Excerpts From the Manual of the
Eucharistic Crusade of the Apostleship of Prayer

Educating the Youth to Live the Mass

(slightly edited by Fr. Boulet)

3. EARLY COMMUNION:

The Norms require that children" should receive the heavenly bread as early, as frequently, and with as great a fervour as possible." Thus the Crusade has a special interest in cooperating with pastors who are eager to have the children in their parishes receive their First Communion as soon as possible.

Usually each diocese has directives about the age at which children should ordinarily be admitted to their First Communion. But such directives do not, of course, intend to supersede Canon Law or the decree, Quam Singulari, or to forbid earlier private Communion to children who fulfil the prescriptions of the Code and the decree provided that the good of souls, the dignity of the sacrament, and proper Church discipline are preserved.

What can the Crusade do to promote Early Communion?

a) First, children who are admitted into the Crusade but who have not yet made their First Communion should be prepared for First Communion as soon as possible.

b) In some places there are sections for children who are not yet six years old. Although the primary aim of these sections is not to prepare the children for the earliest possible reception of Communion, but rather to give them a general religious training and in some cases to preserve them from home influence that runs contrary to the faith; when the Pastor wishes it, these groups can be used effectively to promote early Communion. Pastors and parents sometimes consult with the Directors of the Crusade before judging whether the necessary conditions for an early Communion are fulfilled. In such cases, the first instruction on the Holy Eucharist can be given without any special difficulty, observing the prescripts of Canon 854, especially § 4 and § 5.

c) In general, the Crusade should strive that the Church's desire concerning early Communion for children be more widely known among the faithful. Especially in areas where there are no parochial schools, it should help parents to prepare their children for Communion. National Directors should work that, by writings, conferences, and sermons, parents are informed of the mind of the Church, and of what they can do in practice about getting their children ready for early First Communion.