A Birthday Present from My Mom

On Friday I got a package from my mom. When I opened it, I found that my mom had sent me a wrapped present for my birthday. Last night, the eve of my birthday, I called my parents and opened my present on the phone with them. Inside I found the above collage. I had mentioned to my mom a while back that I would like to reprint some of the pictures from my Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. She decided to surprise me for my birthday with the above collage.

The two pictures on the left are of my First Communion class and my grandparents who were present for the big day. In the middle is that happy day when I became a Christian and a member of the Church, December 12th, 1976. Notice me being anointed priest, prophet, and king with the Chrism of Salvation. Don’t I look cute? The other picture is of my parents and godparents. My godmother is holding my baptismal candle which I still light each year on the anniversary of my baptism. The three pictures on the right are of my Confirmation day. There were no pictures allowed during the liturgy, so the pictures are of me and my sponsor, my family, and me with a Glory and Praise book that I got as a present and used to play trumpet at Mass each Sunday (no, we didn’t use G&P every Sunday, although note the “resurrected Jesus” in the picture with my First Communion class).

Thank you God for the great gift of my faith, given to me through your Church. Thank you for my family that first taught me the faith and showed me your love. As one final anointing with Holy Chrism potentially awaits me, I pray that I may always be faithful to the promises of my baptism, receive you worthily each day in Holy Communion, and always be on fire with your Holy Spirit. “Thank God for the Sacraments and the Holy Spirit.”