Mark Allen found no suitable published book to prepare his son for First Holy Communion. First Holy Communion in the Roman Catholic Church is something of the greatest significance equivalent to confirmation in the Church of England or Bar Mitzvah for Jewish children. A lot of the material published is trite and worst of all tends to patronise the children for whom it is intended.To help parents and teachers answer questions about the ceremony Mark Allen offers readings and background from scripture and catechism. Children are hard-headed and like stories and facts. The narrative of the Bible provides facts, events which happened, and along with them the objective truths of revelation.The Mass is our sacramental encounter with the person of Jesus. Preparation therefore should be based on him and on the Gospel story of His life. The preparation should reflect the unity of the mass, its liturgy of the Word and the Eucharistic Rite, the mystery of Christ in our community as Church.Routine is the key aid to progress. The course provided in this book is based on a series of half hour sessions for parent and teacher with the child. It is thus both practical and down to earth.

Foreword by His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya
Acknowledgements
Author's Note
Introduction
The Old Testament, Background Note
1 The Sacrifice of Communion
2 The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
3 The Sacrifice of Faith
4 The Sacrifice of Salvation
5 Food for the Journey
6 The Covenant of Love: Life in Freedom
7 Waybread for the Pilgrim
8 God's Secrecy in His Sacraments
9 The Silent Prayer of the Contrite Heart
10 The Mystery of Suffering: Sacrifice and Expiation
The New Testament, Background Note
11 The Inscrutability of God's Will
12 Mary's Submission to God's Will
13 The Prophetic Prayer of Humility of Faith
14 Zechariah's Prophecy
15 The Incarnation: A Call to Conversion
16 Prophetic Greetings
17 Jesus' Vocation
18 John's Teaching and the Baptism of the Lamb of God
19 Vocation: Conversion to a New Life in Christ
20 Christ's Gift of Himself
21 Born of the Spirit in Baptism
22 Weakness an Author of Evil
23 Configuring Tradition to the Paschal Mystery
24 Love Which Knows and Cares
25 Love Which Restlessly Seeks the Beloved
26 The Imperative of Love
27 The Father's Unchanging Love
28 Healing in the Spirit
29 The Unity of Christ
30 A Deep Faith
31 A Kingdom of Love
32 Jesus Appoints Peter
33 Love Which Accepts Death
34 Death Which Leads to Life
35 The Holy of Holies Opened - A New House Built
36 The Last Supper
37 The Passion
38 The Resurrection
39 The Road to Emmaus
40 Sacrifice and Ransom
41 Sacrifice and Salvation

Mark Allen studied Arabic at Oxford and worked in the Foreign Service 1973-2004. He served in the UAE, Egypt and Jordan and his work took him all over the Arab world. He is a special advisor to BP plc and a senior associate member of St Antony's College, Oxford. He was made CMG in 2002 and knighted in 2005.