First Communion

5/18/2017

Last Sunday there was a First Communion during mass. The priest wanted to show the new communicant what a memorable day it would be for her so he asked the parish, “How many of you remember making your First Communion?”

Without exception everyone raised their hand.

I looked around the church, sunlight shining on warm golden pine pews; the same church where I made my First Communion….

It had been a beautiful spring day, sunny and warm enough to chase the chill but cool enough to make me glad that my legs were covered, even if they were covered in awful white stockings. I wore hand-me-down clothes from top to bottom. Hand-me-downs were not a problem but these particular garments were: the stupid white stockings with a seam in the toe and a binding waist that rolled on around my belly, the dumb white dress with scratchy lace sleeves, and the veil; the ornery veil with a pearl crucifix headband that slipped back and forth on my head as I walked.

I hated the veil, the dress, the stockings, the shoes, I hated just about everything and I hated that I had no revelation upon receiving Communion. Of course I had no revelation; I had a pearl crucifix headband falling to one side of my head.

When my First Communion mass ended I headed to the nearest exit. One of my brothers had beaten me to the door and in way of congratulations he smirked, “Nice dress, Mary.”

I ripped that tilting veil off my head and threw it at him. I bent over and pulled that penitential scratchy white dress off over my head, white buttons pelted him; the dress fell at his feet. I glared and then I ran.

By the time my parents had gotten to the door I was a good fifty yards from the church.

“Catch her!” they commanded.

Two of my brothers started to chase me but I had a head start and I was fueled by the fire of indignation as I ran over familiar cracks in the sidewalk until I reached our back door. To my glee I beat both my brothers home and was changed into my favorite striped sleeveless t-shirt and flowered capris before my parents and their guests arrived.

5 Comments

Corrine S.

6/8/2017 05:59:13 am

My brother and i didnt make our First Communions untill we were older,i was 13 and he was 11.For me it was horrible! We were both in the class with the 7 and 8 year olds and our parents took advantage of that with me.They dressed me in a poofy,top of the knees,short sleeve communion dress and veil,with lace anklets and white mary jane shoes.Just like the little girls,they made me wear the traditional cloth diaper,toddler size rubberpants,and white tee shirt under my dress! My brother wore his dark colored suit and tie and i felt angry that i was in the diaper and rubberpants under my dress! We walked down the aisle with the little kids and i wasnt happy at all and was forcing a smile.The toddler rubberpants fit me tight over the diaper and the leg openings were digging into my leg joints and causing me pain!I endured the whole ceremony and was so relieved when it was over.I headed for the womens room and mom asked me where i was going and i told her i had to get the rubberpants off as they were hurting me.She followed me to the womens room and she pulled the rubberpants down and unpinned the diaper and removed it and took some lotion out of her purse and rubbed on the red rings left by the elastic leg openings.I wanted to take the rubberpants off,but mom told me i had to keep on wearing them,but without the diaper.So i wound up wearing the rubberpants for my party and the rest of the day and was totally out of it,and yet my brother had a good time!

Sofia Ridley

6/6/2023 04:40:06 pm

I am 13 and just made my First Communion back on May 7 with the 7 year olds.My parents required me to wear rubberpants under my communion dress and i felt like a little girl!

Clarice A

8/29/2023 05:26:18 pm

To Sofia Ridley-Your parents did the right thing by requiring you to wear the rubberpants under your dress.It is great that you felt like a little girl!

Anna J.

3/18/2024 05:27:20 pm

I am 15 and my First Holy Communion is comming up on may 19th in the 2nd grade class of 2024.My parents are requiring me to wear rubberpants and a tee shirt under my communion dress because they want me to be like the little girls.They all ready bought the rubberpants and tee shirt i have to wear.

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6/12/2017 11:23:09 am

I can't forget the primary time that I visited the church for my 1st Communion. Everything appears to be ready for. From the clothes, i am on the point of wear to the small gathering in our house which will happen shortly when the communion, everything was taken care of.

Although I still haven't got the abundant plan on why I'm imagined to participate in this celebration at that point, my excitement on how I'll participate dominated my curiosity on why do I even have to require part on that.

First Communion

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