No words can express the joy that yesterday brought to this mother's heart. I've thought about this day from before I knew I was even called to motherhood. Watching the very child you brought into the world receive the Blessed Sacrament I knew even then would be incredible and amazing and awesome and moving and any other huge adjective you can think of. And it was. It was a beautiful day in every way.
John Paul received his first Holy Communion with our local homeschool group at the cloistered Dominican Monastery in downtown Buffalo. The Mass was beautiful. Much of it chanted in Latin by the nuns behind the grill. The children were so sweet and so well prepared. They were able to receive individually on their knees before the rest of the congregation and it was by intinction. There was a professional photographer taking pictures that I will hopefully be able to share soon. It was so nice not having to think about taking pictures but just enter as fully as I could (even with a squirmy baby in arms) into the Mystery that was occurring before my eyes.
Afterwards, each family was invited by the nuns to visit some of them in their visiting room. Oh, are they beautiful! There were four of the cloistered sisters, the Reverend Mother being among them. They met with us behind the grill and they talked with us for a few minutes. Their eyes are so clear and stunning. Their smiles so genuine. They radiate joy and love. And the Reverend Mother Mary Emmanuel's eyes lit up even more when she asked Luke's name and we told her it was Luke Emmanuel. They have been praying for all the first communicants and each year they allow the homeschool group to use their monastery for First Communion.
We were so blessed that we could celebrate with my nephew/Godson who was also receiving his first Communion with the group. His parents (my sister and brother-in-law) are John Paul's Godparents so as they put it, they're 'Godcousins'. The family met here at our place to celebrate afterwards and we were blessed with a blue sky and sunny day. We made an effort to make this celebration extra special because after all, spiritually speaking, this is one of the most important days in their lives, more so than even a wedding day! To be able for the very first time to receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is quite an occasion and worthy of a bit of extra work and expense, don't you think?
I can't wait to see the pictures from the church but here are a few from the rest of this special day!
See? Sunny :)
With Grandpa and Grandma
Brian's mom flew in for the big day!
And another Grandpa and Grandma!
My Godson and me...yes, he's almost as tall as I am.
Our handsome boys. (Nope, we didn't plan on them having the same exact tie.) The boys are nine months apart. Andrew's dad is very tall. Brian is...not. Can you tell?
A small part of our feast!
I was a little proud to have a real bar. Mimosas, Bloody Marys, champagne, wine...I'm a fancy girl, that I am.
Punch for the kidlets.
Wait, you don't let your son play soccer and hang out with the chickens in his new suit while wearing his mud boots? Oh.
And just because I thought his note to the nuns was so sweet, I had to get a picture...
Our special gift to John Paul we gave after everyone had gone and the littles were asleep.
It's a chalice to be saved and perhaps someday used at the altar if God is calling him to be a priest. And if not, it can be given to the presider at his wedding or perhaps saved for a son of his own.
He loved it. We've never swayed him one way or the other and sincerely want him to follow whatever God wants for him.
But something about this looks pretty fitting, doesn't it? ;)
Thank you, Lord, for the incredible miracle that is YOU calling my very own little boy to be one with You. My cup is so full and this day so very blessed by You.
Oh, I just love this! And once again, I would like to move into your home, it is basically pottery barn (with four boys) from what I can tell :) YAY John Paul!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteYour boy is so handsome. Your family so beautiful. Your house so WHITE (seriously- you know this baffles me. How do you keep your house so WHITE with all those boys running about?!).
Love!
Well, that WAS right before having a whole lot of people over! And I had a white theme going on for the party...surprised? ;) Perhaps I should add a little color in my life but the indecision of it all gives me heart palpitations.
Deleteoh my! what a wonderful time this looked like!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for John Paul... CONGRATULATIONS from not-so-sunny Massachusetts.
May he always be this excited about receiving Jesus!
Blessings
Karen
What a beautiful celebration. Warms my heart...and makes me wish for a bar of my own! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy cup runneth over with joy! My 2 beautiful grandsons making their 1st Holy Communion together! God,you are so good and I am so grateful to see the fruits! John Paul looks very natural with that chalice. God willing, a priest in the family? Your will be done.
ReplyDelete