When our church announced that it was opening up Confirmation this year to any child over the age of reason, we rejoiced! It has been our prayer that our kids would receive their sacraments in the original order: baptism, confirmation, first communion, and although many are favorable to this, not many are actually doing this. First though, Margaret Mary would have to study hard and pass a test. She had to learn the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, The corporal works of mercy, the spiritual works of mercy, the 7 sacraments, the Holy Days of Obligation, the 7 virtues, The Precepts of the Church, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, some catechism questions and more! It was an exhausting three weeks trying to teach her all these and she worked very hard committing them all to memory. But she did it! She passed the test with a 98!
Now that her head was ready, she was invited to a retreat to prepare her heart for the sacraments. I watched the boys while Jason went with her. It ended with her going to her first confession and this pic was taken, with her glowing happy innocent face a few moments later. She says she wants to go to confession every day so she wont have to remember so many sins. :) She said she expected the priest to scold her when she confessed sneaking halloween candy, but that he just nodded and said calmly "yes, yes." Confession is such a beautiful sacrament and what a delight it was to see its beauty written all over my daughter's face afterwards. It's nothing I have to convince her of; she experiences it for herself! What a grace filled time! Pray for her as her big day approaches! She receives the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation on Dec 13.
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