Catholic children receive First Holy Communion during second grade, but parents can help children begin preparation to receive this Sacrament much earlier. Children as young as kindergarten can become familiar with basic prayers and the Mass. These efforts will pay off in having a child who is more fully prepared to receive first communion.
Bedtime Prayers for Catholic Children
Parents who have been praying with their children in the earlier years will have an easier time of teaching their school-age children Catholic prayers. However, it is not too late to start praying with a kindergartener, first-grader or second-grader.
Children who are preparing to receive communion should know the basic prayers, including the Sign of the Cross, Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be and Act of Contrition according to Marilyn Borrell, director of religious education at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Indian Head, Md. Children should also learn informal prayer, where they talk to God, Borrell said in an email interview.
Parents can begin by choosing one prayer off the list and saying the bedtime prayer at night. To encourage a relaxing atmosphere, saying the prayer should be the last thing before a goodnight hug or kiss. For the first several nights, the parent should say the prayer while the child quietly listens. After a week or so, the parent can pause to see if the child can fill in the missing word. When the child can say the entire prayer, the parents can add a second prayer to be said each night.
Teach Young Kids to Participate at Mass
Parents of young children may be tempted to place their children in the nursery at church (where available), but Borrell says children of all ages can come to Mass. She recommends setting the tone by dressing children in proper church attire. Parents can bring special quiet toys and a quiet snack for younger children. Children older than 4 should have “church” books instead of toys, she says.
Children of all ages can learn the proper way to sit quietly, stand and kneel when appropriate. Teaching and expecting children to sit, stand and kneel in church not only allows children to move around during Mass but also conveys a respectful attitude toward the church and other attendees. As children grow closer to receiving First Holy Communion, they should be encouraged to participate more fully in the Mass.
Borrell recommends young families sit up close to the front of the church. “There are a lot more things to see in the front of the church rather than the back of the pew in front of you.” Parents can direct the children’s attention to the actions of the priest, the colors of the flowers, the number of candles and other details to make participation in church a learning experience. All of this experience will help when the children are preparing to receive their first communion and support the lessons the children learn in their CCD class.
First Holy Communion: An Invitation to Return
It is not uncommon for parents who have fallen away from the church to want their children to go through the Sacraments as they did. Having a child approach the age for First Holy Communion can be a time of renewed interest for parents.
“If they are not going to Church now, maybe this is the time for them to rethink their Church issues and do what they need to do to get back in the Church,” Borrell says. “This can be a great moment for them – a returning point in their lives.”
As parents choose this new path for themselves and their children, they need to make regular Mass attendance a habit to support the efforts of the CCD teacher and emphasize the importance of Holy Communion. Children who have not been exposed to weekly church attendance will need to be taught why they are going, how to behave and what is happening.
Borrell says all families can get into a routine that helps them to “arrive in peace, not pieces.” She recommends keeping the pre-Mass routine calm by arranging details in advance and creating a peaceful atmosphere without TV or video games. Prepare church clothes the night before and plan on having a family breakfast before or after Mass.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years,” (2226) and providing a foundation in the faith is the best way parents can help prepare their children for First Holy Communion.
This preparation is more than just taking them to CCD classes. Parents can begin by teaching children the basic prayers and familiarizing children with how to pray. Attending Mass with young children can be challenging, but parents can use techniques to help children learn that going to Mass is simply what the family does each week. Not only does attending Mass underpin the lessons learned in CCD, it helps the children become more fully aware of their faith. Parents who have fallen away from the church may view the approach of their child’s first holy communion as an invitation to return to religion.
Genna Cockerham - Genna Cockerham has been writing online since November 2008. She served as Marriage Feature Writer from December 2008 to February ...
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