First Communion is a significant event in the life of a Roman Catholic, where they receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Preparation involves confession and completion of religious education. Fasting is required before receiving communion, and attendance at church and confession is encouraged thereafter.
First Communion is considered one of the holiest and most important occasions in the life of a Roman Catholic person. It is the first time that a person receives the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which consists in eating the consecrated bread and drinking the consecrated wine. Catholics believe these are the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Most Catholic children receive their first communion at the age of 7 or 8, as this is considered the age of reason. Other people can receive communion for the first time whenever they meet all the requirements of the Catholic Church.
Preparation
For anyone to receive communion, that person must be considered sinless and in a state of grace. Traditionally, Catholic children will make their first confession, also called the Sacrament of Penance, a week before receiving their First Communion. At the time of confession, the child will tell a priest about his sins and misdeeds and will receive a penance in return. Penance usually consists of several prayers to be said immediately after leaving the confessional. After this, the child is considered absolved of sin and is ready for First Communion.
Confession is not the only requirement for receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist; the Sacrament of Baptism must also have been received. A child, or any person, who has not been baptized cannot receive communion. If the child has been baptized, he generally begins studying for First Communion in the first grade. Catholic children who do not attend Catholic school attend religion classes after school or on weekends. In most cases for young children, at least two years of religious education must be completed before they can receive their first communion.
On the day of First Communion, and whenever Communion is thereafter, those who partake must fast—meaning not eat any food—for at least an hour before receiving the sacrament. Drinking water or taking medicines, however, are exceptions. This type of fast is called a Eucharistic fast.
Meaning
A child’s First Communion is often a cause for celebration, but for many Catholics, the event has a deeper meaning. They believe the event means that a child has studied and understood, to the best of his ability, what Catholics call the mystery of transubstantiation – the changing of the substance of ordinary bread and wine into the substance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ , according to Catholic beliefs. Catholics believe that, before receiving communion, even a child should be able to distinguish between Eucharistic bread and ordinary food.
Then
After their First Communion, young Catholics are required to attend church every Sunday and are encouraged to receive communion frequently, even weekly. If one has missed Sunday mass for no good reason or has committed a mortal sin, that person should go to confession before receiving communion again. Most Catholics go to confession at least once a year, usually during Lent, a 40-day observance that usually begins in February or early March and ends in late March or April.
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