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Five ways for parents to

prepare children for First


Holy Communion
The focus of many of my hours every week from September to May
is being a catechist in parish religious education for my four
classes of second graders. In both parishes, second grade is
when the children celebrate first reconciliation and first
holy Communion. I have been preparing children to receive
first holy Communion now for 14 years.

Someone recently asked me, as a catechist, what do I think


parents should keep in mind as they guide their children
toward first holy Communion? Well, here’s my response—five
things I’d advise any parent to do to help their child prepare
to receive the Eucharist for the first time.

1. Go to Sunday Mass.
Every week I tell the children it is important to go to Sunday
Mass, and to please ask their parents to take them. I teach
the children how beautiful, important and special it is to
receive Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity in the
Eucharist. If receiving Jesus in holy Communion is wonderful
and special, then we would want to at least receive the
Eucharist every Sunday. I implore families, don’t let “being
too busy,” sports or anything keep you from going to Mass. I
compare trying to live a Catholic life without Mass like
trying to grow a plant without water. It will wither and die.

2. Talk about the real presence of Jesus in the


Eucharist with your child.
The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is our belief that
the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Jesus.
The Eucharist is not a symbol or a sign, but Jesus truly
present.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds Catholics


Jesus’ “presence is not momentary nor simply signified, but
wholly and permanently real under each of the consecrated
species of bread and wine.” The Council of Trent affirmed
that “the true body and blood of our Lord, together with his
soul and divinity, exist under the species of bread and wine.
His body exists under the species of bread and his blood under
the species of wine, according to the import of his words.”

Near the start of our year of religious education, I tell my


classes they are about to learn the most important thing all
year: It is that the Eucharist is “really, really, really
Jesus.” I come back to this over and over through the year.

I can’t remember how I reacted to the idea that through the


prayers of the priest and the power of the Holy Spirit that
God could become what appears to be bread and wine. When I
stop to think about it, it really is amazing.

Talk with your child and make sure they understand the real
presence. Try not to say “getting bread and wine.” Instead
talk about “receiving the precious body and precious blood.”

A survey by Pew Research Forum and the Center for Applied


Research in Apostolate, known as CARA, of self-identified
adult Catholics showed that 45 to 50 percent of Catholics did
not know the Catholic Church teaches belief in the real
presence. If Catholics truly believed they were receiving
Jesus Christ — body, blood, soul and divinity — wouldn’t they
all be at Mass every Sunday and receiving the Eucharist
reverently?

3. Model reverence and focus on the sacrament when


celebrating first holy Communion.
First holy communion is an exciting time. There are special
outfits, relatives and friends gathering and making a fuss,
parties being planned, presents and the pageantry of the
day. But please be careful for your child to be too caught up
in the clothes, the party and the presents. It would be normal
and natural for any child to focus on these happy things.
Remind your child why all these wonderful and fun things are
happening because they will be receiving Jesus in holy
Communion for the first time.

4. Receive Communion with reverence and practice


receiving Holy Communion at home with your child.
The more they practice, the more comfortable they will be, and
less nervous on the day of first Communion. Also, kids think
it is fun to practice!

Here is an easy-to-follow guide to use at home:

You can use any sort of small cracker (I use oyster


crackers) to help them become comfortable with the
sequence of how to receive.
Process with hands folded in prayer, singing the
Communion hymn.
When it is his or her turn, he or she should make a
slight bow of the head — this is our sign of reverence.
No need to bow from the waist. I tell them if their hair
is flipping, it’s too big a bow.
Everyone has the personal choice to receive on the
tongue or in the hand. When teaching about how to
receive in the hand, children should make a throne with
their hands as if they are receiving a king. The hands
should be one underneath the other, usually the dominant
hand on the bottom.
When the priest says “The body of Christ,” look at the
host and respond “Amen” firmly like you believe it!
Use the underneath hand to pick up the host and consume
it immediately.
Fold hands in prayer and process back to your seat to
make a prayer of thanksgiving.
If receiving on the tongue, gently extend your tongue
after saying “Amen.”
There is no need to make the sign of the cross after
receiving. The bow before receiving is the sign of
reverence.

I tell the children if they watch carefully every week during


the Communion procession, they will see some adults who are
good examples and some not very good examples, so the
children need to be the extra good examples for the grown-ups.

5. Praise and thank God for the great gift of


Communion.
St. Pius X called holy Communion “the shortest and surest way
to heaven.” So not only on the day of first holy Communion,
but after every Communion, we all should praise and thank God
the great gift of our Lord received in the Eucharist.

Prayer after Communion


Lord Jesus, I love and adore you. You’re a special friend to
me. Welcome, Lord Jesus, O welcome. Thank you for coming to
me.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, O thank you for giving yourself to me.
Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay, close by me forever
and love me, I pray.
Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to
heaven to live with you there.

Cindy Coleman

My First Communion Journal


This beautiful First Communion journal is full of fun ways for
Catholic kids to prepare for, remember, and live out their
First Holy Communion. With its colorful design, prayers,
devotions, special activities, and quotes from the saints and
Scriptures, the My First Communion Journal can be used both
before and after the child’s First Communion day.

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