Christening Gowns, Outfits, Communion Dresses at One Small Child

Next up in our series of articles regarding religious ceremonies for infants and children, Pat writes about Catholic First Communion:

Eucharist is central to the faith of Catholics, often referred to as the “source” and “summit” of Christian life. Preparation for the Sacrament of the Eucharist is an exciting time. For most Catholics, making one’s “first holy communion” occurs in childhood, when a child reaches the “age of reason,” about seven years old. However, since people join the Catholic Church at many ages, it may take place much older.

This article is written for Catholic adults, to increase their understanding of the sacrament, so they might better prepare their youngsters or others for first communion.

So what is a “first communion”? It is a solemn observance of a person receiving the Eucharist for the first time. Holy Communion is the reception of the Eucharist, that is, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ found under the auspices of bread and wine. It is a personal and physical encounter with Christ.

Recall the words Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; . . . he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and . . . abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:51, 54, 56)

Jesus refers to himself as the “living bread”. This is at once fantastic and mind-boggling.

Elsewhere in the scriptures, Jesus uses similar language. At the Last Supper Jesus blesses and breaks the bread, and shares the wine with his disciples saying: “This is my body which will be given up for you… This is the cup of my blood.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

The Church teaches that the Eucharist is not merely a symbol of Christ’s body and blood, nor a representation. Truly, it is HIS BODY and HIS BLOOD. This is known as the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. To quote a few of the saints who comment on this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that ‘cannot be    apprehended by the senses,’ says St. Thomas [Aquinas], ‘but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.’ For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 (’This is my body which is given for you.’), St. Cyril says: ‘Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.”

How does this miracle of the Eucharist happen? The Catechism teaches:

It is Christ himself, the eternal high priest of the New Covenant who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. And it is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice. [Par. 1410.]

By the consecration the transubstantiation [transforming of substance] of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. [Par. 1413.]

This is an awesome supernatural mystery.

Ponder this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, second Person of the Trinity, condescends, stoops, and lovingly lowers himself to humanity’s level so that we might come into relationship with Him. First, by clothing his divinity with human flesh, becoming Man, and second, by redeeming us through the sacrifice of his body and blood, and finally, giving us Himself in a way we can understand with our senses: within the small consecrated host of bread and cup of wine. His very Presence is made present. Consuming this nourishment, Christ enters our very selves.

Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” At Mass, Christians come to give thanks before the Church’s altar or Eucharistic table. There, they recognize two simultaneous realities: the altar of sacrifice where the death of Jesus on the cross remains ever present, and the table upon which bread and wine is consecrated and served. The Mass feeds Christians with a holy meal that strengthens them supernaturally. It is a time of thanksgiving for both their redemption and their daily blessings.

Receiving communion is entering into an abiding union and fellowship with Christ and with the Church. Whenever a Catholic attends Mass and receives communion, they are professing their faith in what the Church believes, and as well as renewing their communion with Christ.

When preparing your child for first communion, teach them who Jesus is and what he did for us. He willingly suffered and died to free us from the punishment of our sins. Then, by the power of his resurrection from the dead, he made a way for us to live eternally with him someday in heaven. While we wait for heaven, Jesus invites us to unite ourselves with him through the gift of the Eucharist. He wants to bless us and strengthen us with his body and blood.

Simple suggestions for parents for preparing your child for First Communion:

• Teach about Jesus in your own words, and answer the basics: Who? What? When? Where? How? And why?
• Talk about your faith in Jesus.
• Read bible stories with your child.
• Explain the parts of the Mass, especially the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. (Jesus is “hidden” in the consecrated Host.)
• Work with your church or school. Attend the preparation classes. Volunteer!
• Find children’s bibles and books at Catholic bookstores or online.
• Learn the guidelines for proper attire for first communion celebrations at your church.

The goal for your child is developing a lifelong loving relationship with Jesus, so that he or she may joyfully receive the Eucharist at Sunday Mass and holy days for their entire life.

The celebration of first communion is a most special day. The wearing of a white dress for girls, or suit and tie for boys is traditional. After Mass, there might be a party, and some presents may be given as appropriate. But more important than the “exterior” preparations, is the “interior” preparation: making sure your child’s heart is ready to receive Jesus. That is where the true celebration takes place.

Pat Gohn is a Catholic wife, mother, and writer. Her articles and creative work in Catholic media can be found at www.patgohn.com.

Continuing our series of ceremony articles written by mothers of faith, Pat shares:

The Sacrament of Baptism is a cause for celebration! It is a grace-filled moment in the life of a child, parents, and the Church. Loving parents seek baptism for their child to share their Christian life, but more important, that their child may enjoy a relationship with God and the people of God.

We can enter that joy more deeply when we understand the grace of baptism, and the rite itself.

The Grace of Baptism

Jesus taught: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28:19-20.)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door… to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as [sons and daughters] of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. [Par. 1213.]

Grace received at baptism transforms a child in many ways.

First, all humans inherit Original Sin through the fall of Adam and Eve. Through Christ, “the New Adam,” Original Sin is forgiven and removed by baptism. How does this happen?

To baptize means to “plunge” or to “immerse”. “Plunging” into the waters of baptism symbolizes the person’s burial into Christ’s death. Their rising out of the water symbolizes their resurrection with him “as a new creature.”

Second, baptism establishes a relationship with the Holy Trinity. A baby may have an earthly mother and father, but now becomes an adoptive son or daughter of the Heavenly Father. Joined to Christ in baptism, they become a temple of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings sanctifying grace enabling them to know and love God, prompting them through life to grow in virtue and goodness.

Third, baptism incorporates the child into the Church, the Body of Christ, a source of future grace and blessing. The new Christian is holy, their soul imprinted with a spiritual sign, a character, or “mark” consecrating them for worship. The sign can never be erased. It is the seal of the Lord, the seal of eternal life.

The Rite Of Baptism

Welcome and preparation. On the baptismal day, the child’s family is welcomed and brought into the church, near the baptismal font. The parents express their desire that the child be baptized into the faith of the Church.

The celebrant (a priest or deacon) opens with prayers invoking God and his loving plan of salvation. The water for the baptism is then blessed, if not already.

The parents and godparents renounce Satan and profess the faith of the Church, and give their consent for their child’s baptism.

Parents are instructed of their holy obligation to train their child in the love of God and the practice of the faith, to teach what Jesus commanded. These promises are made on behalf of their child.

The child is signed or marked with the sign of faith — the cross on the forehead.

Baptismal name. A long-standing Christian tradition has been to name the child at baptism with the name of a saint who can be a heavenly patron for the child. Though not a requirement, the benefit of choosing a patron saint provides the child with a lifelong guide and example of holiness and virtue.

Baptismal Sponsors. The sponsors, known as “godparents”, play an important role at baptism and in the child’s life. Canon Law requires sponsors to be baptized Catholics who participate regularly in Church life. One male and one female sponsor should be chosen, at least 16 years of age, having received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.) Sponsors should be have no impediments (such as having left the Church.) Non-Catholic Christians may not be sponsors, but may serve as witnesses to the baptism, alongside a Catholic sponsor.

Baptism with Water. The essential rite of baptism consists in immersion in water, or the pouring of water on the head, while pronouncing the invocations of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the moment of regeneration, or rebirth and new life of the child, by water and the Word of God.

Anointing with Chrism Oil. The child is anointed with sacred chrism oil, blessed by the local bishop. Very aromatic, chrism signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit to the child. This makes the child a sharer in the priesthood in the Christ, and in his prophetic and royal mission.

Baptismal Robe. The white baptismal robe or garment symbolizes a person has “put on Christ,” as St. Paul says. It also foreshadows the promise of eternal life.

Baptismal Candle. Every Church has a large Easter Candle, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World. From it a small candle is lit and presented to the child’s family members or godparents as a symbol of the child’s enlightenment by Christ. That child must also become a light in the world. All are encouraged to keep the flame of faith alive in the heart of the baptized child.

Prayers Over Ears and Mouth. The celebrant touches the ears and mouth with his thumb. His prayer is that the child may hear and receive the Word of God, and someday proclaim the faith with his words and actions.

The Lord’s Prayer and Final Blessing. The assembly prays the Lord’s Prayer, praying “Our Father” with the newly baptized child, now privileged to call on God as Father. Finally, concluding blessings are given for the mother and father, and the assembly.

The more you know about baptism, the greater the rejoicing! It’s a celebration with God’s family both in heaven and on earth!

After the baptism ceremony, be sure to gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the “new life” of this child. It’s a day worthy of remembrance.

Some families continue to celebrate “baptismal days” annually as their child matures. These become teachable moments in family life recalling the on-going graces of baptism in the life of a child.

Pat Gohn is a Catholic wife, mother, and writer. Her articles and creative work in Catholic media can be found at www.patgohn.com.

Our first guest writer, Sylvia, shares:

Imagine yourself living at the time the very first Christian Church was established by the apostles. See the soft glow of the oil lamps hanging in front of the icons (St. Luke painted the first several). Smell the incense circling around you. Hear the chanting of what seems to be angels. Welcome to the Orthodox Church, a Church that has remained unchanged since Christ established it. Many Americans have never heard of it even though it is the oldest and second largest Church in the world.

The Sacrament of Baptism is one of seven holy mysteries of the Orthodox Church. Children born to Orthodox families are generally baptized as infants. We dedicate our children to God as early as possible so they can grow in Christ. Although a child does not have the ability to reason they are still able to participate in Divine Grace. Adults may also be baptized; if the adult is converting from a different faith they first become a catechumen.A catechumen is simply a person who is receiving instruction in the Orthodox faith in preparation for baptism.

The service of baptism in the Orthodox Church is a sacred act that is rich in symbolism and truly spiritually transforming. The service itself can be traced back to the apostles. St. Cyril of Jerusalem also described it in great detail in 386 A.D. Some of the highlights of the service are:

• On the eighth day after a child is born, they are given their Christian name. (See story of St. John the Baptist Luke 1:59-60) A child can be baptized anytime after he or she is 40 days old. Orthodox Christians keep the Jewish tradition of the mother and child remaining at home for 40 days immediately following birth. Just as the Mother of God brought Christ to the temple at 40 days, we also bring our children to the Church for the 40-day blessing. After that it is left to the parent’s discretion to decide when the child will be baptized.
• The service begins outside of the Church in the Narthex where the priest reads several prayers. During these prayers the godparent is asked to renounce and spit on Satan and all his pride, works, etc. on behalf of the child. This is done facing west, spiritually facing the powers of darkness. The godparent is then asked to face east, symbolizing their turning their back to sin and are asked to unite themselves to Christ.
• The Nicene Creed or Confession of Faith: At this point in the service the godparent recites the Creed, which was written at the first ecumenical council at Nicea in 325 A.D. In this they recite, “I believe in one baptism for the remission of sins.” From here we proceed to the font.
• The Baptismal Font: The baptismal font symbolizes the womb where we are re-born into Christ’s kingdom and the tomb where we die to sin. The priest recites a special prayer asking God to send His Holy Spirit to bless the waters.
• The Anointing of Oil: Olive oil is blessed and then applied by the priest to the various members of the child’s body: hands, feet, ears, mouth, in order to dedicate them to the service of Christ. The godparent then anoints the entire body of the infant with olive oil. In baptism, the child is anointed with olive oil. This symbolizes the child’s preparation to enter the spiritual arena and to express our prayer that with Christ’s help the infant may be able to elude the grip of sin.
• Triple Immersion: The word baptism originates from the Greek word baptizo, which literally means to immerse. In the Orthodox Church the child is fully immersed in the baptismal font 3 times to symbolize Christ’s 3 days in the tomb and also in representation of the Trinity of God. Each time the child is immersed the priest says, “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• Chrismation: In the Orthodox Church, the sacrament of chrismation is administered immediately following baptism as in the early Church. By this sacrament we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit just as the apostles received at Pentecost. The child also receives their baptismal cross at this point. The cross is blessed and kept for the rest of our life as reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for us and a symbol of Christ’s victory over death.
• The Cutting of the Hair: The priest cuts four locks of hair, in the shape of a cross, from the child’s head. This is an expression of gratitude from the child, who having received an abundance of blessings through the Sacraments of baptism and chrismation and having nothing to give to God in return, offers part of its hair, that until now has never been cut, which is symbolic of strength (see Samson in the Old Testament). Therefore, we promise to serve God with all our strength.
• The Eucharist: Immediately following Baptism the child receives the precious Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion and is brought to Church regularly after baptism to receive the sacrament. The new life in Christ, given in baptism, is renewed again and again in the Eucharist. In the Orthodox Church, every baptized infant becomes a full member of the Church and is entitled to receive Holy Communion. As nature provides milk for the nourishment of the infant after birth so God provides Holy Communion for the infant immediately following baptism in order to provide nourishment for the spiritual life they have received through baptism.

During the service there are several candles that are held and the priest, child and godparent circle the baptismal font three times while chanting the words of St. Paul, “As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ…” (Gal 3:27) The candles symbolize our vigilance as we await the return of Christ; such as the wise virgins who did not allow their lamps to go out. It also reminds us that Christ is the light of the world and whoever follows Him shall never live in darkness.

After the baptism there is a dinner served so that everyone can celebrate the newly baptized child. The guests are always given a favor, usually an icon of the child’s patron saint, tied with koufeta (jordan almonds).

The parents keep the child dressed in white for 7 days. Many mothers have said that during that week their children are more peaceful and quiet than usual. This makes some of us wish we could baptize them more than once! We also dress the child in their baptismal garments for three consecutive Sundays following the baptism.

This may be overwhelming for some but for Orthodox Christians this is the beauty of our Faith. A Faith given to us by Christ, and preserved for us for generations and generations through the sweat and blood of countless saints, to whom we are eternally grateful. Every service and mystery within the Orthodox Church is overflowing with symbolism and faith.

For more information on the Orthodox Church you can visit the Orthodox Christian Information Center.

Sylvia is a freelance writer who lives with her husband and two adventurous little boys. She considers her Faith and her family to be her two most valuable possessions. She is also the author of the blog Adventures of an Orthodox Mom where she and a fantastic network of moms share their mishaps and triumphs of raising children within the Orthodox Faith.

I’m excited to begin a series of articles written by mothers of different faiths describing the significance of their respective religious ceremonies for infants and children. I hope you’ll enjoy and learn just as much as I will!

If you or someone you know would like to be a contributor to this series, please feel free to contact me.