1st Communion: Alleluia

Two things made me happy today. No it wasn't the fact that my second born with profound disabilities made his First Communion. No it wasn't that the menu I prepared came out amazing, and that's good because that delectable tenderloin is some expensive stuff.  The things that made me laugh was that my son ripped one during his First Communion service (the unwieldy toddlers behind us masked the thunder, yeah for noisy kids!) and upon receiving the consecrated host at this most sacred of events, asked for seconds.  No kidding.  We still need to talk to Father Peter about that one - I think he was baffled at Zach's muddy verbal request ("More,please") and his gesture, Zach has his own sign for "I want" that anyone who works with him knows: repeatedly pinching is index finger and thumb together.

This event for Zach was more than making me happy. It gave me so much peace. To those who would like to pursue this sacrament for their own child, I encourage you to reach out, and reach out again (it may take a few tries) and do what it takes (Zach is fairly complex so we didn't drop him off and say good luck - we got personally involved, we were the aide). It can happen. It has happened for others. To me this went beyond tradition. For my atheistic/agnostic friends, who are already cringing at this post, I can only say that this sacrament feels so sacred to me - that it puts Zach in a different spiritual place, that it might even change his course. 

 

Please don't credit me with anything more than the decision to try. To the parents who went before me and did it, thank you for giving us confidence to know it was possible. For those who encouraged us to try, thank you, I needed that push. For his Godparents, who showed their pride and support for belonging to him and his faith journey, you are not just a title, you are the real thing. For the staff that made it happen, thank you for the amazing gift. For the Church, Blessed Sacrament Church, who opens the doors for us and others, you are a blessing. And to God who gave us all these amazing people who love us just as Jesus intended, I have had my doubts, but these people you sent to us have renewed my faith. To Zach, I wish you the peace within your soul that this sacrament was intended to offer, and I hope that if not now, maybe one day, you will realize that you brought out the best in a lot of people. 

Peace