The tall young man looked sharp in his dark, pin-striped suit. And why shouldn't he? It was a very important day in his spiritual life - the day of his confirmation.
Ronnie, our nephew by friendship, was dressed up to receive the third of what the Roman Catholic Church considers the three "sacraments of initiation," which also include baptism and Communion.
Confirmands are usually 12 or 13 years old. Jewish girls become women at age 12 at a bat mitzvah and Jewish boys become men in the eyes of their faith at 13 at a bar mitzvah. The Catholic confirmed are also thought of as becoming adults in their faith.
According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, confirmation involves giving young people the gifts of the Holy Spirit to make them "strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Christ."
The beginningCatholic.com website offers a slightly different perspective on the sacrament. It sees confirmation as a time when young people receive "a special grace" to strengthen and deepen their faith for their own needs "but also for the needs of othersâ¦"
Actually, while the sacrament was a necessary and grace-filled part of Ronnie's life, his spiritual and physical growth were confirmed two weeks earlier on an important day in the spiritual life of his little sister Sydney.
It was the day of Sydney's First Communion. Her parents and other family members were on hand to witness the sacrament, and to throw a party and give gifts to mark the special occasion.
A vase of freshly cut roses sat on a table filled with deserts and the platters of party goers. The roses, we learned, were a gift of Ronnie to his little sister. He got the idea himself and used his own money because he thought his sister would like the bouquet on her special day.
It seemed obvious then that Ronnie had already become a spiritual adult and that he had received the gifts of the Holy Spirit to put the needs - and feelings - of others first.
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We can all pass
along God's gifts.
