Figure 1.--Catholic American boys used to get new suits, often decorated with large bows for First Communion. Considering this boys' age, he is probably dressed for his confirmation.
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Figure 1.--Catholic American boys used to get new suits, often decorated with large bows for First Communion. Considering this boys' age, he is probably dressed for his confirmation. |
Communion in the Christian is an ecclesiastical term signifying the relationship to each other, involving mutual cliaims and duties, in which those persons stand who are united by unifomity of belief into one religious body or belief. The most important symbol of the realization of communion is the act of partaking of the Lord's Supper, a rite itself known as Communion. For all Christian churches, communion or the Eucraist is at the center of religious belief. There is a great deal of common thought on communion. Communion viewed as remembering what Jesus did for us.
One of the many points of differences, and in some ways one of the most important, between Catholics and Protestants is the sacrement of Communion. Here there are not only differences between Catholics and Protestants, but also differences among the different Protestant faiths. The Cathloic Church believes that God is present in the Holy Host. Here the Anglicans are in agreement. Most other Protestant Churches, however, believe that Communiin is a more symbolic act which is how Luther interpreted it. In the Gospel, it is written: "Do this in memory of Me" This passage was interpretated as a menorial by Luther. The last supper was in actuality the First Communion. The sacrament of First Communion is the first major step of a child in joining the Church. Perhaps because of the way Catholics view Communion, it tends to be a more important event in the Catholic Church than in other churches.
We note several ceremonies involving children and Christian Communion.
First communion is a major event in the life of a child. Practices vary from church to church and country to country. Children receive First Communiin at various ages, depending on the church or country. The event is celebrated differently. The First Communion is especially important in Catholic churches. Normally the child dresses up for the rvent, often in a new suit--although this is now less common for boys. The styles of suits worn at First Communion is a good reflection of formal boys' clothing.
Readers in France and French Canada have mentioned Solemn Communion to us. While First Communin takes place in the first orcsecond year of prinary school, solemn communion takes place the last year of prinary school. Before World War II, this was a time when many children would be ending their academic studies.
Some churches also make a major event out of the child' renewing his vows. HBC has less information on this event. It thought initially it was primarily a Catholic celebration called "Rnewal" because the ininial information was from a French source and the French word is a cognate for renewal. Thed actual event is of course "Confirmation" and is a major event in a child's life wjen he or she confirms membership in the church. This is in part a renewal of the First Communion vows, although Catholics put more of an emphasis on First Communion than many Protestant churches.
HBC has collected some individual experiences reported by readers concenrning Forst Communion, Solemn Communion, and Confirmation. The accounts vary. Some deal mostly with the suiyts they wore, while others describe the sxperience in more detail. Hopefully other readers will contribute their experiences here so we can better understand the event in different countries and at different times.
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