Introduction
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Recently a friend asked me to be her confirmation sponsor. It seems the 7th graders have to have their sponsors lined up now so that we can journey together through all the rigmarole that passes for confirmation preparation. Confirmation will be in January sometime.
I told her that I would do it. She had been dropping hints to Sam and Gabe so I was sort of expecting it and I was flattered that she thought of me. But it seems now that this might be much more than a honorary position. My young friend does not attend mass on Sunday. Her family figures they go on Thursday for the school mass, and that is enough. From various discussions that she has had with Sam, I also know that my young friend has a rather more liberal view on some things than I do.
So I asked Sam why she. wants me to be her confirmation sponsor and he said, “Because she wants to take her confirmation seriously mom, and she knows that you will make her do that!”
I thought that was an interesting comment. My young friend knows I will make her take it seriously because she knows that I take it seriously and I think she knows that because of the religious objects in my home (which I’ll get to in another post) but also because my family lives the sacramental life! and that is the 4th part having a Domestic Life – participating in the sacraments.
In my home there are pictures of the kids being baptized and I’m pretty sure she might have seen those. There are also pictures from Calvin’s and Sam’s confirmation, so she. knows I’ve done this confirmation thing a few times. But what has perhaps REALLY touched our neighbor’s life has been the many times Sam and Gabe could not come over, or go to a party, or do a zillion other things because they had to go to mass. Sunday mass and the celebration of Eucharist are a focal point for the week. We plan for it and sometimes, depending on whether the children’s choir is singing, or one of the kids is serving, it is possible to have some one from my family attending everyone of the weekend masses including the vigil! Our neighbors apparently have seen what a big impact this has on our weekends.
We also go to confession (ie. Sacament of Penance or Reconcilliation depending on what era you’re from). The kids prepare for that too when we do a family examination of conscience. I know this has meaning for my children and they seem to look forward to going. (It’s always an interesting visit when we have to take Rosie with us anyway!) I wonder if they have shared this with her.
Living the Sacramental life is what makes us uniquely Catholic. Celebrating Baptisms and First Communions and Confirmations make for a joyous home! Continuing to participate in the Eucharist brings us part of the Body of Christ and strengthens our life in Christ.
Our family has also participated in the Anointing of the sick. Ten years ago when my mother was to undergo brain surgery, we took her to church and had the priest anoint her the day before the surgery. That too is part of the sacramental life.
I think my young friend has seen or heard about all of this. I know Sam and Gabe talk freely about their faith and attending church and the things about the faith we cover in our homeschool. I’m hopeful that a part of her seems to be yearning for this same thing. That’s a good! Because starting this Sunday, she is welcome to attend mass with us!
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