This Spring our family has six kids making their First Holy Communion. The family has grown to such proportions, Communion parties have been reduced to inviting immediate family. HOWEVER, such a special day cannot go by without acknowledging (even in a little way) the beauty of such a wondrous milestone in the lives of each little one about to receive the gift of Eucharist for the first time.

Two of my granddaughters are receiving their first Communion next week. Also a great nephew and three great nieces are celebrating first Communion, too. I had to make them all a special card.

A few weeks ago I gathered memorabilia from my keepsake drawer which included Mama and Daddy's FIRST COMMUNION CERTIFICATES and John's Mom's Communion prayerbook. Both certificates depict artwork from the old Masters. Fran's prayerbook cover was beautifully decorated, too, with a scene from the Last Supper.

The artwork is beautiful on all three keepsakes BUT the inside of Fran's prayerbook (so brittle are its pages) grabbed my attention dearly. Her eight year old signature reminded me of my Catholic faith and upbringing and how I was certainly blest to have been raised by such loving and faith filled parents. John had been blest in that regard, too. Because of our parents our faith became real. Because of our parents, our Lord's love for us was made real.

I remember Mama talking with Daddy about the stringent rules that they had to adhere to on their Communion day. Fasting from food and even water was mandatory: nothing after mid night! The Sisters, as not to lead any of the Communicants into temptation on Communion morning, covered all the drinking fountains in the Church and school! We had the same strict rules and I remember how the big topic of conversation that morning while waiting to march into Church was all about our hunger and thirst and how we couldn't wait to get a drink of water!

Now rules are much more lax but a part of me believes, not better.

Will the paintings on these certificates have as much meaning to my grandchildren and great nieces and nephews? Will the sacredness of the day mean as much to them as it did to me and their great grandparents' generation? Our we "Letting the little children" come to Him? Are we bringing them to Jesus in the things we say and do in the course of any given day? Are we creating an atmosphere that will bring them to hunger and thirst for a deeper relationship with Jesus?

Mea culpa...

So, the cards are ready to pass out on the big day. The artwork is not original but I'm hoping they will see the love and devotion their great grandparents had for Jesus. I'm hoping the little card made from their great Grandparents First Communion certificates will remind them of their special day and the love Jesus has for all of us little children who come to Him and receive Him in this special gift of Holy Communion.

"Let the little children come to me."

First Communion Day Memorabilia

Terry Cicala

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