In addition to all the discombobulation of the household this past week we were also anticipating something very, very special. During the past two years of religious education classes at church, Ruben has been preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. Thursday night Paul took him and Jacob, his Godfather, to church for the rehearsal, and Saturday morning was the big event.
I would have loved for the whole family to be able to attend as we have in the past for such celebrations, but this year Natalie and Jordan were booked for their college classes on Saturday morning, and with all the labors of moving back into the bedroom, Alyssa wasn’t up to coming along, but Ellie was. So after getting Ruben all dressed up in his black dress pants, fine white vest, tie and dress shirt, and sending him on his way with Dad, I took Ellie along to drive the older two to college and then straight to church.
Mass was scheduled to begin at 10am. We arrived shortly after 9am, and Paul was just a few minutes before us. Even at that he was barely early enough to save the one seat I wanted. I knew I needed to be able to get up to the front at the right moment to get photos (among the throngs of parents vying for a prime spot) but because my walking is so limited, I needed to have my wheelchair parked in the handicapped spot right on the outside aisle on whichever side Ruben would be seated. Got the spot, and the two seats next to it in the pew for Paul and Ellie, and then it was just a matter of waiting for everything to get started.
In between praying for the confirmands and their sponsors and families, I tested my camera settings with some images of the crucifix above the altar and Our Lady of Guadalupe directly in front of our section. Paul found Jacob and Ruben and tried to get a photo of them – unfortunately the settings weren’t quite right, but he got something to commemorate the moment at least. Also got a photo of Miss Ana Luisa, Director of Religious Education, giving last minute reminders and admonishing everyone to remember where we were and, essentially, “pipe down!”
The church filled quickly, and by two minutes to 10am people were sitting shoulder to shoulder in every row, and every aisle and the narthex were filled with standing congregants. It was actually a good thing that no more of our clan was able to be there, it would have taxed the already over-filled seating to much. (To be clear, this mass of sacraments was only one of three to be held at our church this year – in addition to everyone who was baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil!)
As the bishop and priests processed in I was situated perfectly to grab a photo of them from my spot on the back row of the front section (and you can see the people lining the walls on the other side of the church!). We didn’t know until they walked down the aisle that we were to have our brand new bishop, Bishop Bui! What a wonderful surprise!
The lay readers for the scripture readings were both chosen from among the confirmands, and they both did a great job – very well prepared! After the readings, Fr. Matt presented the candidates, then the bishop gave a wonderful homily. Then came the renewal of baptismal promises, and then the part I was waiting for – the laying on of hands, and anointing with the Oil of Chrism. Such a tremendous moment!
I was so thankful the Lord gave me the strength to stand long enough to capture those memories.
After the mass, Ellie took over the camera to get a photo of us with Jacob and Ruben. So thankful, so blessed. This was our final trip through this journey as Ruben is our youngest! I never tire of contemplating these words of J.R.R. Tolkien:
“Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. . . . There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death.
“By the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste—or foretaste—of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man’s heart desires.”
My prayer for Ruben, and all my children, is that throughout their lives, they might find all that their hearts desire in this one great thing.
