Communion Gifts

Parishioners often celebrate communion with gifts.

The Communion rite, often shortened to simply "Communion" is a liturgical practice within many Christian church. The symbolic ritual focuses on the concept of transubstantiation in which parishioners consume and imbibe blessed bread and wine which is said to, upon consumption, transform into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The act symbolizes the internalization of Jesus Christ within the faith. Oftentimes, parishioners celebrate the significant communions (particularly first communions) of their friends and families with gifts.

Clothing

Veils symbolize a child's innocence.

Standard clothing gifts for communions include veils and ties. While veils are imbued with symbolic meaning and representation, ties are a more secularized gift associated with the idea that people should dress nicely for church. Veils were once given to both girls and boys to symbolize a child's angelic qualities and innocence. Meant to symbolize a halo, veils were to be worn during the act of communion, before being saved and stored away as a memorial keepsake.

Rosaries

Rosary beads are used as prayer aids.

Perhaps the most common communion gift, whether a first communion or not, rosary or prayer beads are physical indications of the different prayers in the series that make up the rosary prayer. Typically this series includes several silent or quiet incantations of the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father and the Fatima prayer. While praying, a person is meant to hold a single bead of the necklace in his or her hand until the prayer she is reciting is finished. Upon finishing the prayer, she would move her fingers to the next bead and recite the next prayer in the series.

Mass Book

Mass books allow parishioners to follow along with Catholic mass.

Another common first communion gift is a mass book. Mass books are guides for parishioners attempting to follow and participate in the missives of a Catholic mass. Though there are standardized mass books written in a variety of languages, mass books given to parishioners accepting their first communion are often altered and presented in language more suitable to a younger reader.

Jewelry or Medals

Jewelry or medals often signify the date of a significant communion.

Perhaps the most secularized gift accompanying communion, jewelry or medals do not have much symbolic or spiritual meaning related to the church. Instead, such gifts often commemorate the time at which the ritual was performed, rather than the ritual itself. Oftentimes communion jewelry and medals are inscribed to indicate the time, date and church at which the communion was received.

References

• "When I Was a Child: Children's Interpretations of First Communion"; Susan Ridgely Bales; 2009

Resources

• Catholic Family Gifts: First Communion Gift Ideas