Quam singulari

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quam singulari (Latin for what a unique [love] ) is a decree of the Congregation for the Sacraments on the determination of the age of First Communion . The decree was promulgated on August 8, 1910 by Pope Pius X. and is named after his incipit , which speaks of the “special love” with which Jesus Christ was shown to children on earth. The decree recalls that with the age of discernment the duty to receive the sacrament of penance and the Eucharist begins, and sets this point in time at around the age of seven.

occasion

In 1905 took place in Rome the International Eucharistic Congress held, Pope Pius X gave this year also the decree Sacra Tridentina Synodus on frequent and daily receiving Communion out.

content

The decree starts with a reminder that the Old Church already gave Holy Communion to small children , immediately at baptism. However, this practice has fallen into disuse in the Latin Church. The fourth Lateran Council , however, had prescribed every believer to receive the sacrament of penance and the sacrament of Holy Communion at least once a year , as soon as they had come to the "use of reason". Pope Pius explains that, under the pretext of upholding the dignity of the sacrament , the faithful were kept away from the sacraments, thereby depriving them of the nourishment for their spiritual life. At this point the Pope sharply condemns the practice of not allowing children who have not yet been admitted to First Communion to confess, and of not even giving Holy Communion to children in danger of death: “So these children die and are made according to the rite for Children buried, shamefully deprived of the resources of the Church ”. Rather, the Council of Trent correctly described Holy Communion as "an antidote to daily mistakes" that protects against serious sins .

With reference to the Doctor of the Church Thomas Aquinas and his interpreters, Pope Pius states that the age of discrimination is reached “when the child knows how to distinguish the Eucharistic bread from ordinary bread, so that it can approach the altar with devotion” In order to receive both the sacrament of penance and the sacrament of the altar, complete knowledge of the truths of faith is not necessary, "a knowledge of the eternal basic truths" suffices. The authority to admit children to communion rests with the child's father or confessor.

Finally, there is a summary in eight points, whereby the bishops are obliged to eliminate previous grievances.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Eucharistic World Congresses [1]

Web links