Is My Child Ready for First Penance?

Questions as You Prepare
- Does he know the difference between right and wrong choices?
Consider whether your child has the capacity to acknowledge that there are times when he makes wrong choices.

- Does she know what sin is? Can she differentiate between a sin and a mistake?
Consider if your child can discern times in her life when she makes deliberate choices that hurt God and others. Sin is any thought, word or act that we freely commit even though we know that it is wrongl we choose not to obey God´s commandments. Ensure that your child understands the difference between a sin and a mistake or an accident.

- Does he feel positive about receiving the Sacrament of Penance?
By the time he finishes the immediate preparation for the sacrament, your child should have a sense that he will get something wonderful out of this sacrament: the grace of sacramental absolution.

- How does she feel about celebrating the sacrament?
The Sacrament of Penance is an encounter with Jesus who offers His love and forgiveness, and should be presented as a joyful experience. If at the conclusion of the preparation process your child is extremely fearful or agitated about the sacrament, this may be a sign that she is not ready to celebrate it.