We are in the Easter season and it is a joyful season. For the children who are receiving the First Holy Communion it is a very special season .On April, 27, 26 children from St. Stanislaus catholic school received the first Holy Communion. In this month 70 children are going to receive the First Holy Communion. I would like to congratulate all the first Holy Communicants. I would like to address these children through this article.

Why do we celebrate this day as the most important day of your life? You might have heard of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, who conquered most countries of Europe and wished to conquer the whole world. Somebody asked him the question, “What was the most important day in your life?” They expected answers like the day of his coronation as Emperor, the day of his royal wedding, the day of his famous victories. But he said, “The most important and the most memorable day of my life was my First Communion Day.” For each one of you this day should remain as the happiest and most memorable day of your life. St. Maximilian Kolbe says, ‘If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.”

1) Why is this the happiest day of your life? It is because you are receiving Jesus, our God and Savior, as the Guest of Honor into your hearts and lives, for the first time, in Holy Communion. Almighty God is coming to stay with you, bless you, protect you and guide you. That is why we have all the celebrations. Long ago Martha and Mary received Jesus into their house as a guest. When you receive the Holy Communion, Jesus is coming into your soul.

2) How does Jesus come to our hearts? Jesus comes to our hearts in the form of consecrated Bread and Wine. It is because Jesus said that he would be there in the consecrated Bread and Wine. Nothing is impossible for God. So, Jesus is really present in the consecrated Host and Wine. Ever since his Resurrection on Easter Sunday Jesus has had a glorified body. In Holy Communion, we are receiving the Body and blood of Jesus.

3) Why does Jesus come to us as Bread and Wine, as food and drink?  We cannot live many days without eating or drinking. Food and drink are essential for the life of our bodies. In the same way spiritual food is essential for the life of our souls. And the Food for our souls is the Body and Blood of Jesus. That is why Jesus said that we will be spiritually dead if we don’t eat his Body and drink his Blood. Hence, we have to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. We have that opportunity every time we participate in a Holy Mass. Then, before we receive Jesus, we ask his pardon and forgiveness for our sins and with great reverence and respect.

4) What will we do after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion? First, we will invite Jesus into our heart. Next, we will thank Jesus with joy for coming to our heart. Then we will want to tell him all our needs and the needs of our parents, relatives, teachers and friends. Finally, we will be very happy when we remember that we are carrying Jesus to our homes and schools as Jesus’ mother Mary carried Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth. Because that is true, we will want to behave well because we know we are carrying God Himself in our heart and soul. When we are alone, we can tell Jesus living in our soul about our joys and worries, and about our parents, relatives, teachers, pastors, friends and their needs. We also need to ask Jesus to make us good boys and girls, sons and daughters who honor and obey our parents as their loving, well-behaved children and who behave well in school. Then we need to ask him to help us to succeed in our work at school and at home. 

Big thanks to everyone: I would like to thank everyone who prepared these boys and girls to receive their first Holy Communion and to remind the parents grandparents and relatives of these children that it is how all of us in the family and all of us who are in the parish family practice our Faith every day – at home, with the neighbors and in our work – that is going to influence our children. Hence, we all need to continue to train them in Christian faith and its practice, not only by advice but more by exemplary Christian lives. God bless you.

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