In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
Why does Jesus give himself to us as food and drink?
Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because he loves us. By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (Jn 6:56). In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at the same time united to his divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to the source of life.
Receiving the Holy Eucharist for the first time is an important rite of passage for Catholic children. After all, the Eucharist is the most important part of every Catholic Mass, serving as the moment in which Jesus Christ presents himself to his followers.
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper when He broke bread with His 12 apostles before offering Himself on the Cross. When we celebrate Communion at Mass, Christ makes present again, through the priest, His one sacrifice on the cross in an unbloody manner.
What Does First Communion Mean in the Catholic Church?
During the Sacrament of First Communion, young Catholics are welcomed to the altar of the Lord by receiving His body and blood (under the appearance of bread and wine) for the first time. First Communion is also a time for families to come together and celebrate their faith and their divine communion with God. Parties and family gatherings typically take place after the First Communion Mass.
Why Do Catholics Have First Communion?
The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Eucharist is the "source and summit of the Christian life." (1324) In addition, in John 6:53, Jesus said that "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you."
What First Communion Requirements Are There?
To partake in First Communion, there are some prerequisites you must meet. The Catholic Church requires that children have at least a basic understanding of the sacrament and know the difference between ordinary bread and the consecrated host. They will need to go for confession beforehand and be in a state of grace.