Almost Sad But Not

That I can't post about first Holy Communions here forever. We're still basking in the holy glow in this household and I don't want it to ever end. Gianna was deeply moved the other day when she learned the abbey would like her to wear her dress and veil again for their May Crowning mass and procession. Her dad and I will likely be in Georgia at the time, but I'm so happy for her and pleased she will be able to crown her Mother. What an honor.

I'm still getting lots of emails so I'll answer your 2 main questions here. Gianna's dress is this one from David's Bridal. I added a simple (sort of pleated) chiffon cap sleeve to the spaghetti straps. Yes I did agonize over the possibility of ruining the dress, but all that seems so silly now, knowing what happened inside the church last Sunday.

If I could choose one thing besides Catechism to prepare my child for her first Communion....so many of you asked me this question and I have an answer. Read and re-read and have your child read and re-read St. Therese of Lisieux's account of receiving our Lord for the first time:


"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." (Cant. 2:1).

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."

~ from Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux


On a lighter note, I caught this snapshot of two girls, in typical fashion, comparing shoes! They were both so excited to be wearing heels for the first time. :)

On an even lighter note, the funniest moment of the day? Upon Gianna's returning to our pew just after having received the Holy Host, Madeleine leans over me and loudly whispers to her sister, "So...how does it taste?"