A Crucifix or A Gameboy?

The Body and Blood of Christ
First Holy Communion is a Roman Catholic ritual celebrated worldwide during Pascal time. Being the first occasion whereby a child, usually around 7/8 years old, receives the transubstantiated body and blood of Jesus Christ, it is, one could fairly comment, a pretty significant symbolic and actual social and religious rite of passage for believers (that is if kids can deemed to have any concept about what it is they are supposed to believe. Afterall, adult Christians in the West would do well nowadays to recite the 10 commandments, the Nicene creed, and defend the notion of angels or even miracles).

A wafer and, ah, a helicopter
The reason I'm posting about this topic is as a result of overhearing kids I teach commenting on what they were getting for upcoming event. I was pretty amazed to hear one kid say, 'ja dostaje helikopter' - I'm getting a helicopter. "Jaysus", I blasphemed to myself, "isn't he a bit young to pilot such a machine?" But of course on further inquiry S. clarified that it was a remote control toy version that he was getting. "Phew", I uttered, wiping my brow. Yet, the truth for kids in Ireland is a little more surreal. I recently read in Angora magazine that Irish parents are actually booking helicopter rides for their kids as H.C. presents!

The Nagging Factor
Research shows that the more kids nag (annoy) their parents for something the more likely they will achieve success. Irish economist and social commenter David McWilliams notes in his book, 'The Pope's Children', that their is a huge 'bouncy castle' phenomenon in Ireland for birthdays, H.C.'s and other occasions. While the kids bounce around in the make-belief castle, their parents and family members get drunker and drunker, burning sausages and red peppers on the barbecue, and rejoicing that their kid will now spend less time in purgatory when they eventually pass away.

After asking more students on what they have been promised after consuming their first tasteless wafer, the list went as follows - MP3 player, Playstation, mobile phone, money, skateboard, nothing. The last three I can understand. I for one can remember distinctly that on the occasion of my First Holy Communion my friends and I competitively accumulated profits by acting as dotingly innocent and pure nephews, brothers, neighbours, cousins......Simple sporty items are quite inexpensive and good for fitness, whereas getting nothing at all probably means you are either:

a) a hedon
b) evil and don't deserve anything
c) your parents havde their heads screwed on and are not going to spoil you
d) you are a true saint and don't want anything

The High Price of Capitalist Communion
I received £100 - a sizeable sum in Ireland of 1987. Lets look at the economics of this event from a Polish perspective. The average monthly wage in Poland is about 2,500 zloty (c. €650). According to the Metro newspaper from last Tuesday, hiring a hall or getting your own home ready will set you back 300-1,000 zl. A girl's dress or a boy's suit/clothes will put you back a further 100-350 zl. This year's hit choice for gifts in Poland are MP3 players, in conjunction with rollerskates and the standard bible/medallion which amounts to 1,200 zl. If your mum and dad are rich you'll probably be able to nag them into getting you a laptop and bike as you probably already have an MP3 player. The former two items will reduce your parent's bank account by 3,200 zl. The economic costs amount to, and this is the lowest estimate taking into consideration there are 400,000 kids receiving the sacrament this year in Poland, a whopping 750 million zl - or an average of 1,875 zl. for each child.

Supplementaries - If they're still not smiling!
But of course we haven't even counted in the professional photograph, the expensive In memory of you F.H.C. cards, the holy books, the special food and the hiring of a museum. All which would substantially boost the deficit in your wallet. Now, not meaning to labour the point or anything, but it has been known that young ladies in Ireland, for example, are increasingly getting suntan sessions, manicures, pedicures, and professionally made up to become the loveliest bride of Christ on this holy day.

The Death of Voluntary Poverty
One of the greatest virtues in Christianity I believe is the option for the poor, working alongside the oppressed to help them liberate themselves from oppressive forces (including an authoritarian church). As Jozef Maj, from the parish of St. Catherine's in the Sluzew district of Warsaw commented:

"We, priests, have lost the battle against consumption. Holy Communion should not fall into the abyss of business. It's the fault of parents, that this occurs."