Today was Ciárán’s First Reconciliation.
First Communion will happen in the Spring, but this was a big step in his life. I had been taking this journey with Ciárán, in the same way I did with August and Laura did with Déla (we are trading off the sacramental prep with the kids).
There were a few evening classes, the kids would go over the difference between a mistake and a sin. Parents would get together separately and talk about what the sacraments mean and what the kids are learning, stuff like that. It wasn’t any real inconvenience to our (already) schedule, plus it was an important step in his spiritual development.
Ciárán was nervous. He was worried about what he was going to confess, but more than that he was worried about making mistakes during the process of the confession.
As usual for these types of things there were several priests to handle the crowd, including two who are regular visiting priests. One, Father Bosso, is August’s favorite priest because he exudes the love of Christ in everything he does. And he is funny.
Luckily Ciárán “got” Father Bosso. We went up, greeted Father, and I said “This is Ciárán, and he is a bit nervous.” Well, Father Bosso’s smile somehow managed to get even wider and more welcoming.
Afterward Ciárán was visibly relieved. I’m sure some of it had to do with confessing, but mostly it was simply getting it behind him. It wasn’t nearly as scary or intimidating as he thought it would be.
One the way home Ciárán said “About a quarter of my sins are gone now. I am going to need to go again.”
Plenty of opportunity for that in the future, Ciárán.