Many of us made our First Holy Communion at the age of about 8 years. In many families that used to be Roman Catholic, religion now hardly plays a role. We no longer know much about church rituals and the meaning of the sacraments that used to be so important in this faith. But if our children go to a Roman Catholic school, the child sometimes asks whether he or she can make his or her First Communion. Then it is good to think back to your own childhood and look for the meaning of rituals such as the sacraments.
- The First Holy Communion
- Baptisms in the church
- Baptism the way it used to be
- The First Holy Communion
- The sacraments
The First Holy Communion
Preparing for First Holy Communion is still a special time for young children. When children attend a Roman Catholic school, group feeling plays an important role. Children especially want to ,belong, and come home requesting to be allowed to make their First Holy Communion. Parents then agree to this, but sometimes have to delve deep into their past to rediscover the meaning of this sacrament.
Baptisms in the church
If the child wants to participate in the First Holy Communion, it is necessary that it has been baptized first. In many families the young child is baptized when it is only a few months old, but often it does not happen at all. That is not a problem because baptism can also take place if the child has indicated that he or she wishes to make first communion. And actually one can discover that this is a beautiful ritual. The child consciously experiences the baptism (immersion) and can write his name in the baptism book. The symbol for this is that the child is written in the palm of God’s hand. The child is accepted into the community of the church. The future communicants can attend this ritual in preparation for communion.
Baptism the way it used to be
In the past, a baby had to be baptized immediately a few days after birth. The mother was still in childbirth and was not present at the baptism. After returning from church, the famous rusks with mice appeared and there was a small family party. The baby’s crib was decorated with flowers and there was a special baptismal dress for both boys and girls that was kept in the family. The reason for a quick baptism was that they were afraid that the baby would die before being baptized and then the child would not go to heaven but to limbo. An unbaptized baby who died was not allowed to be buried in consecrated ground and there was a separate corner in the cemetery where these children were buried. It was taught that anyone could perform a baptism in emergency situations and as parents and grandparents you were aware of your responsibility in this. A godfather and godmother were appointed to ensure a good religious education. These, usually brothers or sisters of the parents, were present at the baptism and therefore had a special role in family life. Many godparents performed their duties very dutifully and the godchild was extra well provided with gifts on his or her birthday. After all, the godfather and aunt had a special role. This custom only came to an end at the end of the 1960s. Baptism only took place after a number of weeks or months. The mother was present at the baptism and was able to hold her child herself.
The First Holy Communion
In the past, preparations were organized in the church in the second year of primary school, where they also practiced and explained the first communion. But at school too, a lot of attention was paid to the first communion as a class. Children had to learn many prayers and chants. The catechism also had to be learned by heart. A link was made between the family at home and the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. During that period, children were exposed to a lot of knowledge about the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith. The feast of the First Holy Communion always took place on Ascension Day. After mass there was a celebration at home and in the afternoon the festive clothes had to be put on again for the praise, which was a kind of worship service in the church. In some regions in the Netherlands, such as Limburg, celebrations were often held in a restaurant. We also still see these extensive celebrations in southern countries.
In the past, it was a huge event for children to receive their First Holy Communion. They received nice new clothes. Especially for girls there was a real bridal dress with crown and gloves. White socks and patent leather shoes were part of it. This clothing was often self-made with a large hem so that the bride could then participate in the processions for several years as they were held in many villages during church festivals. The boys were dressed in a small costume but often also wore a sailor suit.
The sacraments
In addition to baptism and communion or Eucharistic celebration, there are other sacraments in the Roman Catholic faith. These are
- The confession
- The Confirmation
- Marriage
- The priesthood
- The holy oil
The Confession
In the Roman Catholic faith it is possible to go to confession and thereby obtain forgiveness of sins. One confesses to a priest who has a duty of confidentiality and he imposes a penance (punishment). Many people outside the faith have sometimes been somewhat jealous of the Romanists because they were able to obtain forgiveness of their sins. It is sometimes thought that the light-hearted nature of the Catholic south has to do with the possibility of starting over with a clean slate.
The Confirmation
During confirmation, baptism is, as it were, confirmed again. This ceremony is performed by the bishop, but has much less significance in families than baptism itself and communion. The child is anointed with holy oil and can confirm that he or she wants to continue to belong to the church.
Marriage
Within the Roman Church, marriage is not only seen as a covenant between two people but also as a covenant with God. Hence the statement: What God has joined together, man will not separate. Many believers have had great difficulty with this sacrament for many years. It was impossible for people to divorce according to the rules of the church and they could not enter into a new church marriage.
The Priesthood
The Roman Catholic Church views the priesthood as a sacrament. The idea is that Jesus himself selected his apostles who were to proclaim the teachings of Christ. The priests are always men who have been baptized. The Roman Church still has a rule that men must live a celibate life. Priests have a threefold task:
- They may administer sacraments
- They serve the church community
- They preach the Doctrine
It follows from this that if there are no priests, no Eucharist can take place. There are also assistant priests or deacons who are allowed to lead a service but are not allowed to celebrate mass or administer other sacraments.
The Holy Unction
This sacrament is also called the last of the sacraments. People who are dying are asked to confess if possible, after which an anointing is performed. he or she receives forgiveness of sins and communion is administered.
Many rituals have disappeared from the Roman Catholic Church as a result of secularization and the resulting lack of priests . The older generation among us will sometimes think back to a period when these rituals had a permanent place and faith and the sacraments were part of daily life.