First Communion

 

Today, the children will make their First Holy Communion. All year they learned about Confession and the Eucharist. It’s exciting for them, to make their First Confession and First Communion. Haley Stroppes faithfully taught the children everything they know.

The children first need to know what confession is and what receiving Holy Communion is all about. Then they needed to know how to go to Confession and How to receive Holy Communion.

I came to their class a number of times. After visiting with them and teaching them, they know they are not receiving bread, because they believe-- Jesus changes the bread and wine into His Body and Blood on the altar.

The learned the Last Supper was the First Mass and today, through an ordained priest, Jesus changes bread and wine into His Body and Blood at every Mass.

And if you ask them, “What is the Eucharist?” they will say, the Eucharist is the “body of Christ”, and some will also say, “the Eucharist is Jesus”.

What great faith children can have! And with what pure hearts they love Jesus.

I asked them what is a mortal sin? And all of them told me it was a very bad sin, that one freely chooses to do. They know they can't receive Holy Communion after committing a mortal sin. However, they understand Jesus is merciful and forgives, and so if someone commits a mortal sin, they are to Confess before receiving Holy Communion.

They were taught Jesus in the priest forgives their sins, in confession. When asked how often they should go to Confession, they will say once a month and they can go more often if they like.

They learned that they are not supposed to eat food, chew gum, or drink pop, within one hour of receiving Communion. And adults should not drink coffee in less than hour before Communion.

When they come to church and when they leave church, they genuflect because they know Jesus is in the Tabernacle. When they genuflect on one knee, I suggested they say to Jesus, "I love you." Jesus is king and that is why bend the knee to show Him respect and honor. They were taught the church is God's house and we need to always dress up when we come to Mass and never wear shorts to Mass or Eucharistic Adoration.

They know the Red sanctuary candle reminds us, Jesus is in the Tabernacle.

When they receive Holy Communion, they will return to their pew and close their eyes and pray to Jesus, who is inside them.

They were taught to always thank Jesus after they receive Holy Communion and to always thank Jesus for forgiving their sins after Confession.

On Wednesday, I told them-- before God created the earth, the moon and the stars, he thought of creating each one of them and Jesus has been looking forward to today, when Our Lord would come to dwell in their heart in Holy Communion.

At the end of the Mass, they will receive a brown scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is a sign, that Mary will watch over them and help them to get to heaven. If they pray to Mary, She will keep them close to Jesus in the Eucharist.

In a couple of years, hopefully they will want be altar servers because they want to help Jesus at Mass.

When they come to Mass every Sunday to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, and come to confession once a month, may their excitement continue every week.

What a joy it must be for Jesus to come into hearts so pure, innocent and so trusting.

May their joy be ours, every time we come to Mass and to confession, as we humbly believe and trust that Jesus, who is God is really present in the Eucharist and that Jesus, the good Shepherd forgives us-- in the Sacrament of Confession.

Parents, I encourage you to teach your children how to pray the Rosary and pray the Rosary at home regularly with your family. At the beginning of Mass, we crowned Mary because we love Her and want to honor Her.

Watch their eyes and faces when they receive Holy Communion when their heart is united to the Heart of Jesus for the very first time.