I just want to share my joy... My son had his first Holy Communion today. It was beautiful. He was so sweet this morning. He woke up, jumped in my bed and announced that today was his "Special Day!' He and his best friend had a wonderful experience in the service and afterwards we held a joint party combining our two families. The grandparents bonded and talked about their experiences at Lourdes and Fatima. I was in Heaven! If only every day were filled with such wonders. God bless the little children. Kath
Its so interesting in the lives of the saints how often they vividly recall the day of their First Communion and the graces they received. At last the most wonderful day of my life arrived, and I can remember every tiny detail of those heavenly hours: my joyous waking up at dawn, the tender, reverent kisses of the mistresses and older girls, the room where we dressed -- filled with the white "snowflakes" in which one after another we were clothed -- and above all, our entry into chapel and the singing of the morning hymn: "O Altar of God, Where the Angels are Hovering." I would not tell you everything, even if I could, for there are certain things which lose their fragrance in the open air, certain thoughts so intimate that they cannot be translated into earthly language without losing at once their deep and heavenly meaning. How lovely it was, that first kiss of Jesus in my heart -- it was truly a kiss of love. I knew that I was loved and said, "I love You, and I give myself to You forever." Jesus asked for nothing, He claimed no sacrifice. Long before that, He and little Thérèse had seen and understood one another well, but on that day it was more than a meeting -- it was a complete fusion. We were no longer two, for Thérèse had disappeared like a drop of water lost in the mighty ocean. Jesus alone remained -- the Master and the King. Had she not asked Him to take away her liberty, the liberty she feared? She felt so weak and frail that she wanted to unite herself forever to His Divine Strength. And her joy became so vast, so deep, that now it overflowed. Soon she was weeping, to the astonishment of her companions, who said to one another later on: "Why did she cry? Was there something on her conscience? Perhaps it was because her mother was not there, or the Carmelite sister she loves so much." It was beyond them that all the joy of Heaven had entered one small, exiled heart, and that it was too frail and weak to bear it without tears. As if the absence of my mother could make me unhappy on the day of my First Communion! As all Heaven entered my soul when I received Jesus, my mother came to me as well. Nor could I cry because you were not there, we were closer than ever before. It was joy alone, deep ineffable joy that filled my heart. That afternoon I was chosen to read the "Act of Consecration to Our Lady." I suppose they chose me because I had lost my earthly mother so young. Anyway, I put my whole heart into it and begged Our Lady to guard me always. I felt sure she was looking at me with that lovely smile which had cured me and delivered me, and I knew all I owed her; for it was she herself, that morning of the 8th of May, who placed Jesus in my soul, "the flower of the field and the lily of the valley." When evening came that lovely day, Father led his little queen by the hand to Carmel, and there I saw you made the bride of Christ. I saw your veil, all white like mine, and your crown of roses. There was no bitterness in all my joy, for I hoped to join you and wait for Heaven at your side. I was very moved by the family feast prepared at Les Buissonets and delighted with the little watch which Father gave me. Yet my happiness was very tranquil, with an inward peace no earthly thing could touch. Night came at last to end my lovely evening, for darkness falls even on the brightest day. Only the first day of Communion in Eternity will never end.
That's wonderful, Kathleen. I bet you were so proud. I'm glad it was a great day for him--something he will always remember. My daughter makes her first Holy Communion this Sunday. I thought her dress was ruined in the fire because it was covered with soot, but the cleaners got it all out. She was parading around in it yesterday, but she's not just about the dress. She's asking all kinds of profound questions about if Jesus being God, how is it He's always existed if He was born to Mary . . . she certainly thinks about things at a lot deeper level than I did at that age. She's so excited. Pray all goes well.
You are in my prayers. I have a christening tomorrow. My daughter is having her baby boy baptised. Mary
Children make faith so understandable. I just take one look at my kids and wonder at the miracle of them. Deanna: God Bless your daughter and MaryRose: God Bless your grandson.
This reminds me of a story a priest told me. He was preparing a group of children from school for forst communion amd had them all come up to the altar for a trial one. But he could not understand how one little girl every time she got the mock host banged herself hard on the front of her head with her fist. Finally the big day rolled round and the little girl appeared again before him .Sure enough she banged her head again , but this time her fist hit a crown on her head and lights started flashing so brightly he told me he nearly dropped the ciborium. He said she was a sight walking off down the aisle with the lights falshing from the crown on her head and all the other kids and their parents goggling. Fortunately, its not a fashion that seems to have taken off. I just found out that Saint Gemma Galgani is the patron saint of children and first communions: http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2009/12/patron-saint-for-children-first.html I downloaded a picture of her a couple of months back and every time I look on her eyes I get the shivers. So open and so direct, just like a little child. I can see , why from her account of her own first communion she was chosen to be Patron. I don't doubt for a second , looking in her eyes she never lost her baptismal innocence. I think there was a prayer they taught us at first communion, it went along the lines of requesting that all our Communions be as fervent as our first ones. A pretty tall order. But for Saint Gemma and Saint Therese, I think it may have come true.
So wonderful for everybody, first communions and baptisms everywhere! Since I was "lost" for a few years, I was late in getting my daughter into first communion classes, so it ended up back then that both of my children had their first communion at the same time! My daughter looked like a very tall 2nd grader in the group photo! Though she was a little self-consious of being the oldest first communicant, they had a great time and have a special memory together now.
That's true. If only we could go back and make our first Communion again, we would appreciate it so much! But then again, each Communion we receive, it's as if we receive the Lord for the first time, the only time and the last time.
