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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Sacraments of Initiation	Joseph	Wednesday, September 8, 2004
Question: Hello, Let me first tell you that this website has been a blessing in my life. The question I have relates to the Sacraments of Initiation. I was born Catholic, baptized as an infant, and Confirmed when I was about 12 or 13. I did not have an “official” first Communion because my mother told me during that time (1976-77) the parishes in the area stopped doing the first communion ceremony in my city. I did, however, receive my first communion (on my own) around the age of 10 or 11, and my family and I had our own celebration when we got home from Mass that day. I’m 34 now, but I still remember that day like it was last week. In addition, I went to CCD during my teens, and when I was confirmed, I really didn’t think anything of it. I was a teen, and as a teen, really didn’t enjoy going to CCD. In addition, because I didn’t have a “First Communion”, I didn’t have my first confession. In fact, it wasn’t until I was 29 that I finally went to confession for the first time. I must have spent 30 minutes in the confessional, and I felt so overwhelmed with joy when I was finished. At 34, I am closer to my Faith that I have ever been all my life. But, I feel like I “missed out”, so to speak, in one of the Sacraments: First Communion. Is “First Communion” the Sacrament of Initiation, or is receiving communion for the first time what truly matters? I went to the Easter Vigil and saw all the people receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, and I felt sad because I didn’t experience all the Sacraments. Perhaps, I am speaking from my emotions and not fact? Perhaps, I did receive them all, regardless if I was too young, too ignorant to appreciate, or went to communion on my own. I talked to a couple of priests about this, one priest mentioned that I had a first communion, the other priest recommended RCIA. What do you think? God bless you. Joseph
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Joseph: "First Communion" per se is not a Sacrament in itself. It is, rather a ceremony to make special to children the first time they receive our Lord in the Eucharist. The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism and Confirmation. So you did not miss out on any Sacraments though it sounds like you missed out on the special ceremony of "First Communion" that children undergo. While this is a beautiful "rite of passage" ceremony, it is not necessary. As a convert, I never went through a special ceremony of "First Communion". Rather the first time I receive our Lord in the Eucharist was after my Confirmation at the Easter Vigil. Whenever the first time a person receives our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist it is a wonderful experience and a special event in one's life. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Sacraments of Initiation

Joseph

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Question:

Hello,

Let me first tell you that this website has been a blessing in my life.

The question I have relates to the Sacraments of Initiation. I was born Catholic, baptized as an infant, and Confirmed when I was about 12 or 13. I did not have an “official” first Communion because my mother told me during that time (1976-77) the parishes in the area stopped doing the first communion ceremony in my city. I did, however, receive my first communion (on my own) around the age of 10 or 11, and my family and I had our own celebration when we got home from Mass that day. I’m 34 now, but I still remember that day like it was last week. In addition, I went to CCD during my teens, and when I was confirmed, I really didn’t think anything of it. I was a teen, and as a teen, really didn’t enjoy going to CCD. In addition, because I didn’t have a “First Communion”, I didn’t have my first confession. In fact, it wasn’t until I was 29 that I finally went to confession for the first time. I must have spent 30 minutes in the confessional, and I felt so overwhelmed with joy when I was finished.

At 34, I am closer to my Faith that I have ever been all my life. But, I feel like I “missed out”, so to speak, in one of the Sacraments: First Communion. Is “First Communion” the Sacrament of Initiation, or is receiving communion for the first time what truly matters? I went to the Easter Vigil and saw all the people receiving the Sacraments of Initiation, and I felt sad because I didn’t experience all the Sacraments. Perhaps, I am speaking from my emotions and not fact? Perhaps, I did receive them all, regardless if I was too young, too ignorant to appreciate, or went to communion on my own. I talked to a couple of priests about this, one priest mentioned that I had a first communion, the other priest recommended RCIA.

What do you think?

God bless you.
Joseph

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Joseph:

"First Communion" per se is not a Sacrament in itself. It is, rather a ceremony to make special to children the first time they receive our Lord in the Eucharist.

The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism and Confirmation. So you did not miss out on any Sacraments though it sounds like you missed out on the special ceremony of "First Communion" that children undergo. While this is a beautiful "rite of passage" ceremony, it is not necessary.

As a convert, I never went through a special ceremony of "First Communion". Rather the first time I receive our Lord in the Eucharist was after my Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.

Whenever the first time a person receives our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist it is a wonderful experience and a special event in one's life.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum