Now that the new year has begun, I am thinking about the celebration of Sacraments which take place during Lent and Easter. Many children have been preparing for their First Reconciliation and their First Communion. Our Faith Formation teachers have been helping the children, who are mostly 8 and 9 years old, to get ready. Their preparation is not simply teaching them to know about the Sacraments, but more importantly to teach them to desire them.

      The Sacraments of the Church are special moments by which we demonstrate our desire for a deeper relationship with God and a better relationship with people around us. That is God’s desire, too! So, as we evaluate the child’s preparation we do not just test their knowledge. We want to see their desire. We need to help them to long for even more in their friendship with God.

      No doubt, a child of eight or nine years of age will benefit by learning The Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Glory to God, the Apostles’ Creed, the responses used during Mass, and the Act of Contrition. We must expect that our children can learn and help them to achieve their goals. Through these prayers and responses we want them to feel strong and positive about their role in the community of faith.

      Still, we have some children and adults who have a diminished capacity to learn and memorize. For example, many of you know my sister Maria. She will soon be 36 years old. In 1994 when she was 13 years old, she received her First Communion at the Mass of Thanksgiving just after I was ordained a priest. My sister had been prepared by my Aunt Dorothy. Maria did not know every prayer, but she knew some. She did not understand many details about the Eucharist. But, what Maria demonstrated was a strong desire to belong and to participate in the Body of Christ. She desired to be one with the community. She believes as deeply as anyone that she is receiving the Body of Christ. Maria shows that the Sacraments are not only about knowing, but even more about desiring and belonging. Maria wants to participate in the Eucharist every Sunday and receive communion. This is what is most important for all of our children.

      Every time we participate in the Eucharist and receive Christ’s Body and Blood we are stating our desire to belong. We renew our commitment to be our best and help the community of faith to grow.  Let us teach our children and remember that belonging to and participating in the family of faith are the foundation of communion in the Body of Christ.

Peace Fr. Andy