Spring is here, and that means it is officially First Communion season!
If you think back to your own First Holy Communion, you probably remember feeling excited, and maybe a little bit nervous, to receive our Lord in the Eucharist for the very first time. You probably got all dressed up in a suit or white dress, participated in the sacrament, and went home to celebrate with friends and family. But why do we make such a big deal out of First Communion?
In short, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith, and the day someone receives the Blessed Sacrament for the first time should be celebrated as one of the most important days of their life. It is an exciting and transformative experience that marks the beginning of a lifetime of receiving and loving Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass. This is a great gift, and one we cannot take lightly! As St. Maximilian Kolbe once said, "If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion,” and as St. Faustina shares, “The courage and strength that are in me are not of me, but of Him who lives in me – it is the Eucharist.”
So let’s celebrate First Communions this year with excitement and joy, encouraging all First Communicants to fall deeply in love with their faith as they take this beautiful step!
If you’re looking for a great gift for a child receiving their First Communion this spring, check out the Douglings Series. The series contains four different volumes and features fun and inspiring adventures with Padre Pio, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John Henry Newman, and St. Pope John Paul II. These books are both entertaining and enriching for young minds. One reviewer wrote about Lair of Illusion, “Carissa Douglas does it again! My kids LOVE this. Always another surprise around the corner. Very fun read and enlightening to our faith, too.”
For adults in RCIA who have received or are preparing to receive their First Communion, check out St. John Vianney’s Eucharistic Meditations and Jacques Philippe’s Fire and Light.
