Requirements for Catholic First Communion
Seven sacraments are in the Catholic faith. One of them is First Communion, also called First Eucharist. This commemorates the first time a person, usually a child, receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ in consecrated bread and wine. Communion is the practice of consuming them during daily and Sunday Masses.
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Sacraments
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A Catholic Church Candidates for First Communion must be baptized within the Catholic faith either before or at the same time as receiving their First Communion. This usually occurs with babies but can be done at any time during a person's life. They also must have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as First Penance, before they can receive communion. This ensures a clear conscience and spiritual and mental readiness to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Teen-agers and adults entering the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) receive their First Communion upon becoming Catholic.
Catechism
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Hands in prayer Roman Catholic Canonical Law CIC 913, Section 1, states that a person must be at least 7 years old and have the reasoning to understand the basic teachings of the meaning of communion. There are some children and adults that do not have the ability to understand and are therefore not eligible. This includes people with developmental disabilities or brain injuries.
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Catholic priest According to Roman Catholic Canonical Law CIC 914, it is the responsibility of Catholic parents, guardians and parish pastors to make sure children receive the proper preparation and learn the teachings about First Communion. They are obligated to make sure children receive the sacrament when they are deemed ready by a teacher, parent and priest.
Traditions
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Reception A great importance is placed on the Sacrament of First Communion. By decree of the Vatican Council, it should be a solemn celebration by boys and girls with appropriate attire. Tradition translates this into the commonly seen portrayals of children in all white, symbolizing purity, ready for the Mass. Little girls wear a veil, dress, stockings and dressy shoes. Little boys wear suits, ties and formal shoes.
Many Catholic parishes make it a separate celebration for the children and their families and friends to attend as an intimate event. Others make it the central feature on a specific date once a year during Sunday mass, so that children can celebrate with the rest of the congregation. Receptions and parties for First Communion traditionally include cake and small religious gifts.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit communion tray image by dwags from Fotolia.com roman-catholic church image by Andrey Armyagov from Fotolia.com a child's prayer image by glinn from Fotolia.com catholic participle image by fotosergio from Fotolia.com communion image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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glechaca
Aug 31, 2010
I am a 37 year old Catholic female. I am trying to get my First Communion. My question is do I have to attend special classes to complete my First Commuinion?. I am curreclty in Sunday Bible classes & I go to Sunday Mass aswell.I have what I need to study at home. Can I make ask a priest to test me and if they feel that I am ready I can make my First Communion? I dont want to do is to attend their Wednesday class because of my work schedule. Am I vialating any rules by trying to do this from home?
