What does first communion mean?

Answer 1

The First Communion (First Holy Communion) is a Roman Catholic ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Roman Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 2

The First Communion (First Holy Communion) is a Roman Catholic ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Roman Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Roman Catholic Church. First Communion is not practiced in most Eastern Catholic Churches, which practice Infant Communion. First Communion is also celebrated by some Protestant denominations, particularly Lutherans. Celebration of this ceremony is typically less elaborate in Protestant churches that practice it. First Communion typically takes place at age seven or eight, depending on the country. Adults who have not received their First Communion can go through a separate program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA to receive this sacrament.

Answer 3

Catholics believe that when we receive Holy Communion we are actually receiving the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ Himself. Think about it - the God of the Universe humbling Himself to become bread - right in front of our very eyes. Of course it still tastes, looks, smells, and feels like normal bread and wine, but with the words of the consecration it becomes Jesus' Body and Blood. We receive the God of the Universe - the God who we pray to - the God who walked on water and healed the sick - the God who created us - into our very being. It is unfathomable to think about.

At the Last Supper Jesus turned the bread & wine of Passover into His own Body and Blood that He sacrificed the very next day for us on the cross. In the Catholic Church, each and every Mass continues this sacrifice so that it is perpetual. Therefore, the Church believes that at Mass, the power of the Holy Spirit comes down and turns the bread and wine on the altar into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Church gets this from The Bible at the Last Supper where Jesus says "This is my Body" and "This is my Blood" and then "Do this in remembrance of me." He also tells the crowds that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they want eternal life. Many people stopped following Him after this. (John 6:25-69) Jesus could have stopped them from leaving. He could have said "Wait, just a minute - it's only a symbol - this is what it REALLY means," just as He explained the meanings of His other parables, stories, and metaphors. But He didn't. He just turned to His disciples and said "Will you, also, leave?" He meant what He said and He meant it to be taken literally. Not figuratively. However, most Christian Churches believe that when they have their Communion services that it is just a symbol and a reminder of what Jesus did.

St. Justin Martyr, an early disciple, wrote "We all gather on the day of the sun, for it is the first day [after the Jewish Sabbath, but also the first day] when God, separating matter from darkness, made the world; and on this same day Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead," showing that there is evidence of gathering for Mass in writings outside of the Bible. He also goes on to write about what they do during these gatherings:

"The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent." St. Justin, Apol. 1, 65-67: PG 6, 428-429

This perfectly describes what Catholics do during the celebration of the Mass and shows that even the early Christians understood the meaning and importance of the Mass and the Eucharist. As we try to imitate the early Christians in everything that they teach and do, we also gather for Mass and the celebration of the Eucharist every Sunday as they did to remember Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us.

Answer 4

Because it is one of the most important things in life for a person who is Catholic.

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Catholic AnswerFirst Holy Communion along with confession was instituted for children who had reached the age of reason (around 7 years of age) by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 A.D. It was later discontinued due to the inroads of Jansenism, a heresy developed by a theologian at Louvain that basically denied any moral goodness to man's actions and the supernatural order. It was condemned by Pope Innocent X in 1653 and Pope Alexander VII in 1656. Pope Saint Pius X restored the early practice in 1910. Holy Communion is the reception of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist. The first time that we receive Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist is a monumental occasion, people remember it their whole lives. Napoleon, when nearing death, said that it had been the high point of his life.

Answer 5

They do the first communion because it is their right and they want to show respect to god.

Answer 6

the purpose of the first communion was for humans to partake in the feast with Jesus. The wine represented his blood and the bread represented his body

Answer 7

In the Protestant church, communion keeps the commandment of Jesus to "proclaim his death until he comes again". In addition, it is a symbol of his presence and intimate union with us today.

Answer 8

The blood is the wine when he died on the cross

The body of Christ is the bread of Jesus