Smorgasbord #81
Childlike Faith | Centennial of the Little Flower | Recollection
Childlike Faith
A week ago, my oldest son received his first communion and confirmation. Mrs. Cantú and I started the day by going to confession at our parish. Unfortunately, the line was long, and we didn’t get to go in the window of time before daily Mass. I had taken the day off work, so we went to another parish nearby, offering confession at 11:30 AM on Fridays. We had been told confession was at 11:00, so we arrived at 10:30 and figured out we were the first in line. It was nice to pray morning prayer and the office of readings in the quiet of the Church.
Later that day, we got everyone ready, drove to our parish, and took family pictures. Mass was at 6:00 PM, and the front half of the pews would be full of first communicants and their sponsors, leaving the other half for family and friends. The doors to the Church opened an hour before the start of Mass, my MIL and I swooped in and secured a pew for us and our friends. My son’s godparents and their children were visiting. Mrs. Cantú would sit with our goddaughter, who chose her as sponsor, and my BIL would sit with my son. The three younger Cantú children and grandma would be sitting with me.
I had snacks and water, and was ready for almost anything. I let the three younger children play around the fountain in the courtyard, even though they were getting their nice clothes wet. It was not the hill I was willing to die on. I needed them entertained and tired enough that they wouldn’t be fidgety at Mass. There were about 90 people receiving sacraments that night, praise God, but this meant Mass would be long, and I didn’t want to take any chances. My youngest needed a diaper change five minutes before Mass started. I filled everyone’s water bottles at the drinking fountain, and we went to our seats.
I spent most of Mass carrying my youngest boy, who was getting riled up about being unable to go with his mommy. Don’t worry; he fell asleep in my arms before Bishop Emeritus Thomas Olmsted made it to the altar. I was starting to get hot and sweaty carrying a four-year-old, a small price to pay, in my book. I was glad he slept through most of Mass, which made things easier. I was able to see my son be confirmed and receive his first communion.
I noticed he paused in front of the priest holding the chalice with the precious blood. Mrs. Cantú, who was closer to the action, told me that he was still chewing the host when he got to the chalice, raised his index finger as if to say, “Just a moment,” and then took the chalice and received Jesus in both species. Mrs. Cantú said our son was beaming, and I loved knowing that.
During Mass, I kept thinking about how, as parents, we’re meant to bring our children closer to God, and here I was, seeing my son receiving Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity. You can’t get closer than that on this side of the veil. It is the beginning of the next chapter, where we hope to instill in him our love for God and everything he has given and done for us.
My son was so excited to receive our Lord again on Sunday and then at daily Mass on Monday morning at his hybrid homeschool. It was a good reminder that receiving daily is an option and that adding an extra Mass during the week might not be a bad idea. I’ve been so focused on beefing up my prayer life that I forgot about the most perfect prayer we can partake in, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
A good reminder to have childlike faith.
Centennial of the Little Flower
Tomorrow, May 17th, marks the 100th anniversary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s canonization. She was elevated to the altars in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, and for the last decade, she has been a good friend to me. I was introduced to her “little way” by my spiritual director, who also gave me a great book, “Maurice and Thérèse,” which consists of the letters exchanged between Maurice, a missionary, and Thérèse in her last year of life.
Mrs. Cantú and I have our own little flower, and she seems to share many of Thérèse's traits as a child. This is probably why I love and look up to Loius and Zelie.
Thérèse died at age twenty-four, which made me think she was on a “fast track” to sainthood. God knew what He was doing by taking her mother, Zelie, when Thérèse was only four years old, and then taking her sister Pauline away at age nine, when Pauline joined the Carmelites.
At fourteen, she met the seventy-seven-year-old Pope Leo XIII and asked him to give her permission to enter the Carmel. The Pope said: "Well, my child, do what the superiors decide… You will enter if it is God's Will," and he blessed her. She had to wait before entering religious life. Then again, at seventeen, when she was approaching final profession of vows, she was made to wait by the Carmelite Superior, and her novitiate was extended for a bit longer.
This young lady was ready to do God’s will, yet she was made to wait. How many of us would take this as a sign that we should stop pursuing spiritual progress? If I’m being honest, I would probably be disappointed, and my eagerness to strive for progress could falter. However, in imitation of the little flower, I will do my best to persevere even when the answer to my prayer is “not yet.” God’s timing is perfect, and he knows what He is doing.
Recollection
I’ve been trying this new thing where I don’t touch my phone first thing in the morning. Instead, I grab my little book of prayers and go into the living room before the kids wake up. Even though my phone has apps I can use to pray, the temptation to check my email or Substack is too big. Therefore, we’re going analog, baby! Plus, I found my copy of Thomas A. Kempis' “Imitation of Christ,” which means it’s time for me to be uncomfortable again.
I was also reintroduced to recollection, the act of paying attention to the presence of God in the soul. It seems obvious when I say out loud that God is near us, as in our innermost being, that we don’t have to go far to meet Him, still, I’ve grown accustomed to Eucharistic Adoration and being in His presence, that maybe I forgot we’re all temples of the Holy Spirit. I won’t stop going to my weekly holy hour any time soon, though. In fact, I would encourage you to add more Eucharistic Adoration to your life whenever possible.
Back to mental prayer or practicing the presence of God. About two years ago, I wrote a guest post at
’s about Brother Lawrence’s book on the topic. Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk, was able to pray at all times by lifting his thoughts to God and being in His presence while performing his everyday tasks. And so can we.Sometimes, my mind goes a hundred miles an hour with all sorts of things. I’m sure my phone and internet usage aren’t helping me become more contemplative, so the medicine I’m choosing to take to combat distinctiveness is mental prayer. Sitting in a room with a little book, lifting my mind to God, being in His presence, and getting out of the way. It’s His work in us; we just need to give Him room to work.
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Sobremesa
I just remembered there is a poll feature.
Congratulations on the very happy occasion!!
St. Therese is my Confirmation saint, so I appreciate your reflection on her life. I'm two days late in celebrating her centennial, but hey, better late than never. :)
Congratulations to your son receiving his sacraments!