By Lana Bray
The foundation that supports the Roman Catholic church are built around the Eucharistic purpose and the sacraments, created to sanctify humanity by nourishing, strengthening and expressing a personal relationship with God. Beginning in first grade, young Catholics are indoctrinated in the religious purposes of confession, as preparation for the first Eucharist at seven-years old. Qualified as the average age of reason by educators, children are deemed capable of making independent, conscious choices. A girl's First Holy Communion dress is symbolic of the purity the church prescribes for receiving the body of Christ in a formal, joyous, religious ceremony.
Sharing the same celebratory connotations as christenings and weddings, Eucharistic ceremonies are formal family events attended in traditionally appropriate, dressy, church attire. Most parochial school calendars set the date for May, when all religiously instructed, second graders participate together in a special mass honoring their introduction to the Holy Eucharist, joined by a congregation of family and friends.
Sharing the same celebratory connotations as christenings and weddings, Eucharistic ceremonies are formal family events attended in traditionally appropriate, dressy, church attire. Most parochial school calendars set the date for May, when all religiously instructed, second graders participate together in a special mass honoring their introduction to the Holy Eucharist, joined by a congregation of family and friends.
Summed up by Pope St. Pius X with 'Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven', receiving the Eucharist is the greatest gift of sacrifice and love given to the faithful. Preparations to receive the Eucharist include lessons and receiving the sacrament of Penance for cleansing the soul with confession. Absolution occurs after fulfilling the penance as prescribed by the priest as an act of contrition. The Eucharist is offered as a vital part of every Catholic mass.
Considered a religious milestone in the Catholic church, receiving the first Eucharist is an important rite of passage in a young child's life. Like an infant's christening or an adult's wedding, special ceremonies mark the reverent sincerity, purity and sacredness of the promises made in honoring a choice. White, formal attire is traditionally ascribed for females participating in religious events of this magnitude.
The traditional white finery of a communicant means more than beautiful, functional clothing. It is a symbol of the purity of heart and soul as a young believer commits in faith to the sacrament of the Eucharist. The length of the attire can be at the knees, semi-formal or to the floor, with comfort an important consideration. Personal preference dictates the design, fabric and embellishments.
The rules for head-wear are less stringent today than in the past history of church tradition. Formerly, all females wore head covering inside the church, which are no longer mandated. However, even today most girls choose to accessorize with either a decorative, matching veil, wreath or hair ornament.
The significance of the dress is as a symbolic 'outward' expression that defines purity, respect and reverence for the religious occasion. The meaningful connotations of holy communion finery requires quality that defies the test of time, to insure preserving its original comfort and beauty as a legacy for future family.
Though it is traditional for guests to give religious gifts to the honoree, it is 'the dress' that a young girl and her mother pick out together that it always remembered.
Considered a religious milestone in the Catholic church, receiving the first Eucharist is an important rite of passage in a young child's life. Like an infant's christening or an adult's wedding, special ceremonies mark the reverent sincerity, purity and sacredness of the promises made in honoring a choice. White, formal attire is traditionally ascribed for females participating in religious events of this magnitude.
The traditional white finery of a communicant means more than beautiful, functional clothing. It is a symbol of the purity of heart and soul as a young believer commits in faith to the sacrament of the Eucharist. The length of the attire can be at the knees, semi-formal or to the floor, with comfort an important consideration. Personal preference dictates the design, fabric and embellishments.
The rules for head-wear are less stringent today than in the past history of church tradition. Formerly, all females wore head covering inside the church, which are no longer mandated. However, even today most girls choose to accessorize with either a decorative, matching veil, wreath or hair ornament.
The significance of the dress is as a symbolic 'outward' expression that defines purity, respect and reverence for the religious occasion. The meaningful connotations of holy communion finery requires quality that defies the test of time, to insure preserving its original comfort and beauty as a legacy for future family.
Though it is traditional for guests to give religious gifts to the honoree, it is 'the dress' that a young girl and her mother pick out together that it always remembered.
The traditional white finery of a communicant means more than beautiful, functional clothing. It is a symbol of the purity of heart and soul as a young believer commits in faith to the sacrament of the Eucharist. The length of the attire can be at the knees, semi-formal or to the floor, with comfort an important consideration. Personal preference dictates the design, fabric and embellishments.
The rules for head-wear are less stringent today than in the past history of church tradition. Formerly, all females wore head covering inside the church, which are no longer mandated. However, even today most girls choose to accessorize with either a decorative, matching veil, wreath or hair ornament.
The significance of the dress is as a symbolic 'outward' expression that defines purity, respect and reverence for the religious occasion. The meaningful connotations of holy communion finery requires quality that defies the test of time, to insure preserving its original comfort and beauty as a legacy for future family.
Though it is traditional for guests to give religious gifts to the honoree, it is 'the dress' that a young girl and her mother pick out together that it always remembered. Crossing the bridge where secular meets spiritual, mother and daughter are joined in a momentous 'forever' memory of a girl's First Holy Communion dress and all that it means.
About the Author:
The rules for head-wear are less stringent today than in the past history of church tradition. Formerly, all females wore head covering inside the church, which are no longer mandated. However, even today most girls choose to accessorize with either a decorative, matching veil, wreath or hair ornament.
The significance of the dress is as a symbolic 'outward' expression that defines purity, respect and reverence for the religious occasion. The meaningful connotations of holy communion finery requires quality that defies the test of time, to insure preserving its original comfort and beauty as a legacy for future family.
Though it is traditional for guests to give religious gifts to the honoree, it is 'the dress' that a young girl and her mother pick out together that it always remembered. Crossing the bridge where secular meets spiritual, mother and daughter are joined in a momentous 'forever' memory of a girl's First Holy Communion dress and all that it means.
About the Author:
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