What is reconciliation, first communion, conformation
Can someone out what these things are - the process do get to this point- and what they actually mean.
Thanks
Reconcilliation is a newer term for what is commonly called ‘Confession’. Catholics believe that when Christ sent out His apostles, the first priests, and told them to forgive sin in His name, He gave priests the authority to forgive sins. We go to Confession to be reconciled with God, be forgiven of sin, receive the grace from God which allows us to avoid sin, and advice from the priest on disciplines to keep us from sin.
First Holy Communion is the time a Catholic child first receives the Eucharist. We believe that the Eucharist is Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for us made present again on the altar. In the sense that the Old Testament priests sacrificed animals that took the sins of people onto themselves, Christ sacrificed Himself for us. Our belief on this differs from Protestants because we believe that Christ’s sacrifice was not a moment in time, but an eternal and undying sacrifice. The bread and wine literally become Christ’s Body and Blood, sacrificed for us for the forgiveness of sins. We receive them in order to be united with Him, with all the believers of the Church, and to receive the grace and strength necessary to be a Christian. Children do not receive until a certain age (usually around 7) so that they fully understand what is happening, and can worthily receive.
Confirmation is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit. In consists of being anointed with chrism oil, and calling down the Holy Spirit into the heart of the person. The Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost to dwell with the believers, and Confirmation does this for each person. It provides the grace necessary for one to live in the Holy Spirit and dedicate one’s life to Him. This sacrament is usually offered to teenagers, and the time varies in each diocese. Usually it is around 16 or one’s sophomore/junior year in High School.
These are all sacraments, which Catholics believe are actions or things instituted by Christ through which He gives us the grace necessary to live our lives for Him. Protestants believe God simply gives grace all the time, whenever He wishes.
Your child would only receive these if he/she was Catholic, and if he/she had gone through classes. Usually First Communion/Confession go together, because we need to be cleansed of our sins before we receive the perfection present in Christ’s Body, and the children meet weekly for a few months or a year before the actual date to prepare and learn. Confirmation usually involves a similar class, much later, where they learn about the Church and what we believe, to make sure they are aware of what they proclaim when they call themselves Catholics. Confirmation is celebrated after Easter, usually.
If you have any more questions, I’m sure I or someone else will gladly answer them.
