The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio has an impressive population of more than 677,200 Catholics. As you can see, Cleveland has a very active Catholic community, with many young girls in need of a first communion dress in the Cleveland area.
What is the Holy Communion?
The Holy Communion, or Eucharist, is a ritual that symbolically reenacts the Last Supper. In fact, Jesus Christ began the tradition when he asked his followers to “do this in memory of me” referring to the loaf of bread as “my body” and a cup of wine as “the new covenant in my blood”. For updates Follow us on Twitter.
Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually transform into the body and blood of Christ, even though the appearance of the bread and wine are unchanged. The Catholic Mass consists of two halves, the Liturgy of the Word followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest will ritually consecrate the “host” (bread) and the wine, as the body and blood of Christ. The congregation will then form a line, approaching the altar to receive communion with Christ.
The First Communion
The first communion is a rite of passage for young children within the Catholic church. It is received only after the child is baptized, and once the child has attained the age of reason, usually age seven. Before they receive their First Holy Communion, the children learn about it in their catechism class, and may even have a “dry run” before the actual event.
Traditionally, the young boys will wear a suit and tie, and the young girls will wear a white dress and a veil, to symbolize purity. The choosing of a first communion dress for Cleveland children is a very special event. The First Communion is then followed by a family celebration. The First Communion is a very special event for Catholics, and the girl’s dress is often handed down as a family heirloom.