First Holy Communion
When children have arrived at their twelfth year, as a rule, or even earlier than that, according to the custom of the country, their parents are bound in conscience to see that they be prepared to receive their first Holy Communion.
If such a child should be unknown to the Pastor or be overlooked by those in charge, the parents themselves must notify the former.
There is a course of special instructions given in the parish usually about three months in advance of the first Holy Communion of the children.
Parents are bound to see that their children who are of age to receive their first Holy Communion, attend these instructions regularly, or in case of positive inability to do so, make the excuse known to the Pastor and abide by his instructions.
Parents are, moreover, bound to make sure during this time, and especially as the Communion-day approaches, that their children give satisfaction at the instructions, otherwise they might be suddenly dropped from the roll and put back to the next year. Let them go to the Pastor occasionally and make inquiries.
The parents must also employ special care that their children make efforts during this time to lay aside such faults and habits to which they may have been addicted in the past; such as going with bad companions, sinful language, grave acts of disobedience, neglect of prayer and of their religious duties, and the like.
When special religious exercises are held for the children a few days before their first Holy Communion, parents must by no means permit them to miss these exercises by employing them at home, sending them on errands, permitting them to go to amusements and for similar reasons.
The children should be clothed for the occasion according to the regulations of the parish. Parents too poor to provide the outfit, should report to the Pastor, but by no means keep a child from Holy Communion through poverty.
On the other hand, parents should not make a display of their children on the day of their first Holy Communion by dressing them more stylishly than other children, allowing them the use of special jewelry and the like.
Every child should be provided with a new child’s prayer-book and a new pair of beads for that occasion. Other presents may be given it on its first Communion day after it has received, but not to make a display of them on that day.
Candles, flowers and the articles prescribed by the Pastor should be cheerfully provided and should be in accordance with the regulations.
Parents should not forget that the day of first Holy Communion is the greatest in the life of a child, and no expense, pains and preparation can be too great for that important occasion.
Children should not be permitted to go to amusements the day before their first Holy Communion or on the day itself. They should be sent to bed early on the eve, given a light, warm and strengthening supper and made to abstain from cold drinks and fresh fruits and vegetables. The latter tend to sicken a child not yet accustomed to fasting.
The day of the first Holy Communion should not be made the occasion of carousing and the holding of parties and amusements, but a day given entirely to piety and to the religious exercises in the church.
Where customary, let parents cheerfully make the usual offering to the Priest or to the instructors of their children for the great pains they had taken in the performance of such an important and arduous task.
