"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever,...he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and...abides in me, and I in him." John 6: 51, 54, 56
The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation in his Body which is the Church. (CCC 1407) Just as the body needs food for nourishment in this journey of life, so the soul needs the nourishment of the Eucharist in our journey towards heaven.
To receive the Eucharist, Catholics must be in God’s good graces; therefore, if someone has committed a serious sin, Catholics – children and adults – must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion. Children begin preparing to receive the Eucharist in second grade. They receive their First Eucharist in the spring of their second grade year. Non Catholics can prepare to receive first sacraments through the process of RCIA.
For information concerning children receiving their 1st Eucharist Click Here