Reader's Blog: Children understand ideas of communion
I wish to reply to an article in the Irish Examiner (‘Time to pull plug on communion charade’, September 7).
As a defender of the faith (her words) she quotes the 2016 census that 78% declared themselves as Catholic. We do not need lies and errors to defend our faith; I recognise that there is only one type of Catholic and that’s a practising one.
I would concede that 78% is much too high because with 78%, Catholicism would stand no abortion, no same-sex “marriage”, et cetera.
Education is very important to the Catholic faith and should be taught from an early age. For instance, would Susan O’Shea board a plane knowing that the two pilots had only one month’s training? Would she attend a doctor, if she knew he had not attended a day at medical school?
At eight years of age children receive holy communion for the first time. Yes, they can understand it. All the trivia about Xboxes, bikes, and money are given, but play no part in the celebration itself.
As a matter of fact, this I would regard as a distraction. It would not bother me if it was stopped altogether. I think I remember a confirmation where all the boys wore a white robe, with a red cord tied at the waist, which I would presume would be handed back for the following year.
This is how it should be and cuts out materialism and consumerism.
Catholicism is not the only religion that has confirmation — the Jewish faith has one and I think it is known as a bar mitzvah.
Susan dismisses children and grandparents’ wishes with “they will get over it”.
