What to Expect from a First Communion?
What to Expect from a First Communion?
(Although I am not Catholic, I was asked to share this article on behalf of some of my precious Catholic friends. It is both informative and interesting. If you want to know more about what I believe, you can click HERE.)
Holy Communion.
This article hopes to explain insight into what happens at holy communion in a Catholic church.
Also, you can learn about what it is, why it is performed, and why it matters to certain faiths.
What is First Communion?
The First Communion is a Catholic celebration that happens when the child reaches 7 or 8 years
old.
The act is symbolic because it is the first time the child receives the Eucharist – the blood and body of Christ.
By sharing in this ritual for the rest of their lives, Catholics believe that they will eventually become one with Christ, body, and soul.
In their view, communion allows them to share in the eternal life of Christ.
Do Christians Receive First Communion?
Some Christian religions, such as Catholicism, feature the First Holy Communion.
Christians and protestants do not receive the holy communion due to St. Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.
Indeed, Paul tells us that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.
Read more about what Christians and protestants believe HERE.
What do you need for a First Communion?
Catholics need it to be officially welcomed into the faith.
In their view, if you do not eat and drink the blood and body of Christ, you cannot accept his gift of eternal life.
Also, Catholics need that first communion from an early age so that they can eat and drink as much of Christ’s life as they can.
As for the items you will need, children require the following things for their first communion:
First… You need first communion candles. Each child will hold a candle during the ceremony, and it can’t just be one bought at the supermarket.
Second… The tradition is to dress in white, in your finest clothes.
Third… Gifts – traditionally the child is showered in gifts, not unlike a birthday event.
Fourth… A rosary – this is the perfect time to gift a family rosary to your child.
A Few More Items to Consider:
Fifth… The Baptismal Certificate might be needed if you are attending a different chapel from that
where you first attended.
Sixth… A prayer book. It is never a bad idea for a child to learn a personal prayer.
Seventh… Take a jacket or cardigan for your child.
Eighth… Serve cake!
Finally… You may wish to plan a party after chapel, in which case you will need to plan that, too.
The First Communion in Steps
1 – Preparation Periods
Your child will need to study before they are allowed for the first communion. They need to be significantly familiar with the bible and their religion. They may need to go to classes that teach them about the meaning of Communion.
2 – The White
White is your watchword for dressing your child. It represents innocence and purity. Girls typically wear a white dress and boys wear white suits. Let your child decide which they prefer.
3 – Travel to the church/chapel
Gather the family and any other people of importance in your child’s life and meet them at the location. A few children of the same age group will likely experience the day at the same time, so expect a busy church.
4 – The Procession of Children
The children will form a candlelit or flower-filled procession. Then, they will walk into the church together, ready to receive the sacrament.
5 – Mass
The priest will give a special mass and will pause to present the children to their new congregation at some point. The children will be presented and then blessed with a prayer.
6 – First Communion
When the time for communion comes, the children will go first. They will kneel at the bench in front of the auditorium and receive the Eucharist. There may or may not be watered-down wine.
7 – The End
The mass will continue as normal but a supervisor will remove the children to a quiet room to reflect on their spiritual experience. When the mass finishes and families reunite, the congregation will pass around congratulations and gifts.
First Communion is a Spiritual Celebration
When all is said and done, the First Holy Communion is a time for peace, celebration, and the deepening of a child’s spirituality.
It introduces them formally to God and secures them within the Catholic church for the rest of their lives.
The views of this article do not reflect the views of this blog or this author. However, we are always fascinated to discover what other religions and traditions hold to be significant.
To receive eternal life, we believe in Jesus. He is the only way to heaven.
Moreover, you can learn more about what we believe HERE.
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