First Communion Candles

The month of May is filled with so many beautiful Marian Devotions and it is typically the month when the Sacraments are celebrated.

Just popping in quickly to post a picture of this beautiful First Holy Communion Candle that was definitely Hand-Made With LOVE.

Thank you to my dear friend that is so incredibly talented and giving...from the kindness of her heart, the First Communion Children will process with these gorgeous keepsake candles.

May the Light of Christ shine brightly on this day and always.

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life." 

 ~ John 8:12

~ Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real ~ First Holy Communion May 2013

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How can a First Communion Day not be pretty, happy, funny (children always tend to lighten things up) and real (as in the Real Presence)...

{pretty}

Definitely Hand-Made with LOVE...

Pretty Beautiful...yes?  This lovely First Communion Cake was made by one of the First Communicant's sisters.  I just asked that she include the toppers we have used over the past years.  It tasted as heavenly as it looks...

{happy}

The parents were SUPER happy...Fifteen precious souls.  I hold the First Communion Retreat and Rehearsal the day before; where the day is 'active'.   But I know, from experience, that the day before is always somewhat chaotic.  (Or, it may seem that way).  But on the DAY OF, everyone is "game on"!
It helps to send them all to Confession on the day of the rehearsal.  :oD

{funny}

We combined the May Crowning with the First Holy Communion Day...I was just a teeny-tiny bit stressed; the logistics were a challenge.  Funny, although we have FIVE Marian statues (and two ladders), everything worked.  It helps to have a son that is meticulous, a pastor that is patient, and a husband that works behind the scenes...

{real}
 

Although, I am currently preparing for Butterfly's Confirmation...

I hope to do a full post on First Holy Communion...because it's just too wonderful not to!

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I would love to write an entire post on LOVE.  However, since I have absolutely no time...I will leave just a few words and a picture or two.

So, as I get ready for this beautiful weekend (my First Holy Communion class will receive Our Lord in the Eucharist), I leave a quick picture of one of the many events that have been taking place in our very blessed lives...

One of my First Communion students was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, that is inoperable.  He is a sweet, sweet boy.  His family generates love by their very presence...
I am not just saying that.  It is the absolute TRUTH.

So many lives have been touched by this little boy's suffering...Christ suffered and touched many lives as well...

Our pastor arranged to have him receive his First Holy Communion early...I arranged a reception to celebrate the glorious union.  Many families helped decorate, make flower arrangements, prepare the food...

His classmates were all present to kneel with him; his family, siblings, grandparents, uncles & aunts, and his church family were there as well.

 

Additionally, many of us families came together to put on a Family Dinner to raise funds for his medical expenses...it SOLD OUT.  Here is a tiny peek...

I placed Our Lady of Lourdes prayer on the program

Right now, he and his parents are in Lourdes, France. 

 

Please, I ask you, pray for a miracle. 

God's will be done.

~ Miracles do Happen ~

St. Catherine Laboure and the
Miraculous Medal

...even tiny miracles...

Every year, usually during the month of November or December, my First Communion Class will recieve a Miraculous Medal.  This year, since it was closer to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), we recognized this Feastday.

Tiny Miraculous Medal all the way from...
the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, in Rue du Bac, Paris, France. 

It is another step towards their preparation of the Sacraments:
First Confession (also known as Reconciliation or Penance)

and

First Holy Communion.


Waiting for their blessing...

Each month, the children will go up to the Communion rails and our pastor will bless them and present them with *blessed* devotional articles, or sacramentals.

"Sacramentals are liturgical ceremonies instituted by the Catholic Church that bear some resem­­blance to the seven sac­ra­ments and dispose the Christian to receive and cooperate with grace. Each includes a prayer of blessing accompanied by a sacred sign representing bene­fits obtained through the intercession of the Church."

The blessing of the medals...

For example:
In October, the children recieved a rosary and in Feburary, they will recieve their First Communion Candle - for the occasion of Candlemas.

This card holds the information about St. Catherine Laboure
and the Miraculous Medal...
and the journey of this tiny medal.

Often, the intentions of Holy Mass will be said for them and their preparation to recieve their sacraments.

The children are so wonderful...so full of love for Him.

As you prepare for your First Holy Communion,

remember to ask Our Blessed Mother to keep and guard you

and ask her to prepare your heart to receive her Son, Jesus, in Holy Communion.

 

St. Catherine Laboure...Pray for us.
Mother Mary...Pray for us.

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~ Communions... ~

Speaking of First Holy Communion Anniversaries...Little Lamb celebrates her 1 yr. Anniversary .   And, our parish will be celebrating the new Communicants, 2012, this Sunday...

Today we held the Rehearsal & Confessions for the children in my First Communion Class…

Before Confessions Father led them in prayer in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine – where, traditionally, pictures of the First Communicants are placed, at her feet, for her intercession:

To Jesus; Through Mary!

Consecration to Our Blessed Mother -

O my Queen, O my Mother,

I give myself to you.

And to show you that I love you,

I offer to you this day

My eyes,  my ears,  my mouth,  my heart.

Therefore, dear Mother,

Since I am your own,

Keep me and guard me.

Help me to love your Son, Jesus, more each day.

I ask her to prepare my heart to receive her Son Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time…

Conductor made these pure white Holy Communion lollipops

10 Boys, 2 girls...or twelve little faithful disciples...

This year I have 12 little dear children in my class.  They have such pure souls; so anxious to receive Him with such FAITH. 
May God bless them all the days of their lives.

I made, or rather, Conductor made these wonderful white chocolate Holy Communion lollipops for them. 

They will also receive a basil (also known as Holy Communion Plant) grow kit…accompanied by an explanation of the aromatic herb and a Blessing prayer.

Ocimum basilicum...has long been associated with the Holy Cross...

Yet another blessed day!