" Communicants are also required to fast in preparation to receive Communion. Currently, this requirement is a fast of one hour prior to Communion of all food and drink other than water and medication. A longer fast of at least three hours, or from midnight, is preferred. Understanding the seriousness of these guidelines helps instill respect for taking Communion in students. This helps students understand that this isn't something that they just do at Mass without thought. Instead, they must prepare themselves physically and spiritually.
Lastly, students should be taught why Communion is taken so frequently. The Eucharist facilitates a union between Man and Christ. Through this lesson, students learn that Communion is a spiritually nourishing event, while also obeying the Lord's instructions to eat and drink His Body and Blood. Each time a communicant takes part in Holy Communion, this brings an increased level of sanctifying grace to their soul, as the recipient opens himself up to Christ and empties his soul of sin. Students learn through this that each Communion, the Lord's grace enables them to keep His commandments. As Father Peffley describes, the Eucharist as a means of reorienting the communicant toward Christ. This builds spiritual value in the tradition, for the student.
Two Items Not to Teach in Eucharist Education:
As Eisner (1985) notes, a student's educational experience is not only affected by what they are taught, but also by what isn't taught. The null curricula for religious education centering on the Eucharist should include how the Catholic Eucharistic tradition differs from other Christian faiths and controversies surrounding the Eucharist, such as the physical transformation of the Host and Wine vs. It simply being a representation of Christ. Both of these topics are important discussions to have; however, for primary school-aged children they are really not appropriate. At this age, the children should be focused on understanding the basics of the Eucharist, learning about the miracle of transubstantiation, and how to prepare themselves spiritually and physically to receive Communion. Education should also be focused on why the Catholic faith takes Communion and what...
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