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Original poster

Holy Communion

23 replies

trulymadlydeeply · 04/05/2008 19:58

My godson, aged 7, is receiving his first Holy Communion in a couple of weeks.

I've thus far been a hopeless, heathen Godmother who doesn't even know what Holy Communion IS.

I really want to begin to pull my weight and take my responsibilities seriously and make up for lost time if I can.

I can't go because I now live abroad, but I'd like to get him an appropriate gift. I have NO idea what "appropriate" might be. Can anyone help?

OP posts:
cornsilk · 04/05/2008 19:59

They all want money!

Original poster
trulymadlydeeply · 04/05/2008 20:01

Seriously???

I was thinking of something with a bit more resonance, but can't think of anything original ...

OP posts:
cornsilk · 04/05/2008 20:06

Yes definitely money. You can get 'holy' type themed stuff but they'll chuck it behind the couch.

Original poster
trulymadlydeeply · 04/05/2008 20:11

Money it will be, then.

Many thanks, Cornsilk.

xxx

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/05/2008 20:12

dds is doing hers in a couple of weeks.
I'm getting her a couple of really nice books about Saints lives.
Often people get them a Rosary but dd has been given a few over her life. You can also get a white Sunday Missal.
One friends child is getting a computer

cornsilk · 04/05/2008 20:12

Of course your godson may not be as mercenary as my ds and his cousins.

CombustibleLemon · 04/05/2008 20:23

I got books on Jesus' miracles, a children's bible stories book, rosaries, and a My Little Pony. Guess what I was holding in every picture at the party afterwards.

MaudGonne · 04/05/2008 23:02

I think its a Godmother's job to get a gift either instead of, or as well as money though. Either a watch, rosary, prayer book, medal etc. Ask the mother, she may already have bought the medal and rosary.

pofaced · 04/05/2008 23:06

Rosary beads/ missals etc a bit too pious imho and not desperately useful as no-one actually says he rosary and missals always a bit out of sync with current mass. My DD2 was given lovely children's bible (Usborne one)and reads it a lot! Dinner table conversation very interesting, based as it is on old testament... Money a bit soul-less/ mercenary but maybe bible + cash in bank account

jcscot · 05/05/2008 08:51

"...no-one actually says he rosary and missals always a bit out of sync with current mass..."

I'm not so sure about the rosary being so defunt as you appear to think. After all, it's May and the RC schools here say a decade daily during May and October (our local church is also saying five decades daily before mass). Besides, if no one says the rosary anymore what do people do for the nights after someone has died but before the funeral?

I would agree (to some extent) with the missal thing, especially as the Pope has ordered a review of the vernacular Mass that is likely to result in a more literal translation of the Latin Rite. Saying that, the new mass is not exepcted for some time and a missal is something he can always keep as a memento.

GrapefruitMoon · 05/05/2008 08:55

if you are a godparent a present rather than money would be more appropriate... how about a watch if you can afford to spend that much?

Original poster
trulymadlydeeply · 05/05/2008 11:36

Thank you, oh wise Mumsnetters.

I'll ask his mum (a vicar)and see what she suggests.

xxx

OP posts:
solo · 05/05/2008 11:52

I assumed that your Godson was a Catholic! sorry...My Ds was given some beautiful Godly things for his First Communion, but none of his Godparents even turned up!
Ds loves the things he got though, and he's a real money loving kid! It's surprising what they do like and keep to be honest, so go with something that he can put in his bedroom and take out or use when he wants to...plus a tenner too if you can and want to.

MaryBS · 05/05/2008 20:38

Solo, it DOES confuse some Catholics when some churches in the C of E allows children to receive communion before confirmation - as they do in my church!

My DD made her first communion last year (in the C of E). She already had a children's bible, cross on a chain, prayer book, etc etc. So we bought her this beautiful book we found in a Christian bookshop:

Jesus Encyclopedia

It combines the stories of Jesus with some historical background, but is suitable from about 7 years upwards.

twinsetandpearls · 05/05/2008 20:42

I got rosary beads and have kept them all my life, even had them on my wedding day.

When I have bought holy communion gifts I have bought missals, prayer books, rosary beads, crucifixes on a chain or ornaments. Certainly not money.

Tommy · 05/05/2008 20:44

I would go for books - can't go wrong with them

serin · 05/05/2008 23:37

You can get some quite cool looking Christian jewellery, my DD likes her Fish on a leather thong, have seen boys wearing them too, but as a Godparent I would buy a book or something he can keep as well.

..and there's always Oxfam unwrapped.

Hope you have a lovely day.

cat64 · 06/05/2008 00:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
trulymadlydeeply · 06/05/2008 20:46

Thank you so much for helping. I wrote to my Godson's mum and she said he'd like money, but I think I'll send a gift as well. The book idea is great.

We left the UK when he was just 3, and I've been a dreadful Godmother thus far. I thought I'd write him a letter to ask for his help to be a better Godmother, send him photos of me, my dh and our children and where we live and try to be a bit better at keeping in touch.

These suggestions have been great. Thank you.

xxx

OP posts:
cat64 · 06/05/2008 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MummyPenguin · 08/05/2008 10:22

Have a look in a large branch of Clintons. They have some nice First Holy Communion gifts. Picture frames etc. My two DS's (8 &9) are doing thier FHC in a couple of weeks. I've bought them a little ornament each in Clintons, it's a little bot kneeling (you can get girl ones too) and it says 'My First Holy Communion' round the base. I want to buy my DS's a nice little watch each which I could have engraved on the back of the watch face with the FHC date, but the watches I've seen are too casual/gimmicky.

When my DD did hers 4 years ago, I bought her a couple of things from the selection in the back of our church. (R.C.) she got a cross on a wooden base, a keyring and a pen. The keyring and pen also had FHC on them. Another thing I bought her which she really liked, was a Me To You bear, it's a bride bear, but wasn't too 'bridey' iykwim, it just had a white veil (my DD wore a veil attached to a lovely little tiara) and a little posey of flowers. It was/is really sweet. Unfortunately, our dog ate the veil and flowers off the bear

MummyPenguin · 08/05/2008 10:23

a little boy kneeling. Not a little bot!!

cariboo · 12/05/2008 20:40

Dh is falling about laughing. I told him I'd ordered a bible for our dd's 1st communion: "I got the King James version!" says I. Unfortunately, I hadn't even considered the fact that Catholics have their own bible. How is a protestant mummy supposed to cope with all this? Veils, white dresses, catechism, 1st confession, missals, rosaries... argh!

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