One of the holiest and most important occasions in every Roman Catholic’s life is the First Communion. It is when the person receives the Sacrament of the Eucharist that symbolizes the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Most Catholic children receive this sacrament at age seven or eight years old and are required to wear First Holy Communion dresses.
It is believed that for anyone to receive communion, a person must be without sin and in a state of grace. So a week before the First Communion, kids have to make their first confession by detailing sins and misdeeds to a priest to receive penance. Penance is usually composed of several prayers to be recited after leaving the confessional. Once the child is freed from sin, she is ready to take her First Communion.