First Holy Communion..

Have you had your Sacrament of Holy Communion? I have.. in Poland... What really stands out to me that day is that my mother was not there. My dad was the one raising my sister and I for about 3 years during that time, when I was 7 to 9 years old. Very pivotal time of a young girls life. My sister was the one who was effected by this time much worse than I ( more on that later). She took on the role of my mother at that time.

My Communion did not have a special party at the end, nor did I have a fancy dress, just a plain white dress and a flower headband with a colorful watch on my hand, which totally didn't match the dress. I had a terrible bob cut (my dad's idea of fixing our hair was chopping it off short), and I had shoes that were too big, with cotton balls stuffed inside that would get stuck to my stockings when I took my shoes off. I remember going to confession before the day of my Communion and my God-Father, (who also left the Catholic Church). We got baptized around the same time, without realizing it. He was living in England and I was in the states. I don't think it was a coincidence. Anyway, he asked me how I felt after confession and I will never forget how at that exact time I felt a weight lift off my heart. Even though I think the Catholic Church is doing many things that contradict the bible, like worshipping Mary, praying to statues and believing skipping church is a sin, paying money for prayers for passed family members, praying to saints etc... I DO think that confession can work and heal our broken hearts. Not every priest has his heart in the right place and may be more interested in your sins than actually wanting to help. But many priests do have a calling and try to lead people to Christ, I believe. Confession and repentance is key in our walk with Christ. Being able to pour out your heart and free yourself from sin is truly a blessing, and I will always be a proponent of Catholic Confession. You can also confess before God and that is also ok in my opinion but having the right person to lead you back on your walk with God is a treasure.

I don't remember much else in regard to my Communion Day. Receiving the Eucharist did not have a major impact on me that specific day, and as long as I was in the Catholic Church, I never felt the connection of the Eucharist being the literal body of Christ, also known as transubstantiation. I actually felt that I was practicing idolatry by believing this wafer is the literal body of Christ.. because I already knew the Living, Resurrected Christ was in heaven and will come again. He didn't physically transform into a wafer. I just never felt that in my heart. And, what about the blood? Catholics do not receive the blood/ wine because of health reasons? Believing that the blood is in the body, I guess. It just doesn't make sense to me.

So many times, I would see people during the Catholic Mass partake in Communion and not that it doesn't happen in other places, but and I would see just a ritual without much thought. Catholics in general should not take Communion if they have not gone to confession and are not in a state of "grace" or have committed any mortal sin. There are people who don't take Communion for YEARS because of this rule. They cannot partake in the Lord's Super because of rules! It breaks my heart that so many don't realize the seriousness of what Jesus did on the cross for us. Communion to me is an act of Communing with Him, praying, worship, reading His word and also remembering what He did on the cross through His sacrifice.

I do take Communion now and although it is a bit tricky at times because I have Celiac Disease and the bread has gluten, but I do take the Communion (wafer and juice) during the non-denomination Christian service which I now attend. Sometimes I just take the juice because I'm afraid of how my stomach will react. I am waiting for Celiac to be a testimony in my life.. because Celiac Disease is incurable and I really think this is the devil's doing that I have Celiac and cannot always partake in Communion. When I take Communion now, I am reminded of what Jesus did on the cross for me and all of humanity. His broken body and shed blood and our sin washing away by the shedding of His blood is what I think about when taking Communion now.

This my opinion and you should pray and ask God for your own understanding of Communion and what it means to you. Thank you for being here and for listening.

Be blessed. Jesus loves you and died for you... give your life to Him today.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Mathew 26:26-28