In the Midst of Tragedy, Hope
I was Chrismated in the Holy Orthodox Church on September 16, 2001. We were still reeling from the horror of Sept. 11, but I was blessed. I wonder if this is going to be a pattern. Today, after a week of seeing apocalyptic images from the Gulf Coast, Paul had his first Communion.
Liturgy today was a wonderful affair.
Paul took communion for the first time today! This was the first time he and Lainey had been since his baptism (Lainey I were sick the first week after and the second week…two words: potty training). Paul was pretty sure he didn’t want “Church bread from the spoon” as he was sure it was going to taste like medicine. This is partly my fault as I explained to him one time that it was kind of like medicine. This impression was only reinforced because of the similarity between taking communion and taking medicine.
Nonetheless, Liturgy was fairly normal for us. At one point he went up to the front of the nave and sat and watched the goings on in the Sanctuary. When the time came for communion, Paul was excited to hold his Baptismal candle (not sure about others, but our tradition is to come to the Cup with it lit for the three weeks following baptism/chrismation). When we got to the Cup, Father Stephen picked a nice sized piece of bread for Paul and he ate it with only a second’s hesitation!
I hugged him tightly and told him how proud I was. Several people came up and congratulated us. Still, I was fairly low-key so I hope that he is over his reluctance.
Thanks be to God!
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How beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
We have the tradition of the three-week baptismal candle: it is beautiful and moving to see the baptism remembered so.
Thanks be to God indeed!