In “Holy Communion” we read of a seven year old boy as he prepares for his first communion over a four day period of time. He is forced to deal with several issues—his parents (his mother has had an accident and his father is an alcoholic), the nuns at school, a babysitter who doesn’t like him and pedophiles. He is able to deal with the situations by being totally indifferent at first and then by rebellion and defiance. We see the human condition through him and I am quite certain that the boy we read about is the author himself.
Our boy is forced to face things that many do not have to face and also deal with the idea that he has feelings for members of his sex. He is aware of the physical changes that his body is going through and he is aware of the thoughts going through his mind. His preparation for his holy communion also causes him to think of the world in which he lives and he realizes that he really does not like the people (the nuns and the priests) that are associated with the rite of communion. Much like the Jewish Bar Mitzvah, when a 13 year old boy becomes a man in the eyes of Judaism, so the same is true for a Catholic male as he assumes the role of the adult. Our boyis not sure that communion is something that he really wants to do– in his mind Holy Communion is the same as committing a sin. (It’s no wonder where he got this idea after having been educated by nuns and priests who even consider biting fingernails to be a sin). He is wary of everyone and the only person that he trusts is his mother who is in the hospital at a time when he needs her and as he prepared to accept communion.
He has been forced into having sex with adults, both male and female and doing something like this to one so young is certain to have some lasting effect. Because he has been forced into this sexual activity, we must decide if he has committed a sin. Could he have refused? I doubt it with the teachings of the church being used to keep him there.
We do not often see this approach to Catholicism in writing and I am sure that the author has either been threatened with excommunication or he has already left the religion. The book is an eye opener and it is beautifully written. Not being Catholic myself, I learned a lot here and I always love learning when I can do so while reading a really good book. There is a lot to think about here and for me that is the sign of good literature.
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