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First Holy Communions; Differences in celebrations
Topic Started: Tuesday, 20. March 2007, 22:07 (2,225 Views)
Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
nelly k
Apr 20 2007, 09:54 PM
Clare I liked what you said about character, can you explian it a bit more,

Further to what Rose has said:

Catholic Encyclopedia

Quote:
 
Character (in Catholic Theology)

Character indicates a special effect produced by three of the sacraments, viz. Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders. This special effect is called the sacramental character. The term implies a relation (as will be explained below) to a term used in the Epistle to the Hebrews (1:3) concerning the Son of God, who is there described as the Charaktèr tês hypostáseos autoû, or "figure [figura] of the Father's substance". In Protestant theology, the term character is used in another sense in treatises concerning the Blessed Trinity; the phrase "hypostatic character" being employed to signify the distinctive characteristic (or what Catholic theologians call the proprietas personalis) of each of the Three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Here we are concerned only with the sense of the word in Catholic theology, that is, with sacramental character.

Sacramental character means a special supernatural and ineffaceable mark, or seal, or distinction, impressed upon the soul by each of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders; and it is by reason of this ineffaceable mark that none of these three sacraments may be administered more than once to the same person. This is express Catholic doctrine declared both in the Council of Florence (Sess. ult., Decret. Eugenii IV, §5) and in the Council of Trent (Sess. VII, can. ix, and Sess. XXIII, cap. iv and can. iv).

Quote:
 
If any one shall say that in three sacraments, viz. Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders, there is not a character impressed upon the soul, that is a certain spiritual and ineffaceable mark [signum] whence these sacraments cannot be iterated, let him be anathema (Concil. Trid. Sess. ult., can. vii).


If, indeed, there be grave doubt whether any one of these sacraments has really been administered, or whether the manner of its administration has been valid, then it may be administered in a conditional form. But if they really have been validly administered, they cannot again, without sacrilege, be conferred upon the same person. The character imparted by these sacraments is something distinct from the grace imparted by them. In common with the other sacraments, they are channels of sanctifying grace. But these three have the special prerogative of conferring both grace and a character. In consequence of the distinction between the sacramental grace and the sacramental character, it may even happen, in the reception of these sacraments, that the character is imparted and the grace withheld; the lack of proper dispositions which is sufficient to prevent the reception of the grace may not prevent the reception of the character. Thus, an adult who receives baptism without right faith and repentance but with a real intention of receiving the sacrament, obtains the character without the grace. The sacramental character, then, is not in itself a sanctifying gift; it is of a legal and official, rather than of a moral, nature. Nevertheless, normally, the character has a connection with grace. It is only accidentally, by reason of some faulty disposition in the recipient of the sacrament, that the association between the character and the grace is broken. In the Divine intention, and in the efficacy of the sacraments, the grace and the character go together; and the grace is proportioned to the special function which the character indicates. So that the character is sometimes called a sign, or mark, of grace.

The sacramental character, as we have said, is ineffaceable from the soul. This means, not that the effacement of this spiritual mark is an absolute metaphysical impossibility, but that in the established order of Divine Providence there is no cause which can destroy it in this life--neither sin, nor degradation from the ecclesiastical state, nor apostasy. This is of faith; and it is a theological opinion of great probability that the character is not effaced from the souls of the blessed in Heaven; while it is an opinion of some probability, that it is not effaced from the souls of the lost. Theology further tells us that character is a mark, sign, or badge by which the recipient is devoted to the work of worshipping God according to the ordinances of the Christian religion and Christian life; and that this is the reason why a character should be impressed by the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders rather than by the others. Not all of the sacraments are directly and immediately ordained for the work of Divine worship; e.g. the Sacrament of Penance only absolves from sin, restoring the sinner to his former state, but not conferring on him any special privilege or faculty. Again, among the sacraments immediately connected with the worship of God, we may distinguish between the sacrament which constitutes the very act of worship (that is the Eucharist), and those sacraments which qualify a person to take part, as an agent or recipient, in the worship. Now these last are Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy orders. The Sacrament of Orders consecrates a man to the work of Divine worship as an agent, i.e. for the conferring of the sacraments upon other persons; baptism dedicates a person to Divine worship by qualifying him to receive the other sacraments; and confirmation, which confers spiritual manhood (as distinguished from the new birth of baptism), qualifies the recipient for the duty of honouring God by professing the Christian Faith before its enemies. The sacramental character is compared by theologians to a military badge, or the insignia of an order of knighthood...
.....


S.A.G.

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Karin
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Karin
Our First Communicants celebrate their first Eucharist on the Third Sunday of Easter. Today, there were twenty - count 'em - young people received fully into the Church. They were all so darling with their crisp white shirts, ties and little suits for the boys and the girls were beautiful in their long white dresses and veils. All were beaming from ear to ear and their families packed the church. The rest of us had to sit way in the back of the church because there were so many visitors. But that's okay, because the place was overflowing out to the doors.

Father Larry's stole was amazing. It was embroidered with childrens' faces. It's always wonderful to see this much happiness concentrated at this service.

Just thought I'd share our day with our Cyber Forum family parish. Anyone have additional stories from their parishes about First Communion?
Karin

Hvaljen Isus i Marija. Kraljica Mira, moli za nas.
"Praised be Jesus and Mary. Queen of Peace, Pray for Us."

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nelly k

Clare and Rose , thanks to you both I realy enjoyed the last read from the Encylopedia, I will need to read a few times, nelly
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nelly k

I ll post in June... Iam really looking forward to my youngest First Holy Communion, nelly
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sumermamma

Karin,
In our US Parish the children have the option of receiving First Holy Communion with their class, or with their family at one of the Masses. Last week we had 4 children receive with their families and this week we had 6.
sm
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Derekap
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I wonder what others members think about children receiving their First Holy Communion with their families on an individual basis rather than as a class from school. The latter procedure could make it a school activity rather than a Church and family activity. Whilst at present I tend to be favourable towards a family and Church occasion, I am open to views either way.
Derekap
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Rose of York
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Administrator
The class receive their First Holy Communion together, having been instructed together. The class are confirmed together, having been instructed together. The class leave school, and that is the trigger point on giving up Mass attendance. Hardly surprising, they connect it with school days. In some parishes the childrens catechists "take a break" for the school holidays.
Keep the Faith!

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Derekap
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Rose wrote:

"In some parishes the childrens catechists "take a break" for the school holidays. "

They do in the parish I attend.

Derekap
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Joseph

Derekap
Apr 23 2007, 04:45 PM
I wonder what others members think about children receiving their First Holy Communion
with their families on an individual basis rather than as a class from school... 

In our local parish they have it both ways, and it seems to work exceedingly well.

The children receive their First Holy Communion with their class and with their families
(and though obviously only one of them is truely the First, it doesn't seem to matter).

For their Communion with their families, relations and friends, they are arranged in groups
(of up to six or so I believe) and share their Communion at the 11.00am Sunday Mass,
whilst their Class Holy Communion Mass is held on a Saturday with strict limitations of only
two adults (I think) per child in attendance.

They also seem to go on and party after both events too, so everyone is happy!
Joseph
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phil_mcdermott
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First Communion is a wonderful event. It used to be the case where, having been instructed together, the children would make their First Holy Communion together and the parents would accompany them to mass and communion for the future.

Now, sadly, in some areas, it becomes a competitive show where the girls especially, however beautiful and innocent, are decked in way-out dresses and turn up in stretch limos (I have to say I haven't seen them, but the PP at another nearby curch a few weeks ago asked that they should not be used this year) and lots of the parents aren't seen again until confirmation showtime comes around.

Somehow, I can't see many parents being persuaded to adopt a simple communion garment; be it a cassock-type garment or a stole or sash on top of a school uniform as is sometimes used on the continent, to detract from the materialistic side of the event where children compare the amounts of money they have received from relatives as an indication of the success of their day. There's nothing nicer than smartly-dressed little boys and little girls in white dresses on their special day, but without the flashing messages or tiaras etc., please.
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K.T.B.

I agree, Phil, that First Holy Communion celebrations can be too materialistic. At a school I was in a couple of years ago one boy told the class that the best thing about making his First Holy Communion was getting a new mobile phone!
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Alan
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From memory, I can remember visiting relatives on my First Communion Day. The excitement of "counting the spoils", Later I appreciated the fact that relatives were celebrating with me.

In my present Parish we have 4 Churches with one primary school. Not all children attend the primary school, difficulty with transport and cost implications for the parents being the main concerns.

The children are prepared for Communion in one centre by Cathechists and receive Communion in their own Churches with the Parishioners and their families, who have seen them develop, often from birth. (Tea and coffee is often served after the Mass with the proceeds going to Cafod. The Holy Communicants then celebrate the event with their own families and friends.

Our Communions is usually given on the Sunday before Corpus Christi.

The children who attend the parish school are encouraged to dress up again on the feast of Corpus Christi when a special Mass is celebrated in the school. Parents are encouraged to attend the Mass. This Mass is then followed by a school party.


God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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nelly k

Phil, I understand your point ... but why should children be denied an appropriate, modest Communion garment albeit very special and just for them , because some parents go mad...
My daughter will be wearing a very beautifull Communion dress , made for that purpose with veil and all , why would I put her in a Cassock type anything.... she is not clergy , she is not an Altar server, she is a young girl who for the first time will recieve Our Lord, she will be dressed appropriatly... nelly
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Josephine
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When my daughter was making her First Holy Communion money was very tight. I made an arrangement with a friend who wanted patchwork cushions. My friend was good at machine sewing so she made the dress, and I was good at handsewing so I made the cushions. We each bought our own materials, and were both very happy with the results.

I made the veil from plain curtain netting which I decorated myself. I sewed on some white silk ribbon in the shape of a cross and sewed a lace border around the edges. I did buy a headress.

No-one guessed the humble origins of the outfit. My daughter was delighted with it and it still gets borrowed (not every year but often).

Josephine

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nelly k

Josephine, my Holy Communion Dress and my sisters was borrowed from the Nuns, I still felt special as it was really well kept... one of my best moments was some time after my oldest was Babtised and a Nun contacted me and asked if this and the shawel could be borrowed, I was pleased to be asked and was glad to be in a position to give ... I got it back the same way as it went out and was used agian for my youngest... My older daughters Communion dress was borrowed as well and is still fine for the youngest, I am fortunate to have these dresses still and be in aposition to share... nelly
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