or "Once-a-year-
Worthless" Often they belong to
some Catholic Society which re-
quires them to go to their Easter Com
munion. SO once year, towards the
close of the Paschal Season, they
come focking in. Perhaps the past
year was one of sin and gross neglect.
Sunday Mass has been neglected, and
their lives, it may be, have ben mark
ed by intemperance and impurity.
Certainly it is well for them to come
even once a year, if they do SO with
the proper dispositions. But, dear
friend, is that the sort of service you
render to our all loving and generous
Master? If you happen to be one
of the Easter Birds" this year, let
it be your last time. Go regularly and
often during the coming year to the
Sacraments; resolve to be practical
Catholic from one end of the year to
the other, so that for the rest of your
life you may approach the Holy Table
at Easter Time not as a stranger, but
as a faithful child of the Church.
Who Should Receive Their Easter
Communion?
This question may be answered
briefly by saying that all who have
right, who are fit to receive Holy
Communion, are bound to make their
Easter Duty. Our fitness for Holy
Communion makes us subject to the
law.
The fitness here spoken of does not
mean mere freedom from mortal sin.
That, of course, is also required; but
in this connection, when we say that
person is fit to receive Holy Com
munion, we mean that he is member
of the Catholic Church. and has
reached the age of reason.
Everyone, therefore, who is a child
of the Church and who has attained
the age of reason is bound in con-
science to make his Easter Duty.
Even those who on account of sick
ness or old age cannot come to the
Church for their Paschal Communion
should notify their pastor, SO that
Holy Communion can be brought to
them at their homes.
The application of this law of eft
ness" for Holy Communion, even in
the case of young children, is not diff
cult when we consider the instruc'
tions of the Holy Father. q In his
decree of August s, 1910, he tells us
quite plainly who are obliged to make
their Easter Communion.
The following is a faithful trans
lation of the substance of the greater
portion of this decree. 1t is taken
from the October number of the
Ecclesiastical Review, page $50.
/. The age of discretion required
both for Confession and Communion is
the time when the child begins to rea,
son, that is about the seventh year,
more or less. From this time on the
obligation of satisfying the precept
of both Confession and Communion
begins"
g Both for First Confession and
First Communion a complete and per-
feet knowledge of Christian Doctrine
is not necessary The child will,
however, be obliged to learn gradually
the whole catechism according to its
ability"
3. 'The knowledge of Christian
Doctrine required in children in order
to be properly prepared for First Holy
Communion is that they understand
according to their capacity those
mysteries of faith which are neces-
sary as a means of salvation, that
they be able to distinguish the Eu-
charist from common and material
bread, and also approach the Sacred
Table with the devotion becoming
their age"
A. THE obligation of the precept
of Confession and Communion which
rests upon the child falls back
upon those in whose
care they are, that is, parents,
confessors,> teachers and their pas
tor. 1t belongs to the father, how
ever, or to the person taking his
place, as also to the confessor, as the
Roman Catechism declares, to admit
the child to First Holy Communion. -
6. Those who have the care of
children should use all diligence so
that after First Communion the chill
dren shall often approach the Holy
Table, even daily, if possible, as
Jesus Christ and Mother Church de-
sire, and that they do it with a devo-
ton becoming their age. They
should bear in mind their most irhpor-
tant duty, by which they are Obliged
to have the children present at the
public instructions in catechism;
otherwise they must supply this re-
ligious instruction in some other way. -
Z. THE custom of not admitting
children to Confession, or of not
absolving them, is absolutely con-
demned."
8. 1T is a most intolerable abuse
not to administer Viaticum and Elk
IRENE Unction to children having
attained the use of reason and to
bury them according to the manner
of infants"
The Church Makes the Easter Duty
Easy.
Why look with such dread upon the
receiving of your Easter Communion,