I came across a news article on a first Communion at Saint Mary’s parish in Georgetown, MA that included a link to a YouTube video of it. A couple thoughts came to mind as I watched it. Never mind the usual insipid music used at the Mass. What caught my attention is why would a parish make a video of first Communions that didn’t include them receiving Communion? The children are shown in a procession at the start of the Mass and then shown all singing together in the sanctuary. I also wonder why it is that parents are so careful to dress up their children for their first Communion, but the rest of the time what they might wear to Communion would be totally casual. It just seems to me that the trend for first Communions is that the child actually receiving Communion for the first time is not really the important aspect, but that the opportunity for cute pictures is foremost. This is of course a generalization, but it does seem to me more attention is placed on who receives then of whom is received.
15 comments
Well said!
My wife and I were at our godson’s first communion this past Sunday and much the same thing was evident.
Yes indeed. With children doing the readings, singing THEIR song and carrying endless “gifts” to the altar; we can surmise it is no longer about the Whom we receive, but about us. The less children a society has, the more it has to artificially promote them in the special moments.
I have to say that is quite telling that during the procession the crowd is facing those entering instead of facing the altar and the Master of the house.
I also liked the “Step on my foot, why don’t you, honey?!?” During the entrance “hymn”.
Maybe because communion time was too solemn to bring out the cameras
Maybe taking a picture of the Host is deemed not to be appropriate or respectful? There are no pictures allowed in the Eucharistic Adoration chapel at St. Peter’s Basilica.
That video was by the local paper, not the church. Photography was allowed only at the very beginning and end, before and after the Mass was in session. The commenters are right that it would have been disrespectful to film during the ceremony itself. The Parish did take a video of the whole ceremony, however.
I teach CCD, and our church doesn’t allow photos or videos after the children process, which takes place prior to the Mass. (All First Communions are celebrated at regularly scheduled Masses.) Parents make themselves incredibly obnoxious when allowed to photograph at these events.
As far as the complaints about children participating (doing readings, presenting gifts), well, that’s just nonsense. A well-practiced, respectful child reading one of the first two readings, with one parent by his side, is perfectly appropriate.
You’re right – the music was insipid. It’s about as bad as the crap I had to endure for the first Communion of all four of my kids, my niece, and my two nephews – in three different churches.
OH BUT IT’S SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE! (gag!)
BMP
“. . . it is no longer about the Whom we receive, but about us.”
“. . . quite telling that during the procession the crowd is facing those entering instead of facing the altar . . .”
What do you expect from the New Order-
Protestant-Masonic “Mass”???
I would give the parish the benefit of the doubt. The primary focus IS the children’s first reception of Jesus’ Body and Blood in Holy Communion, but parents DO get obnoxious when photographing this, so perhaps they were asked not to. Perhaps the videographer was omitted for the same reason. I was told (after the fact) that our recent First Holy Communion Mass was pandemonium at that moment when it should have been most sacred. Parents were running up to photograph their child’s reception of the Sacred Species, some were blocking the aisle (disallowing the children to return to their pews) others had found their way beyond the communion rail into the sanctuary. It was by a special grace of God that I noticed none of it, focused solely on the solemn act at hand. Since people told me of the melee afterwards, we will put careful restrictions in place.
Something can be said for the public nature of a Sacrament. Arguments can be made for photographing such things. However, I personally tend to discourage photography during the Eucharistic prayer because the act of taking such pictures distracts one from the purpose at hand. When I look through pictures of my first Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving I can find no pictures of the elevation, and there is a purpose to that. On that regard, I think such things as processions (especially at the end of Mass) are prime opp’y. for photography. If the point is to capture the joy of the moment, the recession out of church is a perfect time for that.
It may be, as insinuated by the Curt Jester, that this parish does not focus on Jesus as the center of this Sacrament, but I would rather give them the benefit of the doubt that they erred on the side of reverence. Whatever happens, however we proceed, people will always misconstrue our words and our actions. The Lord knows what is in the heart.
My son received his First Holy Communion in April. Parents took photographs through most of it. I know that some parishes frown on it — my friend was not allowed to take any photos during her daughter’s First Communion at a neighboring parish — but it seems our priest was of the mind that it’s an important event, so snap away. I am preparing a little album for my son to keep so he can look back with fond recollection of one of the most important events of his life. People do it for weddings and baptisms, so why not First Holy Communions?
Also, not to sound like a bristling mother lion or anything, but my son read from Isaiah 55 for the first reading. All by himself, no parent at his side. He was very well rehersed and he didn’t flub a single word. I do believe that he fit into the standard of “They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.” He reads at the 6th grade level, so it wasn’t as though he was giving one of those halting deliveries that make it impossible for listeners to follow.
A classmate read the Psalm, another one read the second reading, and a whole troop of them took turns reading the Prayers of the People. They all did a fine job, and I think it was a good way to help them understand that Liturgy means “work of the people” — they should be and need to be involved with it.
I don’t understand what you problem with an insipid Protestant chorus from the seventies being sung in a Catholic mass is and all I can say was I was disappointed there was no liturgical dancing to follow the special number by the choir.
I was stunned at the First Communion Mass I attended with at a friend’s parish recently: during the children’s reception of Communion, the choir (and congregation) sang one of those “diversity” African/Spanish/whatever songs about all people “walking together.” Nothing about Jesus, Whom they have just received. No wonder so many Catholics see the Eurcharist as a symbol.
Chiming in to say that a lot of the parishes I’ve attended have discouraged photography/video taping during the actual First Communion because it distracts the children and causes parents/relatives/godparents to fall over pews, climb the altar and otherwise do silly things in a quest to get a good shot.
Been there, done that, won’t do it again.
I actually like the fact that they did not video tape them actually receiving communion. It’s a sacred moment, not a hollywood moment.