Childhood Honesty

This afternoon I met with a father and his 8 year old daughter with regard to her First Confession. They were previously at a parish that is still stuck to the bad idea of having Holy Communion at the age of 7, but First Reconciliation at the age of 10.

No, it makes no sense.

Which is what the parents thought so the mother contacted me, and as I handle RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children), I am working with the family to prepare the little girl for this wonderful sacrament.

Today I went over the information I provided to all the other parents and gave him the materials to be completed at home. Since the child was present, I did have to "kiddify" some of what I was saying, although I think most of it went over her head. But she was receptive and in her shy way, engaged with the conversation.

I think the family is one that had fallen away, but in my conversations with them, they at least have an intuitive grasp of the faith, what's right and what's wrong, and sincerely want to do the right things. I met with the father as he was raised Catholic, although he candidly admitted to me today that he has forgotten a great deal. Yet he remembered some important concepts such as "in persona Christi", which I also tried to explain to his daughter within the context of Confession. She didn't really understand, but her father told her, "You will."

So during part of our conversation this afternoon, in retranslating part of my original talk into language more directed towards both of them as I wanted to include the girl, I said something like, "We are all God's disobedient children, no matter how old we get."

The girl piped up, "I know Daddy was!"

What honesty! It was all I could do not to burst out laughing, because, of course, she was very serious, and her dad just grinned with her same shy smile.

The mother wasn't present today, I gather because she feels intimidated. I think she is a new Catholic, and she revealed to me in a previous conversation that she wanted to learn more as she also doesn't understand the sacrament very well. I told the Mister today that if she (or either of them) have questions, to call me, and I'll be happy to go over the same info with her also. He told me he believes they will both call at some point.

Please also keep this family in your prayers. They are such sweet people, in spite of their daughter's opinion of her daddy!