With the arrival of communions, which begin in the month of May and last until the first days of June, we wanted to review what this celebration means for Christians. What is its history and origin, as well as what it consists of. Read on to discover what is communion, the history of communion Y the meaning of communion.
what is communion
The first thing is to know what is communion. Communion is that sacramental act that, in theory, should be celebrated by all Christian children from a certain age. In some places it is done with 10 years, like in Spain, but in other places it is done with more or less age. The important thing is that the person must be younger. However, if an adult did not celebrate their communion and wishes to do so later in the years, it is also possible, although not usual.
Communion is the first time a Christian receives the body and blood of Christ. In order to do it, he has to have been previously baptized and also having been confessed by a priest, having confessed his sins and been absolved for them after having completed the corresponding penance.
As we say, normal is celebrate communion between the ages of seven and twelve. In addition, it is usually done collectively, with other children of the same age.
To celebrate communion, the basic part is to celebrate the Eucharist. It begins with an explanation of the step involved in entering communion and union with Christ, receive his body and blood, which are later taken in the form of the consecrated host and wine. Songs are also often made and peace is shared among all attendees.
What is communion | History
The history of communion starts directly from the last supper of Jesus Christ with the twelve apostles, in which he also distributed his body and blood for all. After this, in 1215 (13th century), during the Lateran Council it was specified that minors who had reached the age of “discretion”, which at that time meant an age between 12 and 14 years, could propose to receive that sacrament.
Later, the children during the Middle Ages They were not taken into account as important citizens in society, so communion took a back seat. It gained importance again when, already in the 20th century, this ceremony became a very important step for Christians and a very important moment in the life of any Catholic.
What is communion | Meaning
As we said, the act of communion is a step closer to the union with Christ that takes place a few years before full adolescence and that also means the change of children to a more mature and relevant person within the Christian community. A community that has in Saint Helena: mother of Christianity
It is the second ritual that a Catholic receives in his life, being the first the baptism, the third the confirmation and the fourth the wedding.
To be able to carry out this ritual, you have to fulfill some requirements which we list below: have been baptized anteriorly (which is usually done days or months after birth); receive a preparation to approach the union with Christ and take from his body and blood. This preparation is known as catechesis (usually lasts between 1 and 3 years) where children are taught what communion means and learn more about the figure of the Holy Spirit and the works of God in the world. Normally, this preparation is carried out by a priest, although it can also be done by a lay citizen who has been authorized by a priest to carry out this task.
It is also necessary, as we said before, to carry out the act of penance which is nothing more than having been confessed of sins by a priest and having fulfilled the punishment imposed by him. Normally, this punishment consists of making a prayer to ask God for forgiveness for having committed the sins.
Finally, an administrative act must also be carried out in the Church where the child will perform the Eucharist of communion. This consists of submitting a church enrollment applicationwhich will take care of the rest of the paperwork, as well as the logistical needs of said celebration.
As for the spiritual meaning After the ceremony, communion is the first spiritual experience that a Catholic person has, being aware of it; because the baptism takes place days after birth and the baby is not aware of this meaning of spirituality. In this way, communion starts from being the first act in terms of the relationship between God and the Catholic person and that from now on, it will continue to grow closer each time the person communicates before God.
Likewise, the locker room used in communion, also has its own meaning. Both boys and girls are usually dressed mostly in white (although they may have some detail in another color) because it represents purity, necessary for this approach to God. The white of their clothing is a representation of the cleansing and forgiveness of their sins that they have left behind. Likewise, it is also normal to carry a Bible, to get to know the history of Catholicism and the figures of the Holy Spirit, as well as a prayer book to help us communicate with God, as well as a rosary to support these prayers and carry God with you. U.S.
When is the communion
When is the communion is a question with at least two answers. which affects the child’s age and the one that affects the date of the event. In both cases, the tradition is clear.
- Age – In the case of age, answering when the communion is made involves shuffling a fork that ranges between 7 and 12 years. The precept of the Church is that the boy or girl has sufficient knowledge of what he is doing. However, in Spain it is usual for children to make communion when they are 9 or 10 years old. That is, in 4th grade. To do this, they begin in the 3rd year of Primary to be trained in catechesis, to know what commitment they will acquire in communion.
- Celebration date – In this case, communion and its celebration are linked to the Easter Season. Those who say that communion is usually done in May, because it is the month of flowers, is wrong. In fact, the Christian calendar dictates that during this period of time, the sacraments must be celebrated: baptism, communion and confirmation. To situate ourselves, Easter Time goes from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter lasts for 50 days, but each year its beginning varies. However, communions are usually always celebrated during the second fortnight of May.
Who can make the communion
And now that we know when it’s done, it’s time to find out. who can make communion. A sacrament for which certain requirementswhich we will review next:
- Baptized – To make communion it is essential to have been baptized. If you are not baptized, there are alternatives that we will explain later.
- catechesis – To complete this sacrament, you must attend a catechism class. In it they will show the precepts of the Church and the commitment that this step implies for the little one.
- Between 7 and 12 years – Although there is no age limit for communion, it is usual for children of that age to make communion in a group.
- Confession – Before communion, it is essential to confess sins. To do this, the boy or girl must go to the confessional and list her sins to the priest. When he has done so and completes penance, he will be fit to receive communion.
Communion if you are not baptized
Until not too long ago it was impossible to make communion if you were not baptized. The Church considered that both sacraments go hand in hand and did not allow a single isolated case. Now things have changed.
At the time of communion, those who are not baptized have two options:
- Baptism + Communion – In an independent act, quick and without too much solemnity, the child of 9 or 10 years old can be baptized, minutes before beginning the Communion ceremony.
- Training – The other alternative to baptism is formation. In this case, it is the priest who coordinates this special training plan. In it, they show the little one what communion means, what it implies and what the next step would be. The goal is to be aware of what is happening and choose the Eucharist. Doing it out of obligation, or for other more playful reasons, can end up being harmful to the little one.
Also, in overstorywe also have several articles explaining other Christian acts or celebrations of which we explain how they are celebrated, their meaning and their history. To see them you just have to click on any of the following links: