First Communion
May. 18th, 2008 02:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
squeefulfishArrived at the church to see a pink pumpkin. Yes, someone thought they were Jordan and had a giant pink pumpkin as their carriage. Only one white limo. Overall impression on entering "OMG! The white! It blinds!"
Niamh read one of the post-Communion prayers. She was beautiful and read beautifully.
Got quite emotional at times, and there were tears that were easy to blink away. There was also some anger, because when you're one of only about a dozen in a packed church who's actually paying attention to the Mass part there's a large amount of "why the hell are we doing this?" going on. People were talking the whole way through, even during the consecration which just drives me batty. Don't mind the odd aside, but during the consecration? I'm not even Catholic and that annoyed me. The priest had to tell the congregation to be quiet on no less than 5 occasions. Yes, it's an exciting day, but the emphasis should not be on looking at who has the pretty dresses or what mammies are wearing. Small children ran around the whole way through the service. When I turned round to shake hands with the people in the row behind me they jumped, not expecting to see an outstretched hand.
But Niamh... she enjoyed the Mass, she received Communion for the first time, she understood what she was doing and why. And I've managed to teach her that it's the Eucharist, not "holy bread." She's also wearing the medal that my great-grandmother wore on her first Communion day, that we've all worn since. These things matter to me for some reason.
Off now for the meal part. With both sides of Niamh's family. So not drinking, me + booze + conservative family = baaaad things. I remember this from Emma's baptism. Wish me luck!
Niamh read one of the post-Communion prayers. She was beautiful and read beautifully.
Got quite emotional at times, and there were tears that were easy to blink away. There was also some anger, because when you're one of only about a dozen in a packed church who's actually paying attention to the Mass part there's a large amount of "why the hell are we doing this?" going on. People were talking the whole way through, even during the consecration which just drives me batty. Don't mind the odd aside, but during the consecration? I'm not even Catholic and that annoyed me. The priest had to tell the congregation to be quiet on no less than 5 occasions. Yes, it's an exciting day, but the emphasis should not be on looking at who has the pretty dresses or what mammies are wearing. Small children ran around the whole way through the service. When I turned round to shake hands with the people in the row behind me they jumped, not expecting to see an outstretched hand.
But Niamh... she enjoyed the Mass, she received Communion for the first time, she understood what she was doing and why. And I've managed to teach her that it's the Eucharist, not "holy bread." She's also wearing the medal that my great-grandmother wore on her first Communion day, that we've all worn since. These things matter to me for some reason.
Off now for the meal part. With both sides of Niamh's family. So not drinking, me + booze + conservative family = baaaad things. I remember this from Emma's baptism. Wish me luck!
