First Communion

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First Communion is a ceremony in several Christian traditions where a person first receives the Eucharist. It is most common in the traditions of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, as well as in many parts of the Lutheran Church and Anglican Communion. In churches celebrating First Communion, it usually occurs between the ages of seven and thirteen, often acting as a transitional rite.

Video First Communion

Characteristics

Catholics believe this event is very important, because the Eucharist occupies a central role in Catholic theology and practice.

First Communion is not celebrated in Eastern Orthodox churches, Oriental Orthodox churches, or Assyrian Churches in the East, when they practice infant communion (which is often simultaneously administered with infant baptism and confirmation). Some Anglicans allow infant communion, while others require the acceptance of prior confirmation, usually during adolescence.

This ceremonial celebration is usually not too complicated in many Protestant churches. Catholics and some Protestants believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, although only Catholics and some Anglo-Catholics from Anglican Communion believe this through transubstantiation.

Other denominations have different understandings, from the Eucharist to the symbolic food to the meal to remember the last supper of Christ.

Maps First Communion

Tradition

The First Communion Sacrament is an important tradition for Catholic families and individuals. For Catholics, Holy Communion is the third of the seven sacraments received. It happens only after receiving Baptism, and once that person has reached the age of reason (usually, about the second grade). The first confession (the first sacrament of penance) must precede the acceptance of the Eucharist. The Order of the sacrament is practiced universally by all Latin rite Catholics, while Byzantine Catholics (the Eastern Rite), for example, celebrate the sacraments of baptism, confirmation (Chrisma), and the Lord's Supper on the same day as infant baptism.

The tradition of celebrating around First Communion usually includes large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event. The first communicator wears a special outfit. Clothes are often white to symbolize purity, but not in all cultures. Often, a girl wore fancy clothes and a veil attached to a flower ax or other hair ornament. In other communities, girls generally wear clothes that are passed on to them from sisters or mothers, or even just their school uniforms with veils or wreaths. Boys can wear suits and ties, tuxedos, Sunday best suits, or their national clothes, with embroidered sleeves embroidered on the left arm and occasionally white gloves.

In many Latin American countries, boys wear military-style uniforms with golden aiguillettes. In Switzerland, both boys and girls wear plain white robes with brown wooden cross on their necks. In Spain, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and Guam, girls dress like small brides, although this has been partially replaced by alb in recent times.

In Scotland, boys traditionally wear skirts and other traditional Scottish dresses that accompany their skirts. In the Philippines, First Communion services often occur at or around the Immaculate Conception Party, with boys wearing Barong Tagalog or semi-formal Western attire, and plain white-clad women and sometimes veils.

Religious gifts are usually given, such as rosaries, prayer books, religious statues, icons, and holy cards. The prize money is also common.

Many families have formal professional photographs taken alongside the honest photographs to commemorate the event. Some churches set up for professional photographers after the ceremony.

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History

During the communist era, the initiation into a pioneering movement in communist countries with a large Catholic population was an overt effort to replace the Catholic ritual (eg, the Pioneering Association of Yugoslavia). In all cases, a child at the age of seven to ten begins as a member of a group in which individuals share certain values ​​and cultures.

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Gallery

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See also

• Communion and developmental defects
• Confirm
• List of parishes

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References

External links

• Quam singulari
• Letter from the Vatican: First Redemption, First Communion
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Communion of Children

Source of the article : Wikipedia