First Communion

'''First Communion''' is a ceremony in some [[Christianity|Christian]] traditions during which a person of the church first receives the [[Eucharist]].{{cite book|url=https://www.ocp.org/en-us/blog/entry/music/holy-communion-eucharist|author=Jethro Higgins|title=Holy Communion: What is the Eucharist?|publisher=Oregon Catholic Press|year=2018}} It is most common in many parts of the [[Latin Church]] of the [[Catholic Church]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]] and [[Anglican Communion]] (other ecclesiastical provinces of these denominations administer a congregant's First Communion after they receive baptism and [[confirmation]]).{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Peter Jesserer |title=Ordinariate Becomes 14th U.S. ‘Restored Order’ Diocese |url=https://www.ncregister.com/blog/pjsmith/ordinariate-becomes-14th-u.s.-restored-order-diocese |publisher=[[National Catholic Register]] |access-date=22 March 2020 |language=en |date=21 March 2020|quote=With the recent pastoral letter 'Come, Holy Ghost,' Bishop Steven Lopes revealed the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter would now become the 14th Latin-Rite diocese to make the reception of Holy Eucharist which normally follows Confirmation, something commonly called 'restored order' of the sacraments, with a focus on involving the child’s family in sacramental preparation. ... The following U.S. Latin-Rite dioceses have currently embraced a restored order for the Sacraments of Initiation: Saginaw, Michigan (1995); Great Falls-Billings, Montana (1996); Portland, Maine (1997); Spokane, Washington (1998); Fargo, North Dakota (2002); Gaylord, Michigan (2003); Tyler, Texas (2005); Phoenix, Arizona (2005); Honolulu, Hawaii (2015); Denver, Colorado (2015); Manchester, New Hampshire (2017); Springfield, Illinois (2017); Gallup, New Mexico (2019); and the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (2020).}}{{cite web |title=At what age do congregation members receive communion? |url=https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/At_what_age_do_congregation_members_receive_communion.pdf |publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] |access-date=15 March 2020 |page=1 |language=en |date=2013 |quote=Some congregations follow a pattern familiar to older generations of Lutherans: first communion is received at the time of confirmation. A generation ago, many of our congregations began preparing catechetical material for children to receive their first communion when they reached fifth grade.}} In churches that celebrate a rite of First Communion separate from baptism or confirmation, it typically occurs between the ages of seven and thirteen, often acting as a [[rite of passage]]. In other denominations first communion ordinarily follows the reception of [[confirmation]], which occurs at some point in adolescence or adulthood, while Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians [[Infant communion|first receive the sacrament of Holy Communion in infancy]], along with [[Infant baptism|Holy Baptism]] and [[Chrismation]].

'''First Communion''' is a ceremony in some [[Christianity|Christian]] traditions during which a person of the church first receives the [[Eucharist]].{{cite book|url=https://www.ocp.org/en-us/blog/entry/music/holy-communion-eucharist|author=Jethro Higgins|title=Holy Communion: What is the Eucharist?|publisher=Oregon Catholic Press|year=2018}} It is most common in many parts of the [[Latin Church]] of the [[Catholic Church]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]] and [[Anglican Communion]] (other ecclesiastical provinces of these denominations administer a congregant's First Communion after they receive baptism and [[confirmation]]).{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Peter Jesserer |title=Ordinariate Becomes 14th U.S. ‘Restored Order’ Diocese |url=https://www.ncregister.com/blog/pjsmith/ordinariate-becomes-14th-u.s.-restored-order-diocese |publisher=[[National Catholic Register]] |access-date=22 March 2020 |language=en |date=21 March 2020|quote=With the recent pastoral letter 'Come, Holy Ghost,' Bishop Steven Lopes revealed the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter would now become the 14th Latin-Rite diocese to make the reception of Holy Eucharist which normally follows Confirmation, something commonly called 'restored order' of the sacraments, with a focus on involving the child’s family in sacramental preparation. ... The following U.S. Latin-Rite dioceses have currently embraced a restored order for the Sacraments of Initiation: Saginaw, Michigan (1995); Great Falls-Billings, Montana (1996); Portland, Maine (1997); Spokane, Washington (1998); Fargo, North Dakota (2002); Gaylord, Michigan (2003); Tyler, Texas (2005); Phoenix, Arizona (2005); Honolulu, Hawaii (2015); Denver, Colorado (2015); Manchester, New Hampshire (2017); Springfield, Illinois (2017); Gallup, New Mexico (2019); and the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (2020).}}{{cite web |title=At what age do congregation members receive communion? |url=https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/At_what_age_do_congregation_members_receive_communion.pdf |publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] |access-date=15 March 2020 |page=1 |language=en |date=2013 |quote=Some congregations follow a pattern familiar to older generations of Lutherans: first communion is received at the time of confirmation. A generation ago, many of our congregations began preparing catechetical material for children to receive their first communion when they reached fifth grade.}} In churches that celebrate a rite of First Communion separate from baptism or confirmation, it typically occurs between the ages of seven and thirteen, often acting as a [[rite of passage]]. In other denominations first communion ordinarily follows the reception of [[confirmation]], which occurs at some point in adolescence or adulthood, while Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians [[Infant communion|first receive the sacrament of Holy Communion in infancy]], along with [[Infant baptism|Holy Baptism]] and [[Chrismation]].

[[File:Konfirmation Oscarskyrkan nattvard (beskuren, centrerad).jpg|thumb|249x249px|A group of [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] confirmands in the [[Church of Sweden]] recieves communion during their confirmation mass in Oscar Church, Stockholm. It may or may not be their individually very first time since the Church of Sweden nowadays distritbute communion also to children, although it is still common for many to receive it for the first time during confirmation.]]

[[File:Konfirmation Oscarskyrkan nattvard (beskuren, centrerad).jpg|thumb|249x249px|A group of [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] confirmants in the [[Church of Sweden]] receives communion during their confirmation mass in Oscar Church, Stockholm. It may or may not be their individually very first time since the Church of Sweden nowadays distribute communion also to children, although it is still common for many to receive it for the first time during confirmation.]]

==Characteristics==

==Characteristics==

==Traditions==

==Traditions==

[[File:Gâteau (1).jpg|thumb|Christian families may have cakes for their children on the day that they make their First Communion.]]

[[File:Gâteau (1).jpg|thumb|Christian families may have cakes for their children on the day that they make their First Communion.]]

First Communion is an important tradition for Catholic families and individuals. For [[Latin Church]] Catholics, Holy Communion is usually the third of seven sacraments received; it occurs only after receiving Baptism, and once the person has reached the [[age of reason (canon law)|age of reason]] (usually, around the second grade). First confession (the first [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|sacrament of penance]]) must precede one's first reception of the Eucharist. For those entering into the Catholic Church as adults, Confirmation occurs immediately before first Communion. In 1910, [[Pope Pius X]] issued the decree ''[[Quam singulari]]'', which changed the age at which First Communion is taken to 7 years old, due to the case of [[Ellen Organ]]. Previously, local standards had been 10 or 12 or even 14 years old.[http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10quam.htm ''Quam Singulari''] Byzantine Catholics celebrate the sacraments of baptism, confirmation (Chrismation), and Holy Communion on the same day as an infant's baptism.

First Communion is an important tradition for Catholic families and individuals. For [[Latin Church]] Catholics, Holy Communion is usually the third of seven sacraments received; it occurs only after receiving Baptism, and once the person has reached the [[age of reason (canon law)|age of reason]] (usually, around the second grade). First confession (the first [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|sacrament of penance]]) must precede one's first reception of the Eucharist. For those entering into the Catholic Church as adults, Confirmation occurs immediately before first Communion. In 1910, [[Pope Pius X]] issued the decree ''[[Quam singulari]]'', which changed the age at which First Communion is taken to 7 years old, due to the case of [[Ellen Organ]]. Previously, local standards had been 10 or 12 or even 14 years old.[http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10quam.htm ''Quam Singulari''] Byzantine Catholics celebrate the sacraments of baptism, confirmation (Chrismation), and Holy Communion on the same day as an infant's baptism.

Traditions of celebration surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event. The first communicant wears special clothing. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity, but not in all cultures. Often, a girl wears a fancy dress and a [[veil]] attached to a chaplet of flowers or some other hair ornament. In other communities, girls commonly wear dresses passed down to them from sisters or mothers, or even simply their school uniforms with the veil or wreath. Boys may wear a suit and tie, tuxedo, their Sunday best, or national dress, with embroidered armbands worn on the left arm and occasionally white gloves.

Traditions of celebration surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event. The first communicant wears special clothing. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity, but not in all cultures. Often, a girl wears a fancy dress and a [[veil]] attached to a chaplet of flowers or some other hair ornament. In other communities, girls commonly wear dresses passed down to them from sisters or mothers, or even simply their school uniforms with the veil or wreath. Boys may wear a suit and tie, tuxedo, their Sunday best, or national dress, with embroidered armbands worn on the left arm and occasionally white gloves.

File:FIRST-COMMUNION-1.JPG|First Communion in Mexico City, Mexico

File:FIRST-COMMUNION-1.JPG|First Communion in Mexico City, Mexico

File:Unidentified First Communion Portrait - DPLA - 69be6ccdf5f26adfafa8c3babd53fafd.jpg|First Communion in Toledo, Ohio, c. 1920

File:Unidentified First Communion Portrait - DPLA - 69be6ccdf5f26adfafa8c3babd53fafd.jpg|First Communion in Toledo, Ohio, c. 1920

File:Veils (6318210106).jpg|Holy Communion girls, [[Dublin]], Ireland, on the [[Feast of Corpus Christi]], 1969

File:Veils (6318210106).jpg|Holy Communion girls, [[Dublin]], Ireland, on the [[Feast of Corpus Christi]], 1969

File:1998Catholicphoto (cropped).jpg|Priest giving First Communion to a boy in 1998 in Church at Victoria, Australia

File:1998Catholicphoto (cropped).jpg|Priest giving First Communion to a boy in 1998 in Church at Victoria, Australia