Is your daughter going to have her First Holy Communion soon? Here some information articles about First Communion. Please also drop our First Communion Dresses page after. You might find a dress that your daughter may like.
First Communion Articles in this page:
First communionIn the Roman Catholic Church, there are three major sacraments that children undergo. The first is baptism, which is typically performed when the child is a baby, although some wait until the child is three or four years old. The second is the first communion, in which the children are given the proper instruction preparing them to accept the Eucharist, which represents Christ’s Body and Blood for the first time. Usually, the child prepares for this at the age of eight. The third is confirmation, in which the child reaffirms the Catholic beliefs and denounces evil. This is usually undertaken when the child attains the age of 18, although some churches decreed it at the age of 12. Confirmation can occur at anytime that a Catholic believes he or she can become a full member of the Catholic Church, and no Catholic can have a Church wedding if either the bride or groom has not been confirmed.
In terms of ceremony, however, the first Communion or the Sacrament of the Eucharist is given more attention than the Confirmation. During first communion, the child undergoes extensive preparation either at the school (if the child attends a Catholic school) or at the Church. The children are provided with the steps with which they need to be familiar with in order to be given the Sacrament, which includes the first confession.
Aside from religious preparedness, the child is expected to comply with a traditional dress code for the actual giving of the first communion. The first communion dress is white usually an empress-style short dress tied with a white ribbon and puffed sleeves. The child wears a halo of white flowers which may or may not come with a short veil that is kept away from the face. White school shoes (not heels) with white socks are preferred. A white candle tied with white or pale blue ribbon is carried by the child as she marches down the aisle.
While the above description of first communion dress is typical, more elaborate dresses can be used. However, because the sacrament celebrates purity of Christian thought and mind, it would be more tasteful to choose simpler, more classical designs.
How to Know if Your Daughter is ready for First Communion?First Communion is a defining moment in your child’s life. Catholic parents all
over the world consider it a joyous experience. On that life-changing
event, you
want your child to be ready, inside and out.
Your daughter’s first communion. This is why knowing that your daughter is ready for her
First Communion
is truly important. is a very special occasion worth
celebrating
How do you know if your daughter is ready for First Communion? If
you’re not
certain whether your child is ready for First communion, feel free to
visit the
priest in your local parish. However, don’t be surprised if he tells you that
the
best person to decide if your child is ready for First Communion is -- you!
The truth is, whether your child is ready to
receive the
First Communion is really your decision. The Parish priest can not make
this decision
for you.
Some common signs
that your daughter is ready for her First Communion:
o
She starts getting interested about stories from the Bible. She asks you to read her stories from
the Bible, or reads the Bible stories herself. She loves to hear about God’s
love and shows excitement every time you talk about Jesus and His
message of
salvation.
o
She has a growing curiosity about the Trinity.
o
She begins to express her love for Jesus through
prayer. You see her pray before she eats and goes to bed.
o
She
actively participates in Sunday Mass.
o
She
keeps her appointment with God.
o
She becomes aware of
God’s presence in
her life. She knows that God protects her from all evils and guides her
everyday.
The Church administers First Communion to children
between
the ages of 7 and 8. But in order for a child to make her First
Communion, she
must first have arrived at the age of discretion. Second, she must have
successfully met all the Church's requirements.
The age of discretion, as viewed by theologians, refers to the
age
a child becomes capable of moral responsibility. When the child
understands
right from wrong and understands that actions have consequences, then
the child
is said to be ready to approach the Holy Table and receive the
Eucharist.
According
to the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article on Communion
of Children:"In the
best-supported view of theologians this phrase means, not the attainment
of a
definite number of years, but rather the arrival at a certain stage in
mental
development, when children become able to discern the Eucharistic from
ordinary
bread, to realize in some measure the dignity and excellence of the
Sacrament
of the Altar, to believe in the Real Presence, and adore Christ under
the
sacramental veils."
So if your child can tell the difference between
the
Eucharist and regular bread, and understands the significance of the
Eucharist
and its celebration then she is ready for First Communion.
How to Prepare Your Daughter for First CommunionSecond-graders are just as excited as and their parents when it comes to First Communion preparations. Schools coordinate with the parents and the local Parish, making sure First Communion goes smoothly for all candidates. Parents likewise think of ways to make the truly an unforgettable occasion for their children.
One of the first things parents must do is to help their child learn what they need to know about First Communion. Your child can’t afford to be clueless when it comes to religious beliefs and practices. It is important for parents to brief their child about First Communion practices. It is also important for parents to learn about the First Communion requirements of their local Parish and to coordinate with their child’s school.
Church Requirements
In order for a child to receive communion, the Church requires that he or she should first know who God is, why Jesus died on the cross, and how God’s grace works among other things. This is where the priest comes in. One of his duties is to prepare God’s children for communion and to teach them to receive it devoutly.
The Church also requires that the child be without sin and in the state of grace; hence your child must make First Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Penance. Since the Catholic Church advocates First Confession to precede First Communion, your child should know what takes place in a confession. Sharing your First Communion experience with your daughter will prove helpful.
The state of grace is when the child is closer to God. This only happens when the child’s heart is right with God. State of Grace is a state of sanctification by God. Your daughter must be aware of what sin is and what its penalty is. She needs to know that anyone who comes to the Lord and whole-heartedly asks for forgiveness for his or her sin will be forgiven. First Confession will help her to get right with God.
Remember that it is not solely the priest’s responsibility to teach your child the basic doctrines of the church. As a parent also you need to prepare your daughter for this event, from choosing her First Communion dress all the way to helping her memorize those prayers. Encourage her to have a genuine relationship with God and to nurture that relationship. Teaching your child the importance of First Communion will certainly help her appreciate this exercise of faith.
History of First Communion
First Communion is regarded as one of the most important occasions in a Roman Catholic child’s life. Catholic families believe in the sacredness of First Communion and what it stands for.
The Sacrament of Eucharist, also called the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, is the second of the seven sacraments. The earliest Biblical account of the Eucharist is found in 1 Cor. 11:23-26. Instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, the Holy Communion has since been commemorated by many churches, the Roman Catholic Church being the biggest Christian denomination to observe this.
The Roman Catholic Church also follows the example Jesus Christ set which shows how much children mean to Him, saying that the kingdom of God should be welcomed like a little child welcomes it. “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:15-17 (cf. Mark 10:13-15; Matthew 19:13-14)
Since the beginning, in its efforts to bring children to Jesus, the Roman Catholic Church has allowed children and infants to take part in the sacred repast. In some churches it was traditional to give children the small bits left from the adult communion.The Church has administered Eucharistic Communion children and even to nursing infants. This religious custom was done also at Baptism as prescribed in ancient ritual books in the thirteenth century. Later on this practice was discontinued in the Latin Church. Although the practice of giving Holy Communion to very young children was changed, the Catholic Church never condemned this.
On August 15, 1910, a decree re-establishing an ancient Church law on First Communion (Quam Singulari) was made official by Pope Pius X. He encouraged the admission of children to reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist by lowering the age for First Communion to seven years. The Pope wanted the children who were between the ages of seven and eight to take part in the Eucharistic service soon after they reach the ''age of discretion''. The Catholic Church defines “the age of discretion” as the age in which the child begins to reason.
Today, while there are many Christian churches that allow children who have been baptized to participate in the Holy Communion, the Catholic Church advocates First Confession to precede First Communion. Aside from making the First Confession, the child should also be in the state of “grace”, and as part of the requirements of the Church. Taking part in First Communion is a milestone in child has arrived at the age of discretion and has successfully met all the Church's requirements.
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