They were inspired to this action by gratuitous grace.
We focus on prayer and the Mass. For our 2nd grade group, our 'lessons' are about Jesus and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which we help prepare the kids to receive.
But they can't validly receive the Sacrament if they are in a state of persistent sin - i.e. never attending Mass. Any absolution given to them would be a nullity.
It doesn't matter even if they confessed never attending Mass, because to be absolved, they must have the firm resolution to begin attending. And this cannot just be a wish or hope, but must be well-founded.
But they can't validly receive the Sacrament if they are in a state of persistent sin - i.e. never attending Mass. Any absolution given to them would be a nullity.
But what of the kids who cannot get themselves to Mass regularly but desire to go? They are sinning by missing Mass, but they are not knowingly doing something they can control. They are not choosing to do wrong. They wish to attend, at least as 2nd graders (perhaps the bad habit of never going becomes easier as they get older), but are unable to get themselves to a church on a regular basis. Sometimes an older relative is able to take them. They can't drive, for some it's too far to walk and at 7, I would hope someone older would accompany them. I've been with our program long enough to see that those whose parents or relatives regularly attended Mass with the kids and prayed with them, they are most of the kids who attend regularly. There are exceptions, like one boy I taught my first year. He is always at Mass, an altar server. Yet, there are few family members of any regular faith or attendance around him. It's good that our pastor kept the door open to him, even though his parents stood outside, not coming in. The issue we see is that the parents 'intend' to return to the church if they are away or not fully participating, and some do fully, but they don't want their kids to be raised without faith. It's clear they aren't exhibiting faith themselves and are only marginally Catholic at best but - perhaps grace? - they want for their kids the same faith they remember having at some previous point. Even among the parents I know whom I attended school and church with, who should know better, have forgotten, or simply not bothered, to pray with their kids, to attend Mass with them, to celebrate Holy Days and speak of the Saints as examples.