First Communion Questions?

[beckyann2597]

Halo:

I would have to disagree with tasting wine before receiving Precious Blood on First Holy Communion Day. It sounds sort of like “take the car for a test drive before you buy it” attitude that men talk about before marrying someone. I loved it when men spoke up and said “well I didn’t”.

I think having a taste of wine at the family dinner and sex before marriage are completely different things. IWhen I grew up, my father always had a glass of wine with dinner. We always sat down as a family in the dining room for dinner and the children were always allowed a sip of daddy’s wine if we were curious. Not one alcoholic was a product of this. i think it is Ok to taste a sip of wine before your first communion. And practicing holding a cup isn’t a bad idea either. But by age 7 or 8 they should be able to do this fine.

 

[Seatuck]

You can find inexpensive baptism and communion dresses on ebay as well.

 

[Halo]

Well actually.
It is more than just a sip of wine, at a dining room table in this case.

The child if he she chooses will receive the Precious Blood of Our Lord for the very first time. This is an extraordinary day. Imagine all the mystery involved with this First encounter.

I believe that letting children practice something similar to what is going to happen is cheating those children out of the real deal. In life we don’t need to practice everything before the real event. Often times we can’t. I find it a poor practice and even distracting for children.

I do know several alcoholics whom were also served at the dinner table. One just doesn’t know on that issue.

 

[puzzleannie]

your point of view is legitimate and worthy of consideration, however every year I attend first communions at several parishes and there are always children who have trouble handling the chalice, make a face or noise when they taste the Precious Blood, I have even twice seen them spit it out. There is always at least one child who has a gag reflex with the unfamiliar texture of the consecrated bread, and always a dozen who have absolutely no idea how to receive properly under either species. Sorry, I still say they must practice and rehearse to know what they are doing and why they are doing it.

 

[Elzee]

puzzleannie:

your point of view is legitimate and worthy of consideration, however every year I attend first communions at several parishes and there are always children who have trouble handling the chalice, make a face or noise when they taste the Precious Blood, I have even twice seen them spit it out. There is always at least one child who has a gag reflex with the unfamiliar texture of the consecrated bread, and always a dozen who have absolutely no idea how to receive properly under either species. Sorry, I still say they must practice and rehearse to know what they are doing and why they are doing it.

I agree. In our parish they practice once with the kids with an unconsecrated host and encourage the parents to practice at home with a goblet and wine. I don’t see anything wrong with it…they are kids after all and not in as much control of their responses as adults if they taste something that is very bitter to them or a dry host that gets stuck in their throat. You want this to be a day your child remembers because of it’s spiritual significance. You don’t want the predominant memory for anyone to be ‘Joe gagged on the host or almost dropped the chalice’.

 

[beckyann2597]

Halo:

Well actually.
It is more than just a sip of wine, at a dining room table in this case.

We were always told to take “just enough to wet your lip”. And we were never allowed to gulp the wine. It annoys me seeing people gulp down the precious blood at Mass. I have even seen times where they were only half way through the recieving line and the cup was empty. I’m standing by my statement.

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

beckyann2597:

We were always told to take “just enough to wet your lip”. And we were never allowed to gulp the wine. It annoys me seeing people gulp down the precious blood at Mass. I have even seen times where they were only half way through the recieving line and the cup was empty. I’m standing by my statement.

I don’t take the precious blood of Jesus but I do show reverence when I pass it. I noticed that people including my children chew the body of Jesus. I was always taught that you were never to allow it touch your teeth and let it melt and swallow it. I don’t like this new practice that is taught to the children but I don’t want to interfere with them because they are receiving Jesus. It could be worse, never receive him.

 

[beckyann2597]

Maureen Fiore:

I don’t take the precious blood of Jesus but I do show reverence when I pass it. I noticed that people including my children chew the body of Jesus. I was always taught that you were never to allow it touch your teeth and let it melt and swallow it. I don’t like this new practice that is taught to the children but I don’t want to interfere with them because they are receiving Jesus. It could be worse, never receive him.

i will ask my DRE which we should teach our children to do. I actually never thought about it. We were taught to “eat” it, like in the Bible to says unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall not have life within you. Thanks for bring it up…Rebecca

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

There is no prohibition to chewing the Host. Despite what the good sisters taught so many of us, there never WAS a prohibition.

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

OutinChgoburbs:

There is no prohibition to chewing the Host. Despite what the good sisters taught so many of us, there never WAS a prohibition.

Agreed, but I was taught one way and my children were taught another. Neither way is incorrect. I don’t receive the host in my hands I take it on the tongue. My children receive it in their hands. I don’t have a problem with this the only thing is that we should show respect. I notice that when the host is chewed sometimes they chew like they have gum in their mouth. I think more people should chew respectfully and take the host with reverence.

 

[Halo]

Yes I also was taught to receive and swallow and not to chew. I wonder what brought about the practice of just swallowing. Was it possibly because some of the species of bread could be caught in the teeth and then unknowingly being spit out etc? Just a thought.

There is another thread at the moment where a person has found pieces of the host on the floor at the back of his Church. The practice of Holy Communion in the hand has led to this serious and unfortunate situation.

When I made First Holy Communion we were made aware of the sacredness of the sacrament. No one gagged, pulled faces etc.
Children today are treated in such a way that they act in unacceptable ways. There is a severe lack of discipline on the part of some parents, and I don’t see why the majority should have to put up with “a practice run” just because a few don’t know how to behave properly. I don’t think precious blood should be offerred to children at all. The body and blood in contained under species of bread.
I just think alot of the mystery is taken out of the sacrament when there is a so called “practice”. Let’s not spoil it for everybody.