Partakers of the Divine

On the great Solemnity of the Ascension (which we celebrated on Ascension Thursday), 40 days after Pascha, the 4 kids who were baptized on Orthodox Easter received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time and came into communion with Him.

Actually, I did not think of it and scheduled the first reception of Holy Communion for Sunday but one of them called me up and asked whether they could receive on Ascension Thursday. So, we prepared them to genuflect before the Sacred Host and receive on the tongue, etc.

We all came for the morning Mass of the Ascension which happened to fall on the Labour Day public holiday (as well as St. Joseph's Day, but that's another post). After a practice in the sacristy using unconsecrated hosts, we prepared for Mass.

In what we have in our control, we pulled out all the stops to maximize the solemnity of this Solemnity. Full complement of servers, etc.

Once again, I'd like to highlight the bow at the 'et incarnatus est'. I think it's very important that the servers give a good example to the people by doing it and doing it properly, and together.





But during the distribution of Holy Communion, Father surprised us by requesting them to stick out their hands, which we did not prepare them for as we expected and requested intinction.



And another surprise, he offered them the chalice. Hmmmm.



We taught Alvin, above, to stick out his tongue to receive Holy Communion. So when Father gave him communion in the hand, he stick stuck out his tongue when the ave himself communion =)

Certificates were them presented to commemorate the day. They featured Pope St. Pius X who lowered the age for first Holy Communion and was a great promoter of the worthy frequent reception of Holy Communion.

Can you spot the differences between the 2 pictures? LOL!