We always go up as a family to receive Holy Communion. The littlest ones, of course, come along for the priestly blessing.
This is my 2 1/2-year-old’s favorite part of the Mass, incidentally. “It’s time to go up for a blessing, Angela!” I say, and she happily puts away whatever dozen board books she’d been viewing.
She always insists on walking up to the priest herself, and inevitably she gets sidetracked along the way, resulting in a hasty hair grab by her mother (who’s bringing up the rear). Ultimately it’s just easier at that point to carry her, to her chagrin.
Of course I need to hold her free hand while the priest places the Eucharist on my tongue. In our parish the priest intincts the host so that we receive both the bread and the wine.
Consequently, when we got back to the pew, Angela leaned close to me and sniffed (the wine on my breath, presumably). She then furrowed her brow and said quite loudly:
“You smell like a blessing!”
That is very sweet.
I have similar antics. Having a big family will provide that for free … what a great bonus! One embarrassing moment was when my 4th child said rather loudly (after receiving the Eucharist) … “hey, I want a snack too!”
That is a cute story! Love the part about getting sidetracked, too. I’m forever rounding up strays!
I’ve been bribing the kids with candy so they’ll be good during Mass. (Hey, one woman can only manage so many without resorting to questionable tactics!) Jonny, just to get a rise out of me, wondered loudly in the quiet moment just after communion, “Have I been good?!” Up to that moment, he had, but he lost his treat over that one!
My 2 year old is the same way! She has said “Hey! I want some of that!” and then proceeded to cry. (loudly) You will someday my love!
It’s lucky that our priest has quick reflexes, because Little Brother, at that age, almost snatched the Host when TheDad was carrying him up to Communion!
You ARE blessed, you know.
Camille sounds like a smart sweetie, just like her momma!! For the record, one receives both Our Lord’s body and blood in the consecrated host. This confusion is one of the principal reasons the western Church moved away from Communion under both species very early on for many centuries.
What a beautiful comment! It reminds me of the “odour of sanctity” often spoken about the saints.
I remember you saying in a previous post that your little one kisses you on the lips just after you receive. She is going to have one grand First Holy Communion!!
My 2 y/o also loves going up, and also frequently insists on walking herself…and it is so sweet (I am told) to see her with her hands folded…and her mouth open as Father places the host on my tongue (because I have my hands down there in her hair, just like you!)