Just this morning, I got to thinking about Holy Communion again, in
connection to my post yesterday. I was thinking about the time during my
preparation for conversion to the Catholic Church, when I was reading
up on first communion observances. A few of my children were old enough
to be taking their first communion at the time of our reception into the
Church, and I was curious what the rules are regarding one's reception
of first communion. Were they expected to dress a certain way? Were
their names announced? Did they come up first before anyone else
received? I was a bit surprised to find out that the Church actually
says very little about what that reception of first communion is
supposed to be like.
It says more about the preparation
for a child's first communion than about the event itself. So these
pictures that we have seen so often (the lines of children coming
forward, girls in white dresses and veils, and the boys in white shirts
and black ties, all sitting up front to be seen by everyone throughout
the Mass itself) these are not actually the "official" manner of
receiving first communion. I am not saying that any of those things are
bad, please do not misunderstand me; just that they are the traditions
that have grown up around the celebration of one's first communion, but
not things required (or even expected) by the Catholic Church.
We
do want the children to respect the Sacrament, and realize that their
first reception of it is of major importance. Yet, many of those
practices can also give the wrong idea about communion. If a
child dresses nicely for his first communion, but not any other day for
Mass, what does that say? "If I'm not the focus, then it's not special"?
Maybe. If we line them up to receive before anyone else, what does that
say? "Look at me, look at me!" (which may actually be embarrassing for
some who are of a more shy disposition). Maybe. I do not want to attack
these "local traditions" but I do want to say that since they are not
officially required by the Church, then they are not sacred and should
be examined with serious scrutiny. We never want to do something merely
because "that's the way we do it" (as opposed to doing it because the
Church requires it).
Therefore, what does the Church
require for the reception of a child's first communion? Proper
preparation is the only thing (and that is not a small thing). At the
barest minimum, the child must have more in his understanding than "I
can eat the little white thingy now". He must grasp the sacredness of
the Mass, as well as the miraculous nature of the Sacrament. He must see
the absolute necessity of being in a state of grace to receive the
Sacrament. He must know (as I said recently) that it is better not to
receive in a particular instance than to receive in a state of grave
sin.
Furthermore, who is supposed to teach these things? The Church is not
the first teacher of any child; the parents are the first teachers.
Certainly the Church can help, and may do so in a variety of ways, but
that does not take away the parent's responsibility. In fact, Canon Law
says nothing in this regard about religious education directors or
special "first communion classes". What it does tell us is that a child
must have "sufficient knowledge . . . to understand the mystery of
Christ" in order to receive the Eucharist "with reverence". It also
tells us that this is "primarily the duty of parents" and of the "parish
priest" that they are prepared.
In other words,
parents are supposed to be doing the training for their own children's
reception of communion, and the priest is the one to give the final say
in whether they are doing the job properly or not. If the parents wish
to ask help from someone else, fine. There is nothing inherently wrong
with that. Yet, they cannot shirk their duty by "dropping them off at
class" and then expecting that someone else did the job for them.
From
this we can see that the parents must be teaching the doctrinal aspects
of the Sacrament, but also the practical aspects of reception of the
body and blood of Christ. Children must be taught to be respectful and
reverent when they are in the Church; especially during the Mass, but
also at any other time (since they are in presence of the body of Christ
in the tabernacle). They must be taught to focus on what is going on
during the Mass and be taught the details of the liturgy (the role of
the priest, the lector; the purpose of the altar and tabernacle; what
the communion vessels are for; how to pay attention during a homily and
gain benefit from it, etc.).
Some of this can be
taught during the Mass, but most of it occurs at home. It is taught in
how children show respect for their parents (fourth commandment: "honor
your father and mother, in order that..."). It is taught in how children
pay attention when spoken to (by anyone). It is taught in how children
learn self-control (especially at the dinner table). It is taught in how
children learn to communicate to others with respect and clarity.
Children who talk back to their parents, will eventually talk back to
God; the manner of how one behaves at home will always influence the
manner of how one behaves while in the celebration of the Mass.
To
all parents of children who have not yet received their first
communion, I say this: give deep consideration to all of these details.
Realize that your preparation of them for communion is not just a few
mechanical details of how to open your mouth and tilt your head back to
receive the host. It is not just a doctrinal detail of
transubstantiation. It is a full and well-rounded understanding that
encompasses a child's whole being, body and soul; and it should never be
disconnected from the rest of life.
So whatever traditions you or your parish follows for a child's reception of first communion, ensure that it is a holy
event. An event where the child has been prepared to revere Christ, and
continue to receive the Sacrament because of love and devotion, not
because of a mere duty or expectation ("everyone's doing it, I'm
supposed to also"). Train them and guide them to love Jesus, and to
receive Him with a heart filled with love and thankfulness.
