One Bread, One Body
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"Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross, and in this chalice what flowed from His side... whatever was in many and varied ways announced beforehand in the sacrifices of the Old Testament pertains to this one sacrifice which is revealed in the New Testament."
- from the writings of St. Augustine, Sermon 3, 2; circa A.D. 410 {original translation}
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Preparing for the sacrament of Communion provides the entire family with the opportunity to reflect upon this sacrament of God's love for us.
Usually begun when the child is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade, preparation for first communion is done in addition to the child's on-going faith formation. Children who have completed at least one year of faith formation classes and are enrolled in at least their second year of class will be invited, along with at least one parent, to attend preparation classes.
In these classes, they will be prepared to make their first sacramental Penance before preparing to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. As the primary educators of their children, parents play a large role in both the weekly classes and in home study. Their approach to the sacraments of Penance and Communion will influence the child's approach to those sacraments. In requiring the parent and child to reflect upon these sacraments together, we hope to encourage both to grow in love of Christ and in dependence on the grace that flows from His sacraments.
At the end of preparation class, children are assessed to make certain that they know who they are receiving and why it should make a difference in their lives.
"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration."- Saint Teresa of Calcutta