“From the Archives” First Communion in 1872

This spring, more than 100 children will receive their First Holy Communion here at the Basilica of Saint Mary. In 1872, an article in the Alexandria Gazette reported on a similar event:

At Saint Mary’s Church yesterday, 35 children were admitted to their First Communion, having been carefully instructed for that purpose, since Easter, by Rev. B.A. Toale, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

Mass was said at 7 a.m. by Rev. Peter Kroes, and before giving the Holy Communion, he delivered a discourse to the children, strongly impressing upon them the important of a great and solemn act they were about to perform. They then advanced to the altar rail and received the Blessed Sacrament.

At Vespers, the new communicants again assembled, occupying the front pews in the central range. After another impressive exhortation from the pastor, the renewal of their baptismal vows was read, for the boys by James Moran, and for the girls by Bridget Wilson, each standing within the chancel, supported by two companions. The boys, 18 in number, then advanced to the altar rail bearing lighted candles, and kneeling, repeated aloud the following formula: “I renounce the devil and all his works and pomps, and I promise to live and die in the Holy, Roman, Catholic Church.” Then the girls, numbering 17, dressed in white and wearing white veils as in the morning, repeated the same formula…

We no longer include the Vesper service with First Communion here at Saint Mary. And, these children were around 12 years old. Today, in 2021, children normally receive First Holy Communion when they are 7 to 8 years old and in the second grade. The First Holy Communion Mass was celebrated so early in the morning in 1872 because Church procedure at that time required people to fast from food and drink from midnight until receiving Communion. Mass later in the day would have required additional hours of fasting.

– Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series in 2021. An archive of the features is located here.