"How lovely it was, that first kiss of Jesus in my heart —
it was truly a kiss of love." - St Thérèse of Lisieux
it was truly a kiss of love." - St Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
tells of the experience of her First Holy
Communion...
"I would not tell you everything, even
if I could, for there are certain things which
lose their fragrance in the open air, certain thoughts so intimate that they
cannot be translated into earthly language without losing at once their deep and
heavenly meaning. How lovely it was, that first kiss of Jesus in my heart — it
was truly a kiss of love. I knew that I was loved and said, “I love You, and I
give myself to You forever.”
Jesus asked for
nothing, He claimed no sacrifice. Long before that, He and little Thérèse
had seen and understood one another well, but on that day it was more than a
meeting — it was a complete fusion. We were no longer two, for Thérèse had
disappeared like a drop of water lost in the mighty ocean. Jesus alone remained
— the Master and the King. Had she not asked Him to take away her liberty, the
liberty she feared? She felt so weak and frail that she wanted to unite herself
forever to His Divine Strength. And her joy became so vast, so deep, that now it
overflowed. Soon she was weeping, to the astonishment of her companions, who
said to one another later on: “Why did she cry? Was there something on her
conscience? Perhaps it was because her mother was not there, or the Carmelite
sister she loves so much.”
It was beyond them that all
the joy of Heaven had entered one small, exiled heart, and that it was
too frail and weak to bear it without tears. As if the absence of my mother
could make me unhappy on the day of my First Communion! As all Heaven entered my
soul when I received Jesus, my mother came to me as well. Nor could I cry
because you were not there, we were closer than ever before. It was joy alone,
deep ineffable joy that filled my heart."
Excerpt from St. Thérèse’s autobiography,
The Story of a Soul
St Thérèse of
Lisieux
France ~ 1873-1897
Carmelite, Doctor of the
Church
First Holy Communion date: May 8,
1884
A day in
HISTORY: Today, May 8, is not only
the Anniversary of St Therese's First Holy Communion, but also the Birthday
Anniversary of both St John Vianney and Ven Fulton J Sheen, and the Anniversary of my First Holy
Communion - oh-so-many years ago. Earlier in
that week I had contracted the measles and so was home convalescing, but I
remember the day
vividly!
Everything
was made ready: Two tiny beeswax candles were lit from the Crucifix Sick Call
set. A silver spoon lay ready next to a glass of water in case I needed
assistance.
When Fr.Kern brought the Blessed Sacrament into our home a sweet, holy hush blanketed the living room. The relatives that had gathered to celebrate my private First Holy Communion, reverently bowed very low. I listened, I watched and I pondered all - fittingly dressed in my white dress and veil. My polka-dotted face held a beaming grin and my heart nearly burst! ~ Janette
Translation Holy card: "The things of earth seem of little account when one possesses the highest good."
Oh,
happy, holy day!
Do you remember/can you figure
out
your
First Holy Communion date?
Do
HEARTILY celebrate it!
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