Yesterday was day of travel as paula, josh and I came north to attend my great nephew ,Dodd, first communion. Ddd is the son of my niece Audra and Chris . Ddd deals with autism. This was a most meaningful First Holy Communion for all seven of the young folk, three of whom were first baptized.
After mass presided over by a jovial Franciscan we made our way to some festivities arranged by my brother Tom, my brother in law harry through there friend Michael. Food and wine flowed freely. Conversation was abundant. It went on for five hours of joviality.
It brought happy rembrances of all the sacraments we have witnessed. Wheneverone of us five received a sacrament or anty of my cousins there was always a party, usuall at our house.
My mother and aunts would prepare what is a standard. Peppers and sausage, various pastas, eggplants parmigiana, chicken parmigiana. Then out came the desserts. Cookies from the Italian bakery, a special cake, coffee.
All of that was done for young Ddd.
My first communion took place at st Rocco's church on 27th street Brooklyn. I recall the rehearsals over seen by an Italian Monsignor whose name I have forgotten. As we rehearsed he made sure that we remembered that as we genuflect at the pew our right knee had to touch the ground for a count of three. ,his method was to push down any floating knee with his cane. It has been a long time since I have been able to do a full genuflection.
Of course back then first communion, any communion was done kneeling at a rail which made it feel more like an assembly line then the first intimate moment with Christ. But I digress.
All the boys dressed in blue suits, white shirts with a buster brown collar, a white ribbon cravat and a white ribbon festooned on or left arm. I was glad to see Dddin his suit with a great Bowtie.
Little boys in suits look angelic . I looked angelic.
First Holy Communion, is the first time we say yes to Jesus, on our own. It is a time of sweetness and hope. My hope is that all first communicants, especially Ddd , we say yes many times over.
Ad multos annos
No comments:
Post a Comment