Catholic Sacraments

[Jaznjjj]

Could somebody please me know the meaning of  B. P. B.E. which show up as Sacraments on a Catholic record for a child less than ten years old.  I am guessing that B is baptism?   Thank you.  J

[matthewj64]

Penance or confession
Eucharist (edit) or holy communion

not sure what the other B would be

M

[matthewj64]

The other possiblities for someone that age would be confirmation and last rights, maybe under a different name.

What year and country would this be?

add
Last rights - Extreme unction or anointing of the sick

[Jaznjjj]

This was in Australia in 1940.  It was information supplied by a Catholic convent school when the child was surrendered to a boy's home at age ten.   The only other information provided was that he was (or had been) in 3rd grade.   Thank you for the information. 

[philipsearching]

Could somebody please me know the meaning of  B. P. B.E. which show up as Sacraments on a Catholic record for a child less than ten years old.  I am guessing that B is baptism?   Thank you.  J

Is there any indication of how old the child was at each of these sacraments?  This might give a clue as to what the sacraments would have been.

Philip

[Jaznjjj]

The information is scanty.  Just those initial letters, his date and place of birth, his day of entering the facility, parents' names, guardian's name.  Even when the child was withdrawn from the Boys' Home there was just a date - no mention of who collected him (though I actually know who that was).  They did not even have a note that his mother was dead. Apparently, that page from the register was the only record that was kept by the Home - and I'm very grateful to even have that much. 

Not being Catholic, I have no idea when particular sacramental events are likely to have happened nor at what age. This child was just short of ten years old when he was abandoned there. I have just today emailed the convent school he had attended previously seeking information but whether they have records going back to the 1940s is unknown. I am interested in finding reasons for his being placed in the Home.    J

[philipsearching]

The official seven Catholic sacraments are:
Baptism (in infancy, or later if converting to Catholicism)
Reconciliation (confession, penance, forgiveness of sin) (first at c7 yrs)
Eucharist (Holy Communion) (first at c7 yrs)
Confirmation (age c13)
Holy Matrimony
Holy Orders (becoming a priest or nun)
Anointing of the Sick ("extreme unction" - for sick or dying people)

I would guess that the initials B P B E refer to the first three sacraments and may stand for
Baptism
Penitence
Blessing
Eucharist

There are many possible reasons for a child to be taken into care.  Common reasons include:
Death of a parent
Serious long-term physical or mental illness of a parent
Desertion by a parent
Imprisonment of a parent
Poverty
Child abuse
Parents unable to control a child (unruliness, juvenile crime or other)
You can probably eliminate several of these possibilities, but unless a record can be found (court, welfare, institution, school etc) you may not find the actual reason.

Philip

[Jaznjjj]

What you write regarding the sacraments does make a lot of sense.

The child's mother had died when he was about six of TB;  his older sister also died of TB.  The father I don't believe was on the scene any more.  The boy was described by my grandmother (the one who rescued him from the Home) as a Warrigal but their relationship was close.  He had possibly been passed from aunt to aunt in the family before being surrendered.  It sounds like "unruliness" is the best fit.  The guardian aunt might have had other problems.   It might always be a mystery, as you suggest.   

And thank you, I am now better educated in things Catholic.   J 

[philipsearching]

You are very welcome!

A sad story - and bravo to gran for the rescue.

And - thank you for introducing me to the term warrigal (I had never heard it before, so I had to look it up!)  I will add it to my repertoire of Aussie slang and use it on my Australian cousins 

Philip