What medal to give as a First Communion gift: a guide to choosing the right one

First Communion is one of those days remembered for a lifetime, and a medal is the perfect gift to mark the occasion: it can be worn for years and is often passed down. If you don't know which one to choose, here are the key things to consider.

The Communicants, Jules Breton, 1884 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)

1. Choose a devotion with meaning

The best medal is one with a story behind it. Here are the most common options:

• The name of the child. If their name is Pilar, Carmen, Rocío, Covadonga, Amparo, Antonio or Benito, the choice is clear. Explore our medals of Our Lady of the Pillar, Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Saint Anthony.
• The family's devotion. The parish's patroness, the patroness of the grandparents' hometown or the one the mother wore.
• A First Communion classic. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception are two of the most popular gifts because of their protective meaning.
• A medal traditionally worn for protection. The medal of Saint Benedict has been given for centuries as a sign of protection against evil.

The most popular choices for First Communion

Our Lady of Mount Carmel with pearls
€69

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal with pearl
€69

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception with pearl
€69

An idea: the medal of Our Lady of Fátima

Our Lady appeared in Fátima to three children, which is why her medal is a meaningful choice for First Communion. Here are some of ours, featuring pearls, natural stones and enamel in light tones.

With pearls and white enamel With pearls and navy blue enamel With turquoise and pearls With agate and white enamel With fluorite and lilac enamel

2. Think about who will wear it

For an 8- or 9-year-old child, a compact medal and an adjustable chain that can grow with them are ideal. Our medals come with a gold-plated chain and extender, so it can be adjusted over the years.

3. A touch of colour

Natural stones and enamel make the medal special and contemporary. Pearls and white or blue tones are the favourites for First Communion; colours like turquoise or lilac are perfect if you are looking for something more cheerful. As every stone is natural, every medal is unique.

4. A scapular, another classic option

The scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is another traditional First Communion gift. Discover our scapulars of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with pearls and natural stones.

Scapular with pearl
€69

Scapular in mother-of-pearl
€65

5. Plan ahead

The First Communion season is concentrated in spring. If you can, order the medal a few weeks in advance and take advantage of free shipping on orders over €65.

Facts you can check

About Our Lady of Fátima and the little shepherds, children like those who make their First Communion today:

• Francisco and Jacinta, two of the little shepherds of Fátima, were canonised by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017. They are the youngest non-martyr saints of the Church. Source
• Francisco died in April 1919 at the age of 10, and Jacinta in February 1920 at the age of 9. Both fell ill during the 1918 flu epidemic. Source
• Their feast day is February 20, the day Jacinta died. Source
• Pope John Paul II beatified them in Fátima in 2000, during one of his three visits to the sanctuary. Source

All our medals are original designs and are handmade in Spain. Discover all our medals.

Looking for a First Communion gift? Here is our selection of medals and scapulars to give for a First Communion.