First holy communion : for little Catholics


COMMUNIO





P7294-1

Printed

in

U.S.A.









FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION

JFor Little Catholics

BY FATHER DEMETRIUS MANOUSOS, O.F.M., CAP
ILLUSTRATED BY CATHERINE BARNES

John M. A: jearns, S.T.D*dpnsor Librorum

Imprimatur:

i£< Francis Cardinal Spellman Archbishop of New York

March 11, 1955

The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official

declarations that a book oYpamphlet |s free of

doctrinal or moral error No implication is y jL 1
contained therein that those who have granted

the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the

"X contents, opinions or statements expressed. f

CATECHETICAL GUILD EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY
St. Paul 2, Minnesota

Copyright 1955 by Artists and Writers Guild, Inc., and Catechetical Guild
Educational Soci-

ety. All rights reserved throughout the world. Printed in the U.S.A. by
Western Printing and

Lithoaraohina Company. Published simultaneously in Canada by Palm Publishers,
Montreal.



Jack and Jenny are very happy. They run home

quickly. Sister told them that they may make their

First Communion.



Mother is glad.
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Jesus loves you,” she says. That

is why we have Holy Communion.
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Jesus is God.

Jesus can do anything He wants to do. One day

He took five loaves of bread. He blessed the bread.

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After Jesus blessed them, the five loaves turned

into enough bread for five thousand people. Jesus

loved the people, and He wanted to feed them.



Jesus loves Jack and Jenny and all the other people

in the world. He wants to give them enough to eat

for their souls. He says: H shall be your Bread.

Jesus is God.

He can do whatever He wants. He wants to give

Himself to us to make us strong. He loves us.



On the night before He died, Jesus took bread

in His hands and said, "This is My Body."

And the bread became Jesus



And the wine became Jesus.

Jesus took wine in a cup and said:

"This is My Blood/'

's.



That was the first Mass.

Then Jesus gave His Apostles and all other priests

the power to say Mass.

The priest says Jesus' words over the bread.

And the bread becomes Jesus.



It looks like bread. 1
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It tastes like bread. 1

It feels like bread. \

But it is not bread anymore.



We receive Jesus in Holy Communion.

We adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.



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Holy Communion is a

sacrament, because it gives

us grace.

Grace makes our souls

holy.

Grace makes Jesus love

our souls, because it is a

share in His own life.

Grace helps us to love

Jesus.

Jesus comes to us when-

ever we receive Holy

Communion.

Food makes our bodies

strong. Jesus makes our

souls strong.

V



I

I

Jack and Jenny are hurrying to school. Today

Sister will teach them how to receive Holy Com-

munion.

Sister teaches them what to do . . .

—before Holy Communion

—when receiving Holy Communion

—and after Holy Communion.

»



Before Holy Communion

You must prepare your body by not eating or

drinking anything except water after midnight. If

you eat or drink something after midnight by mis-

take, then you must not go to Holy Communion.

(Sometimes sick people may be permitted to receive Holy Com-

munion after drinking something else besides water. But a priest must

always be asked first, and what he says must be done.)



You must prepare your soul by being free from

mortal sin. If anyone has such a serious sin, he may

not receive Holy Communion until the sin has been

forgiven in confession.

You need not go to confession every time you

are going to receive Holy Communion. You can

receive Holy Communion any time you have no

mortal sin on your soul. But it is good to go to con-

fession often.



When you are going to receive Holy Communion,

think of Jesus. Say the prayers you have learned.

Ask Jesus to come to you because you love Him

and want Him to make you strong.



Go up to the altar rail reverently.

Do not rush or push.



Kneel straight and lean against the altar rail. Fold

your hands in front of your chest. Do not put your

hands in front of your face.



When the priest comes to you . . .

—hold your head up

—put your tongue out

—lower your eyes

—and hold still.



5 V

When the priest has put the Blessed Sacrament
on your tongue, close your mouth and bow your

head. Swallow the Host as soon as you can.

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After Holy Communion

After you have received Holy Communion, go

back to your seat reverently.

Thank Jesus for coming to you.



Tell Jesus how much you love Him.

Ask Jesus for the things you want Him to do for

you. Pray for your father and mother, your rela-

tions and friends. Remember that Jesus is with you.

This brings you closer to all of His large Family all

over the world.

V



Remember that Jesus

is inside of you. Try to

be extra good after Holy

Communion to show

Jesus that you are glad

He is with you.



Today is the big day.

Jack and Jenny are going to receive their First

Holy Communion this morning.

“Be sure not to eat or drink anything/' says Jenny.

“I can have a drink of water, but nothing else/'

says Jack. “I will make no mistake."



Every time they go to church, Jack and Jenny

wear clothes which are neat and clean. But today is

extra special.

Jenny has a beautiful white dress and veil.

Jack has a new suit.



Everything is very beautiful in church.

"But not so beautiful as my soul will be when

Jesus comes to me/' thinks Jenny.



The singing of the choir is strong and powerful.

“But not so strong as my soul will be when Jesus
comes to me,” thinks Jack.



Jesus comes.

Good Jesus.

Sweet Jesus.

How I love You!

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"Daddy, I am so happy!” cries Jenny.

Jenny should be happy.

She is holier now.

She is stronger now.

She is closer to Jesus.



"I wish I could receive Holy Communion again-

right away,” says Jack.

You are permitted to receive Communion only

once a day. But you may receive it every day.



Jack and Jenny are going to receive Holy Com-

munion every Sunday. They want to go to Holy

Communion every chance they get.

Why shouldn't they?
I know I want to receive Jesus every chance I get.

Don't you?