1st Communion

The Catechism describes the Eucharist as, "the source and summit of the Christian life." (CCC 1324). It is through this sacrament that we receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Good Lord, Jesus Christ. This sacrament is the very center of our lives as Catholics. "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are
oriented toward it." (CCC 1324). In the Eucharist, we take in the body of Christ and in receiving Him we are transformed more into his image.

1st communion is the first time a person receives the Eucharist. The first time we are invited to the Supper of the Lamb is a solemn and joyful celebration. Matthew chapter 8 verses 5: 5-13 relates the story of a Roman Centurion who comes to Jesus asking Him to cure one of his servants. Jesus offers to go and heal the centurion's servant but the centurion refuses and says, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." In response to the Centurion, Jesus says, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith...You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you." and at the moment Jesus said this his servant was healed. 

Just like the Centurion we much approach the Eucharist with profound humility. This is why we repeat his words at mass right before we receive the Eucharist. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the world and my soul shall be healed." We must prepare those who want to receive this great sacrament, to approach the sacrament with the respect and adoration which it is due. 

Before we go into what the preparation for 1st Communion looks like we must first come to know what reception of the Eucharist actually does for us. While the effects the Eucharist has on our souls is mysterious and infinite, the Catechism tells us of four concrete effects it has on us. They are Union with Christ, Separation of Sin, Union with the Church, and Commitment with the Poor.

During the Last Supper, Jesus charges His disciples, "Remain in me, as I remain in you." He then says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing...By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love." (John 15: 4;5;8-9). The Eucharist is the primary means through which we gain this unity with Jesus Christ. The Catechism says, "The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus.
 Indeed, the Lord said: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.” (CCC 1391).

Just as darkness does not exist as a thing but is rather an absence of light, similarly, evil is not a thing in and of itself and is rather an absence of good. Jesus as God is goodness itself, therefore, as we grow in unity with Jesus we grow in our separation from sin. This is why the Catechism says, "The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is “given up for us,” and the blood we drink “shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins.” For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins:" (CCC 1393). It also says, "By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. 
(CCC 1395)

I quick note of mortal sin. A mortal sin is a sin which is grave enough to sever our relationship with the Lord. The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins—that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church." (CCC 1395). This is why before 1st Communion the communicant will first receive their first confession to restore the divine life within them if any mortal sin has been committed. For more information on mortal sin or confession please refer to Catechism articles 1422-1497 (for confession) and 1854-1864 (for mortal sins).

Just as the Eucharist builds union with Jesus Christ it also builds our unity with the Church and its members. Again at the Last Supper Jesus prays for his disciples, "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are." (John 17:11). This prayer extends to us today, as it says in the Catechism, "In Baptism we have been called to form but one body." It then says, "Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body—the Church. Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved by Baptism," and, "The Eucharist fulfills this call: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread:” (CCC 1396)

Finally the Eucharist commits us to the poor. Throughout the gospels Jesus constantly identifies with the poor. As Jesus says in ​Matthew 25:40, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." ​What does this mean then to us who receive ​His body and blood? The Catechism states, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren: You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother, . . . You dishonor this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. . . . God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful." (CCC 1397)

Some time in January your child with be given their first confession. There will first be a meeting at the parish were your child will learn how to give their first confession and you will learn how you can support them in receiving this great sacrament of healing. There will then be two opportunities for your child to meet with Father Belden and give their first confession. 

Then in March there will be a meeting at the parish regarding 1st their first communion, where both you and your child will learn how to prepare to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. Then in April we will have a dress rehearsal for the mass. Then there will be a special mass where your child will receive their 1st Communion.