Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine
William writes to his mother

The day after the wedding, the entire Duncan family overslept.
"We'll all just have to go to Mass this evening," Mother said drowsily when Annie, who was the first to wake up, called her half an hour before morning Mass was due to start.
"Trudy did wake up at six and I gave her a bottle but I was still so sleepy.
I thought I'd have another few minutes and look at the time it is now ..."

"Nonsense," Dad said briskly.
"You stay in bed for a while.
You look really tired.
You can go on your own tonight.
Annie and I'll go to church now and take the boys with us.
Annie, let's have a race.
I'll dress Jimmy, you dress Jerry.
I'll give you and Jerry the bathroom for eight minutes only."
"Bless your heart," Mother murmured sleepily and promptly went back to sleep.

Twenty-nine minutes later exactly, the Duncans filed into church.
From their respectable appearance, nobody could have guessed at the race against time that had taken place over the past half hour.
Father Tom said Mass and asked the parishioners to remember the sick, especially Mrs Smith and a few other people who were known to the congregation.
After Mass Dad went over to speak to him.
The priest and her father looked very concerned as they spoke.
Annie realised they were discussing her sick neighbour.
She put Jerry and Jimmy into the car, promised them an apple if they behaved themselves and went to join her father and Father Tom.

"Ah Annie," the latter said kindly.
He turned back to Dad.
"Thanks a lot, Pat," he said.
"I knew I could rely on you."
He said goodbye and moved over to a couple with a baby who were waiting to speak to him.
"Has Father been talking to you about Mrs Smith, Dad?"
"He has indeed Annie.
It's a sad business."

After a cursory glance at his car, he sat down on a bench in the Church grounds.
"Mrs Smith is dying, isn't she, Dad?"
"I'm afraid so, honey."
Annie felt the tears rise to her eyes and swallowed the lump forming in her throat, before asking:
"Is she going to hospital?"
Mrs Smith had been to hospital on two or three occasions during the past weeks.
Mrs Benson had gone in every day to open the curtains and close them again.
It had been terribly lonely and sad without the sense of her presence next door.
Annie's heart grew cold at the thought of losing her forever.

"That's just the problem," Dad was saying.
"Father said that Mrs Smith has told him that she doesn't want to die in hospital, but at home.
She is suffering a great deal of pain, but it could be arranged that the Clinic Sisters would take it in turns to come in daily with her injections.
However, she cannot be left all alone in that big house any longer.
Someone will have to stay  with her day and night.
The question is: Who?"
 "Why can't you ask Mrs Benson?"
"That crabby woman?"
Hasn't Mrs Smith enough to suffer without looking at that grim face?" Dad asked, and this time he wasn't even pretending to be joking.
"Dad, I've got to talk to you about Mrs Benson," Annie said firmly.
"You don't like her and it shows.
That's why she's nasty to you.
I've been very kind to her for a long time and she's always quite kind to me now.
Besides, she quite often looks in on Mrs Smith and she always tidies up."

Dad was quiet, a strange expression on his face.
Had Annie been older, she would have recognised it for what it was, a sense of shame that a young child should be teaching him about the kindness which he as an adult Christian often failed to observe.
But Annie did not know he was feeling that way.
She was talking again.
"Dad, ask Mrs Smith if she would consider getting a mobile phone.
Then Mrs Benson can ring Mother whenever she needs help or advice.
If Mrs Smith can't pay for it, surely we can?
Or otherwise Father Tom can ask some people in the parish to help."

"Mrs Smith is far from poor," Dad observed.
"She has never liked phones.
That's why she never got one.
The money will be no problem for her."
"Well then, you can also make a gate in the fence between Mrs Smith's house and ours, so that Mother and I can bring them their meals."
"But Mrs Benson can't keep two houses clean."
"In that case we'll just have to clean our own.
I can keep my room tidy and look after the boys.
You can also do a lot to help Mother."

"How simple and uncomplicated you make it all sound," Dad said.
"I promised Father to see what I could do but I didn't really know how to go about it.
You've made it all seem crystal clear.
Where does Mrs Benson live?"
"In the municipal flats behind the shopping centre."
"Maybe she can move into one of Mrs Smith's bedrooms.
Thanks for showing me the way, Annie.
But first let's ask Mother if she will spare Mrs Benson."

Annie knew her mother would only be too pleased to share the services of her housekeeper with one who needed them so much more.
After his discussion with Mother, Dad telephoned Mrs Smith's closest relatives, who promised to notify the others.
He arranged for a mobile phone for Mrs Smith.
Another friend agreed to help with putting in a gate between the two houses.
Then, looking somewhat apprehensive, he asked Annie to accompany him to Mrs Benson's flat.

He appeared distincly uncomfortable as he knocked on the front door and the lady seemed surprised as she invited them in.
Mrs Benson's flat was the cleanest place she had ever seen, Annie reflected, but it wasn't very homely, neither could the smell of detergents and polish be said to enhance the atmosphere.

After Dad had explained the problem to Mrs Benson, she readily agreed to take care of Mrs Smith.
The idea had occurred to her already, she explained, but she hadn't wanted to suggest it since she needed the salary Dad paid her.
Dad cleared his throat.
"Naturally your salary will continue," he said formally, "and my wife asks if you will please come back to us afterwards."
He offered to give Mrs Benson a lift to Mrs Smith's house once she had packed, but she replied that she would only take an overnight bag for the time being and would be quite happy to walk the little distance.
"May I walk with you then?" Annie asked.
The lady agreed and Dad, looking relieved, left to make his own way home.

After the door had closed behind him, Mrs Benson turned to Annie.
"I got a letter from William yesterday," she said without preamble.
"It was lying in my post box after I came back from Mrs Smith's house."
Afraid of stemming the flow of information, Annie looked interested but made no reply.
The silence deepened before it was broken again by Mrs Benson.
"He asked for his baptismal certificate.
It seems he is going out with a girl and is thinking about marriage.
It seems they want the certificate at the church."
"And he isn't baptised?" Annie asked.
"No he isn't," Mrs Benson sighed.
"What shall I tell him now?"
"To consider following Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and becoming a Christian."
"A Christian!" Mrs Benson cried, looking horrified.
"I'm one," Annie shrugged, "We don't bite."

A rusty chuckled bubbled from Mrs Benson's lips.
She gave Annie a look which was even stranger than the one she had got from Dad outside Church.
Then the woman said::
"Annie, Annie. When they made you, they must have thrown away the mould.
There are times when you remind me of your father.
At others you resemble your mother.
But the likeness is only superficial in both cases.
You're an original.
You're quite unique."

Who'd have thought Mrs Benson could thaw like that?
Pity Dad wasn't there to see it, Annie thought.
"Can a person break a vow?" the housekeeper asked unexpectedly.
"I don't think so, "Annie replied. "Why?"
"Well, William's father was a Christian and left me shortly before his son was born.
The day he left, I took a vow that I'd never have the baby baptised."

"That vow wasn't according to Jesus' teaching," Annie countered.
"Anyway, William's big now and if he gets baptised you won't be breaking it."
Another chuckle, a little less rusty this time.
"Let me write to him straightaway," Mrs Benson said.
"We can post the letter at the box on the corner of your street.
I've still got some stamps and at least I have his address now."

After she had completed her letter, she quickly packed a small suitcase, knocked on a neighbour's door to tell her where she might be reached in case of emergency and then led the way down the narrow flight of stairs to the street.
Annie duly posted the letter on the way and followed her into Mrs Smith's house where they found Mother chatting to the lady.

Mrs Smith was up and dressed, to Annie's surprise.
When she saw Mrs Benson, she exclaimed: "My guardian angel!"
"I've been called a lot of names in my life," the housekeeper remarked drily.
"Until now, angel wasn't one of them."

"I mean it," Mrs Smith insisted.
"I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for coming and to Monica for sparing you.
It's thanks to the two of you and the Clinic Nurses I can stay at home."
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs Smith," Mrs Benson said with a kindness Annie had never known her to display.
"Mary please, we can't be so formal if we're to live under the same roof."
"And my name is Sally," Mrs Benson replied, almost shyly.

"Why don't I send you a nice hot supper?" Mother asked.
"I've still got lasagne in my deep freeze.
My mother overcatered for the wedding."
Upon which note she and Annie left the house.
Once outside, Mother drooped.
"Why do you look so sad now, Mom?" Annie asked.
"Just now you were so cheerful."

Mother put her arm around her shoulders.
"We weren't really so happy," she explained.
"It was just our way of showing you and each other that when life hands you a lemon, you make lemonade."

Somehow Annie felt happier when she went to bed that night.
It was good to know that the two ladies were going to be looking after one another.
Mrs Smith would be cared for by Mrs Benson and no doubt she would be praying very hard for her.
Annie, who had been feeling there was a load on her shoulders, now felt as if the burden had been lightened.

Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Eight

Aunt Theresa's Wedding Day

In the months that followed Annie's First Holy Communion, wedding preparations reached a fever pitch.
The material for Aunt Theresa, the bride, and Annie as her bridesmaid was bought and Annie had to have no fewer than three fittings before the dressmaker was satisfied with her dress.
Mrs Smith, despite becoming more frail, baked a magnificent wedding cake and iced it to perfection.
Granny Eckton, who was doing the catering for the wedding herself, was preparing food already and storing it in her own deep freeze and in that of Annie's family as well.

"I feel like a bite of lasagne," Dad told Mother one day.
"Nobody in the world makes lasagne the way your mother does.
Do you think anyone would notice if I pinched some from the deep freeze?"
He was almost certainly joking but Mother was taking no chances.
"Pat, you just dare!" she said in such a threatening voice that Dad threw up his arms in a gesture of surrender.

During the final week before the ceremony, things appeared to quieten down a little.
The hall had been hired.
The photographer had been booked and a band engaged for the reception.
By the time the hairdresser appointments had been made, time was lying heavily on everyone's hands.
Flowers could only be arranged on the day before the wedding and everything else was ready.

Aunt Theresa spent a lot of time at the Duncans' house.
She was as excited as she could possibly be.
So was Annie,who could barely wait for the big day to arrive.
On Friday evening she helped to decorate the hall and arrange flowers in the Church.
The bridal party had a practice for the ceremony with Father Tom, and Annie got to bed after ten that night.

Next morning the sun shone brightly.
"A perfect day for a wedding," Mother smiled as she opened Annie's curtains.
"I've always loved my little sister so dearly. 
I only want her happiness."
"Uncle John is a very nice person," Annie said.
Mother nodded.
"Yes he is, thank goodness. 
My, is that the time..." and Mother went out of the room.

That afternoon, Aunt Theresa and Annie, looking like two princesses, arrived at the church door.
Annie could hardly believe that this beautiful bride was her very own auntie, so young at heart and such fun to know.
Aunt Theresa looked very composed, dignified and sophisticated.
Because Grandfather Eckton had died years ago, she had asked Dad to walk her in to the church to the strains of the Wedding March.
As they reached the front pew and stopped in front of Father Tom, Uncle John stepped out and gave Aunt Theresa the most radiant smile in the world.

Father Tom welcomed the bride and groom and their guests.
In a few words he explained how the Sacrament of Marriage is a gift from God, and a public declaration of love and commitment.
This declaration is made in front of family and friends in Church.
The married couple will thus have the support of the Christian Church family. 

Father Tom went on to explain that including God in the marriage means the married couple will know they can look to God for His Love, Help and Guidance.
The Sacrament of Marriage also includes the couple's commitment to lovingly care for their children.

As the time drew near for the vows to be exchanged, bride and groom knelt down on the decorated kneelers.
Annie stole a look at her mother, though it meant having to turn her head a little.
Fortunately, the people were all watching the groom and bride.
All but Mrs Benson, for sure enough, there she was, dressed again in a smart suit worn with a matching hat.
She was watching Annie in disapproval and signalled her to look forward.
Annie quickly turned her head back.
She was pleased that Mrs Benson had come to the wedding.

Father Tom stood as priest representing Christ and Church, as groom and bride exchanged their vows with each other.
Uncle John and Aunt Theresa promised each other to be faithful in good times and bad;
in sickness and health;
for richer and for poorer;
and to truly love and honour each other for their whole lives. 
Father Tom then acknowledged that Uncle John and Aunt Theresa had declared their consent to be married,  and he prayed for God's blessing on them.
He then reminded that as God had blessed their marriage, it should not be divided.

The exchanging of the rings provided an anxious moment for Annie who carried both rings on a small cushion, upholstered in the same blue satin and white lace as her dress.
To her infinite relief, all went off well.
The Holy Eucharist was celebrated, and Aunt Theresa and Uncle John received Holy Communion.
Annie was the first to receive Holy Communion after the bridal couple and she shut her eyes tightly and prayed that her aunt and uncle would find happiness in their married lives.
The couple then received the special marriage blessing.
The spirit of emotion now turned to one of good cheer as the happy couple and their witnesses signed the registry book.
Then they went outside to the strains of organ music.

Once outside, Annie found herself standing next to Mrs Benson.
"Are you coming with us to the hall?" she asked.
"No, I'm going to sit with Mrs Smith.
She asked me especially," was the reply.
"She'll be wanting to know all about the wedding, as she was not well enough to come herself."
She hurried away, and Annie spent her time at the reception posing for photographs, listening to long speeches and keeping Jerry and Jimmy out of mischief.

She was glad when Father Tom came over to greet her.
"I have been at four Sacraments so far this year," she told Father Tom.
"First we had Trudy's Baptism, then my Confession and Communion and now the Wedding.
There are going to be two more soon; my uncle's Ordination and my cousin's Confirmation.
That means I'll have been at six out of the seven sacraments in about one year."

After Annie spoke to Father Tom, she realised why she was starting to feel tired; it was getting late.
She was glad when the bride and groom departed and her parents called her to go home with them.


Edited by Catherine Nicolette
Photograph by Catherine Nicolette copyright free

Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Seven

Luky after her First Holy Communion in Holland

Chapter Seven

Jesus enters Annie's heart

Annie would never know how and when she finally got to sleep on the night before her first Holy Communion.
At supper she barely ate or drank.
She neither read books nor played with her brothers.
All she wanted was to go to her room and think her thoughts.

It wasn't to be as easy as that.
Mother was frantically busy; rushing to and fro and getting nothing done as far as Annie could see.
Mrs Smith came in, carrying a magnificently iced cake.
It had a little girl on top.
The girl was dressed in a white dress and veil.
"Congratulations to Annie," Mrs Smith had piped on top of the cake in gold lettering.

Annie had her work cut out to prevent Jerry and Jimmy from tucking into the cake.
She breathed a sigh of relief when the little rascals had been bathed and put to bed.
She helped Mother bathe little Trudy, and stood beside her cot, holding her pink and chubby little hand until she fell asleep.
Then Mother, Dad and Annie laid out everyone's clothes for the next morning and tidied the last few things away.
In the end Dad had looked at his watch and said: "Goodness, you girls had better go to bed or we'll all oversleep.
It's past ten and Annie has to be at the church hall by twenty past seven in the morning."

Even in bed Annie got no rest.
Excitement and joy filled her mind at the thought that on the following day Jesus Himself would enter her heart for the very first time.
She had tried to explain the meaning of Holy Communion to Mrs Benson.
Ignoring the old housekeeper's exaggerated sighs and raised eyebrows, she had told her that Holy Communion is the receiving of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
"You see, Mrs Benson, at the Last Supper Jesus blessed and broke bread.and shared it with His disciples. He also blessed and shared wine. 
He told the disciples that the bread and wine had become His Body and Blood."
"It sounds farfetched to me," Mrs Benson commented.
"No," said Annie, "It's a divine mystery."
And she - usually so timid with the housekeeper - said this with conviction. 

For once Mrs Benson had subsided.
Annie prayed daily for the lady, and for her son, whose name, she had discovered, was William.
Annie had tried to find out as much as she could about William, but the housekeeper seldom divulged any information, beyond saying in a tightlipped sort of way that William had been a chip off the old block, a no-good like his father, that he had left home after graduation and that he had never bothered about her since.
In the beginning he had still sent the occasional card around Christmas and her birthday; now he didn't even do that any more.
"I was brought up to be a lady but life turned me nasty," Mrs Benson had unexpectedly added before turning abruptly and leaving the room.

Annie had told Dad about it.
If she had hoped this might cause him to grow fonder of his sparring partner, such hope was doomed to disappointment.
He had been highly amused but unimpressed.
"So she knows she is difficult, eh?
Well who'd have thought it?
That old character never fails to surprise me," had been his only comment.
Much though she deplored his attitude to Mrs Benson, Annie had wasted no time pointing out to him the error of his ways.
If Mrs Benson herself admitted she was a cross person, this was a step in the right direction for her, she felt.

When Annie, dressed like a little snowflake in the dress on which her mother had spent so much time, effort and worry, joined her fellow catechism pupils outside the church hall next morning, she spoke very little.
Granny Eckton, Uncle John and Aunt Theresa came over to congratulate her.
Annie smiled into Uncle John's camera as he took a photo.
When they left her, she started to think about the wonderful miracle that would take place within the next hour.

At a quarter to eight, the Communicants filed into church, with Father Tom and the altar servers.
As they entered, the organist started playing; "Suffer little children to come unto me."
Mother was smiling as Annie passed her pew and Dad gave his daughter a great big wink.
Who was that lady in the smart grey suit, staring resolutely ahead of her?
Passing her, Annie grabbed her housekeeper's hand, squeezed it tight and whispered: "Thanks for coming, Mrs Benson."
She didn't feel hurt when she was loftily ignored.
Like Mother, she was getting to know that Mrs Benson's cross ways were often used as a mask to hide her true feelings.

There were small chairs in front of the altar and the Communicants took their places.
A delicate fragrance of flowers pervaded the church.
Annie could not remember ever having seen so many flowers and candles at one time before, even before Christmas.

Father Tom welcomed the congregation and began to pray the Mass.
Annie followed him as best she could in the little first Communion prayerbook that had been her gift from her parents.
Then Father Tom went up to the pulpit and adjusted the microphone.
How old and good and kind he looked.
Annie did not yet know what the words "an aura of dignity" meant but she recognised this quality as he looked down on the Communicants.
He made the sign of the cross and started his sermon.
"My dear boys and girls.
Today is one of the most important days in your lives.
As long as you live, you will remember this day to some degree; the fragrance of the flowers, the sound of the organ music, the style of the dress or suit you wore.
The memory of today will live with you for the rest of your lives, in some form or other.

"In a few minutes from now, Jesus Himself will enter your hearts in Holy Communion."
Father Tom fixed his reading glasses firmly on his nose.
Then he said: "My dear children, today my prayer for you is the one offered up for my own First Holy Communion class by my parish priest nearly sixty years ago.
May Jesus always find within your hearts a place of peace and happiness.
We rejoice with you as through Communion you share in God's divine life."

The church was very quiet when Father left the pulpit to continue to pray the Mass.
Annie opened her prayerbook again and carefully followed his prayers and actions, particularly when the moment of Consecration arrived.
With great reverence, Father Tom repeated the wonderful words from the Holy Bible in which Jesus began the Holy Eucharist.
Silver bells pealed joyfully as Father Tom held up the consecrated Bread after genuflecting.

When Annie received Communion, her heart overflowed with joy.
She welcomed Jesus as God into her heart and into her life in a very special way.
She also asked Him never to leave her, and she promised never to leave Him.
Communion was the bond between her and God forever.

As she went back to her seat, the organist started playing the beautiful music, "All that I am."
The choir raised their voices and sang the words.
"All that I am, all that I do.
All that I'll ever have, I offer now to you.
All that I dream, all that I pray,
All that I'll ever make, I give to you today.
Take and sanctify these gifts,
For your honour, Lord;
Knowing that I love and serve you,
Is enough reward."
And Annie, kneeling down happily and praying, promised Jesus that everything she ever did from now on would be in honour of Him as a sign of her love for Him as God.

After Mass, as she left the church, she promised Jesus she would often come to Holy Communion because she loved Him.
Then she arrived outside and was being hugged and kissed by Mother, Dad, Dad's parents, Granny Eckton and a lot of uncles, aunts and cousins.
"Where's Mrs Benson?" she asked.
"Gone home," said Dad.
Mother held out a parcel, beautifully wrapped, which she had taken from her bag.
"Here Annie, this is for you.
Mrs Benson gave it to me yesterday.
She told me to hand it to you after Mass today."

Annie unwrapped the parcel to find a little silver cross and chain, a symbol of being a Christian.
She gasped in admiration.
It was a lovely present to receive after the wonder of her First Holy Communion.


Why not watch The Last Supper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=997ni1xcmKw

Song 'All that I am'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RJTyhqryAU

With thanks to Youtube, Mormon Channell and the illustrious Sebastian Temple

Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Six

Chapter Six
Annie's First Reconciliation - Confession

On the day before Annie was to make her first Holy Communion, a spirit of festivity filled the house.
There were flowers in every room.
Mrs Benson had scrubbed the place till it shone and gleamed.
"Jerry and Jimmy, you'd better keep the house clean until after our visitors have arrived, " Dad warned.
He was jangling his car keys.
"When's Theresa coming to babysit?" he asked Mother for the fourth time in succession.
"Confession starts at four and it's a quarter to that now.
That sister of yours must be the least punctual ... oh hullo Theresa, I didn't see you come in."
"That's obvious, you old gossip," his sister-in-law said.
"Don't forget to confess that when you get to church."
Mother started giving last minute instructions to her sister.
"Now Terry, don't give Trudy any food until I get back.
She's becoming far too greedy and over-eating is bad for her.
And make sure the boys don't mess up the house ..."
"All right Monica, I've babysat for you before.
And for an awful lot of other people too, come to think of it.
When I'm married with children of my own, I hope all of you will come and return the compliment.
What do you say, Annie?"

Annie didn't have anything to say.
She was still trying to think of things in her life where she could behave better, so that she might make a good confession and be well prepared to receive Jesus in her heart in Holy Communion.
She smiled politely at her aunt and followed her parents out to the car.
Dad and Mother had decided to go to confession with her, so that they could all share in the same sacrament.

Several people were kneeling outside the two confessionals in church.
Without waiting for her parents, Annie made a beeline for the one marked with Father Tom's name.
All she longed for was to make a worthy reconciliation and she prayed to God's Holy Spirit to enlighten her mind to this end.
Soon it was her turn to go in.
Inside the confessional, she saw that a wall separated her side from the part where Father Tom was seated.
She knelt down on a kneeler below the screen through which the old priest could be seen.
Only her eyes were above the little shelf just below the window.
"Bless me Father, for I have sinned," she said, "This is my first confession."

"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," said Father Tom, making the sign of the cross.
"Amen," said Annie, as she followed suit.
"May the grace of the Holy Spirit fill your heart with light, that may confess your sins with loving trust and come to know that God is loving and merciful," Father said.
Annie peered through the screen, and Father Tom nodded to her in an encouraging way.
Annie remembered that Father Tom was there as the disciple to guide her as she spoke to God, so she spoke of all the things she could remember having done wrong.
When she had finished, Father Tom started explaining how Annie could improve on her behaviour.
Annie was encouraged as Father gave her good ideas on her to improve the way she thought and behaved to others.

When Father had given her guidance, he said gently; "Now make your Act of Contrition."
Annie spoke to God with all her heart and said,
"Oh my God, I am sorry with all my heart for having offended You.
I promise with Your Help never to offend You again. Amen."
Then she spoke to God from her heart, telling Him how happy she was to receive this great sacrament of grace, and promised Him to try to become the very best person she could be.

To complete the reconciliation, Father Tom concluded with the words,
"For your penance, please say an Our Father and three Hail Mary's that God may grant you the patience to be kinder to your little brothers.
And please pray for me.
God bless you."
"I will pray for you, Father, and God bless you, too," Annie replied.

Kneeling after reconciliation in front of the tabernacle, watching the little light flickering, indicating the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread, she thanked Jesus very sincerely for the grace of a good confession and asked him to bless Father Tom.
Annie prayed the prayers of her penance and promised God to try better in the future. 
Then she genuflected and left the church.
Outside, she peacefully sat down on a bench, while waiting for her parents.
The grass was looking much greener than it seemed to have done before she had been to confession, the birds sang a cheerful song and the colourful flowers were of an unsurpassed beauty.
She felt light as air and very contented.
"I am so looking forward to receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist tomorrow," she thought.

She didn't notice her parents' approach until they were almost upon her.
"Phew, Father Tom doesn't pull his punches when a chap's been to busy too go to confession for a little while," Father said ruefully.
Mother laughed. "Little while, my eye. I told you long ago you should go to confession more often."
"Mom, Dad, I'd like to go to confession at least once a month.
Would it be possible for you to drive me to church?" Annie asked as they had almost reached home.
"I'll take you," Dad said.
"Just promise you'll remind me. Your mother always goes regularly."
"I will, Dad," said Annie.
"Thanks so much."

"What's old Benson doing here?" Dad asked in horror as he spotted their housekeeper on the verandah of their house.
"Pat, you leave poor Mrs Benson alone. 
Where's your kindness? 
Remember you've just come back from reconciliation," Mother said firmly.
Mrs Benson was just leaving.
Annie, still glowing with joy, made the mistake of calling out to her: 
"I'm so glad I went to Reconciliation."
The acid look on the housekeeper's face was plain to see.
"I can pray in a field," she said nastily.
"Aha!" Dad called out cheerfully, "but you don't do you?"
"Pat, will you be quiet!" Mother hissed, but Annie distinctly caught a look of veiled amusement on Mrs Benson's face that belied the surly way in which she slammed the garden gate to close it.
She thought that their housekeeper was beginning to appreciate her father at last.
In Dad, at least, she seemed to have found a foe worthy of her steel.

Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Five

Jesus loves everybody

Chapter Five
Annie prepares for Reconciliation

As ever, it was pandemonium in the Duncan establishment. 
Jerry and Jimmy were playing aeroplanes.
Trudy was crying in her pram, although Mother had just tended to her and cuddled her.
Elsie, the dog, was snapping at Mittens the cat, because Mittens was trying to eat the remains of her food.
Elsie had had more than enough to eat herself, but Mittens wasn't going to get any of the rest, not if she had anything to say about it.
No, sir.

Mrs Benson was perched on top of the ladder, risking a fall while washing windows energetically.
At such times she became almost talkative.
"You know Mrs D," she called from her perch, "there is only one way of getting these tarnished window handles really clean and keeping them that way.
That's to shine them up.
Where's your Brasso?"
"Ask Annie, Mrs Benson," Mother requested as she pinned a seam.
She was making Annie's first Holy Communion dress of broderie anglaise, and Annie was thrilled as she watched the beautiful dress taking shape.

Annie was about to go and find the Brasso when she heard Mrs Benson say:
 "I'll go and look in the cupboard."
Mrs Benson climbed down the ladder with agility.
"To get hold of Annie these days you've got to be good.
I've never known her so quiet," she commented.
"That's because she's thinking about her first Reconciliation on Saturday," said Mother who had finished pinning the seam and was now tacking it into place.

Annie slipped out unnoticed. 
Annie had a lot to think about  as she climbed up her beloved tree.
She was wondering how to go about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and was thinking more about it the closer she got to Saturday.
Her classmates shared her feelings. 
They had even spoken about it during catechism.
Miss Lewis had listened, then explained to them what the Sacrament was about.

Miss Lewis told them that the Sacrament of Reconciliation was a gift from Jesus to us.
On the day of His Resurrection, Jesus told the disciples;
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive anyone's sins,
they are forgiven;
if you retain anyone's sins, 
they are retained."
Jesus has paid the price for all of our sins by His Life, Death and Resurrection.
He then gave the disciples the ability to help pass on this gift in the special way of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Jesus' disciples offer this wonderful help in this Sacrament where God helps us to repair our relationship with Him and with others which has been damaged by our sin.
This healing of relationships by forgiveness of our sins is a blessed gift from God.
It also eases our hearts to speak to someone we can trust about our struggles and where we have fallen short.
We need good guidance to help us to do better in our lives in the future.
Annie was excited after hearing about Jesus' wonderful words to the disciples.

Mother had also told her about the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Jesus had told the story of a young man who had left home, and hurt his father's heart by turning his back on him.
The young man wasted his father's money, and became poor.
He eventually found work feeding pigs, but it was not well paid.
He was nearly starving. 
The young man then decided to go back to his father, and tell his father he had sinned - done wrong - 
against him.
He was hoping to be hired as his father's servant, because he knew his father gave good food to his servants.

However, when his father saw him a long way off, he ran all the way to his son who was returning home, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The young man's father held a big celebration, because he said, 'This son of mine was dead and he is alive again.
He was lost and now is found."
Mother explained to Annie that when we have sinned and are sorry, and try to repair our relationship with God, God is as happy as the father was when his wayward son came home.
Mother also explained to Annie that we can speak to one of Jesus' disciples when we wish to have the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Now Annie was going to speak to Father Tom on Saturday at her First Reconciliation. 

A car door slammed outside Mrs Smith's place and Annie saw that Father Tom had arrived to visit their neighbour, who had been getting even weaker lately.
That morning she had heard Mother telling Granny Eckton about it on the phone, although she had abruptly changed the subject after spotting Annie's eyes on her.
Whatever Mrs Smith's problem was, it hadn't changed her sweetness, Annie thought.
Their neighbour still managed to bake her scrumptious cakes.

She had given the last of her animals away, and her house was deserted and quiet.
Now Mrs Smith just appeared to be waiting for something big to happen.
Father Tom and Mrs Smith were speaking very earnestly as Annie shyly knocked on the wiremesh mosquito door.
Their faces lit up to see her.
"Annie, as I live and breathe," Father Tom exclaimed.
"And how's the baby sister?"
"Trudy's getting big now, Father," Annie said eagerly.
"She smiles and she's getting so strong!
She's already trying to sit up!"

"All your mother's babies were so clever," Mrs Smith praised, smiling.
"When I remember you as a tiny tot, my, how lovable you were.
And bright as a button!
And now you'll be making your first Holy Communion next Sunday.
Aren't you excited?"
"I am, but I'm excited about Reconciliation first," Annie said.

Two pairs of wise eyes behind glasses gazed on her.
"You take me back many years to my own first Reconciliation, Annie," Father Tom said.
"And me," said Mrs Smith.
One of the nicest things about Father Tom and Mrs Smith was the way they always took her seriously, Annie thought. 
Mrs. Smith got up to put the kettle on.
Annie watched her absently as she said: 
"Mrs Benson says it's stupid to talk about your sins to someone else.
I tried to explain to her that it's different when the person is a priest.
But she didn't want to listen."
"Poor Mrs Benson, lucky Annie," said Father Tom.
"Having Mrs Benson questioning your faith will teach you to understand it."

For a while there was silence in the small sitting room.
Then Mrs Smith came in with a tray of tea and biscuits.
She started pouring and Father Tom continued speaking.

"If you ask me, your Mrs Benson is really longing to find out more about God.
She may be too shy to express her feelings."

Annie finished her tea and biscuits and prepared to leave.
"Go with God," Father Tom said, "and give my best wishes to Mrs Benson.
I mean it very sincerely.
She looks to me like a woman who suffers a lot of heartache."

Five minutes later Annie was back in her own house.
"Where on earth have you been, child?" Mother asked.
"Come and try your dress on."
Soon Annie had been fitted and was about to go into the garden again.
Seeing the housekeeper still hard at work among the window handles, Annie said:
"Father Tom sends you his best wishes, Mrs Benson.
He says he thinks you've got a lot of worries."
She bit her lip, wondering whether she had said more than Father had meant her to, but the housekeeper looked pleasantly embarrassed.
"Your window handles look wonderful, Mrs Benson," Annie added, prompted by a desire to keep her happy.
"I must pray more for her," she thought to herself.
"Perhaps if I pray hard enough, some of her worries will go."

Edited by Catherine Nicolette.
Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette. With thanks to the glass artist

AN ANGEL

Here is a statue of an angel.
Angels are wonderful beings who help us.

EACH CHILD HAS AN ANGEL

Jesus told people that they must respect children.
He told the people that each child has an angel and your angels are in heaven all the time, with God.
They are in the presence of God
And they see God's Face all the time.
How wonderful is that!

Your angel is with God ALL THE TIME.
And sees God ALL THE TIME.

Matthew who followed Jesus heard Him say this, and He wrote it down in the Holy Bible.
In his Gospel Chapter 18, verse 10.
Ask your mommy or daddy or guardian or teacher to show you.
They will point out the VERY WORDS.
Isn't it exciting?

Any prayer you ask or anything you of God, the angel tells God.
God is very very wise.
He has given you your own very special angel.
Always ask your angel to keep you safe.

Pray to your guardian angel to help you to be a good boy or girl, and to love God with all your heart.
Your angel will help you.
Because your angel is good and kind, and loves you.
You are special to your angel.

Annie and the Seven Sacraments Chapter Four

Chapter Four
Water of Baptism and the Light of Christ

Annie ducked past her uncles and aunts, and stood as close to the font as she dared.
Still a little too short, she was unable to see as much as she would have liked.
Father poured water over Trudy's forehead, saying "Gertrude Mary, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Trudy wailed indignantly and the people looked from her to each other smiled - all except Mrs Benson, who looked as if she were silently dissociating herself from the proceedings.

Afterwards, Father prayed: "As Christ was anointed priest, prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of His Church, sharing everlasting life."
In silence he anointed Trudy.
He then placed a white garment over her shoulder, saying: "Gertrude Mary, you have become a new creation and have clothed yourself in Christ.
See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity.
With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven."

There and then Annie resolved to do all in her power to help her little sister to become as good as gold, to teach her to say her prayers and at all times to set her an excellent example.
She wanted her to grow up to become a smiling lady one day, like Mrs Smith and her two grandmothers, not bitter, twisted and sour like Mrs Benson, who was standing a little away from the others, looking as though she had just been drinking vinegar.

Seeing her like that, Annie decided to double up on her prayers for the old housekeeper and her son, wherever he might be living.
She looked away from Mrs Benson and back towards her parish priest.
Turning to Dad and Mother, Father Tom held out the burning Easter candle to them, saying: "Receive the Light of Christ."
Dad and Mother  lit a small candle from the big one and held it in their hands, while the priest added: "Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.
This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.
She is to walk always as a child of the Light.
May she keep the flame of faith alive in her heart.
When the Lord comes, may she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom."
Touching the baby's ears and mouth with his thumb, he said: "The Lord Jesus made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.
May He soon touch your ears to receive His Words and your mouth to proclaim His Faith to the praise and glory of God the Father."

The family followed the priest from the font to the foot of the altar where, together, they recited the Our Father.
Mother took her newly baptised infant back from its godmother, while Father Tom said: "God the Father, through His Son, the Virgin Mary's Child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children.
May He bless the mother of this child.
She now thanks God for the gift of her child.
May she be one with her in thanking Him forever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."

Soon the ceremony was over and the family went outside.
Annie was quiet.
A wonderful miracle had taken place, she thought.
Then a further miracle occurred. 
Mrs Benson's face looked softer. 
She gave Annie an unexpectedly heartwarming smile that would remain indelibly printed in Annie's mind as one of the nicest parts of Trudy's baptism.
She thought: "Maybe Mother was right after all when she told us that Mrs Benson has a kind heart in spite of her cross face."

Note for parents and catachetical teachers;
There is only one God - the God Who is the Creator, Who incarnated in human form as Jesus, and Whose Power works throughout our universe,
In the Old Testament (the Holy Torah) the Hebrew word for the Spirit of God is רוח אלוהים
Ruah, or Ru-ach
It signifies breath or spirit or the Holy Spirit of God
The Spirit of God IS God Himself.

So the Christian formula of baptism, invoking God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in reality invokes  One True God.
There is only One God, and no other.

Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette - for use copyright free

Annie and the Seven Sacraments - Chapter Three

Chapter Three
Trudy's Baptism

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and the Duncans were getting ready for Mass.
Annie was dressing her brothers as Mother was busy with the baby.
Today was a very special day.
Little Trudy was going to be baptised.

Much preparation had gone into preparing the house for visitors.
Mrs Benson had polished, scrubbed and scoured until the whole place gleamed.
Dad had gone to the market and bought a lot of flowers.
Aunt Theresa, who was going to be Trudy's godmother, had come to arrange them and there wasn't an empty vase or jam jar left in the house.

Annie had helped her aunt with the flower arrangements.
She had mostly done the cleaning up of the stalks and leaves that were snipped off.
"I've been to more courses in my life than I care to remember," she said when Annie complimented her on her handiwork.
"Cordon bleu cookery, cake decorating, dressmaking, patchwork, pottery and flower arranging, you name it, I've done a course in it.
I've been ready to start my own home for the past ten years but it's taken me such ages to find a husband."

She looked down at her engagement ring as if she still couldn't believe her good fortune.
"Well, Uncle John was worth waiting for," Annie commented practically.
"When is the wedding going to be, Aunt Theresa?"
"In four months' time, you beautiful girl.
And I suppose you know who'll be my bridesmaid?"

Annie, though she generally liked the quiet life, had jumped all over the house in a frenzy of excitement, while Aunt Theresa and Mother had followed her, helpless with laughter at her antics.
As Annie put the finishing touches to her brothers' appearance, the glow in her heart persisted.
Life was wonderful.
She had once asked Granny Eckton why it was sometimes called a valley of tears.
"You'll find that out when you're grown up," her grandmother had said quietly.
Annie thought now that she had been very much mistaken. Life was great.

Mother looked around the corner of the boys' room, holding Trudy in her arms.
The children gasped with admiration.
Their baby sister was a vision of delight in white satin, lace and ribbons and Mother looked very proud of her.
"When you were born, Annie, I received a card from a collegaue of Aunt Theresa's," she said.
"Do you want to know how it went?"
"Yes please Ma."
"A little girl, how wonderful," Mother quoted from memory.
"To be dressed in frills and laces, to help Mom in the kitchen and put Daddy through his paces, sometimes a tomboy too, has been sent especially to you, to make all your dreams come true."

Dad was locking up, chasing the brothers to the car, securing the dogs in the backyard and yelling at Mother and Annie to hurry or else they'd be late for Mass.
But when their car arrived at the church they found themselves among the very first parishioners to arrive.
Shortly afterwards Granny Eckton arrived with Aunt Theresa and Uncle John.
They waited for some of their other relatives to join them and soon it was time to go into the church.

To Annie's surprised delight, she spotted Mrs Benson in the congregation.
Looking very smart in a grey tailored suit and white lacy blouse, she was sitting as far from the family as possible.
Dad had noticed her too.
"Well well, look who's here," he whispered sarcastically, "the old dear herself."
"Shame on you, Pat, I asked her to come," Mother whispered, smiling anxiously at the housekeeper and half-raising her hand in greeting.
The latter looked outraged, then turned away pointedly, focusing her gaze on the altar.

"Old crone," Dad whispered angrily.
Annie had noticed before that he hated anyone to be unkind to mother, though he sometimes yelled at her himself.
"Maybe she lipreads and saw what you said first," Mother suggested but her colour had heightened and Annie's heart went out to her.
Mrs Benson certainly knew how to offend people, she reflected privately.
She made it pretty difficult for others to love her.

Mrs Smith, who had just appeared at one of the side entrances, did not appear to feel the same way.
She walked right up to the pew in which Mrs Benson was seated and motioned to her to shift up.
Mrs Benson obeyed, albeit with every sign of reluctance.
Annie suspected her of having a tiny soft spot in her heart for their gentle neighbour.

There was a stir as the congregation prepared to rise for the singing of the entrance hymn.
The organist started playing.
Hymnals were opened and Father Tom, preceded by altar servers, entered the church from the sacristy door.
Annie let the peace and joy of the celebration of Holy Mass flow over her.
How good it was to be in God's house, surrounded by loving relatives and with the sun flooding in through the stained glass windows.

She didn't know it, but she felt deep in her heart the truth of those lovely words from Sacrosanctum Concilium, "In the earthly liturgy we have a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem towards which we journey as pilgrims."
To Annie this time in God's house was a little bit of heaven.

After Mass was over, Annie's family remained behind and  collected in the church foyer.
Here Father Tom came to meet them.
He asked Annie's parents what name they were giving their baby.
"Gertrude Mary," they replied.
Asked what they wanted for Gertrude Mary, they answered: "Baptism."

Jerry and Jimmy started to fidget and Annie's heart sank.
To her relief, Mrs Benson went over to them.
"Behave yourselves," she hissed balefully and the brothers froze.
Annie turned her attention back to Father Tom.
"You have asked to have your child baptised," he said.
"In doing so, you are accepting the responsibility of training her in the practice of the faith.
It will be your duty to bring her up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us by loving God and our neighbour.
Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?"
"We do," Mother and Dad replied in unison.
The celebrant turned to the godparents.
"Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?"
"We are," Aunt Theresa and Uncle John answered.

Father Tom welcomed Trudy on behalf of the Christian community, claiming her for Christ our Saviour by the sign of the cross, which he traced on her forehead.
Mother, Dad, Aunt Theresa and Uncle John all followed suit at his invitation.

Uncle Jimmy, Dad's youngest brother, home on holiday from the seminary where he was studying for the priesthood, read a passage from the Bible.
Then Father Tom invited all present to ask Jesus to look lovingly on the child to be baptised, on her parents and godparents and on all people.

Uncle Hugh, Dad's older brothers, reading from a book, said:
"By the mystery of Your Death and Resurrection, bathe this child in light, give her the new life of baptism and welcome her into your holy Church. Lord, hear us."
"Lord, graciously hear us," the family said.
"Through baptism and confirmation, make her your faithful follower and a witness to your gospel. Lord, hear us."
"Lord, graciously hear us."
"Make the lives of her parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire this child. Lord, hear us."
"Lord, graciously hear us."
"Keep her family always in your love. Lord, hear us."
"Lord, graciously hear us."
"Renew the grace of our baptism in each one of us. Lord, hear us."
"Lord, graciously hear us."

"Let us call on the saints to pray for us all," said Father Tom.
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St John the Baptist, pray for us.
St Peter and St Paul, pray for us.
St Gertrude, pray for us.
St Monica, pray for us.
St Theresa, pray for us.
St Patrick, pray for us.
St Anne, pray for us.
All holy men and women, pray for us."

There couldn't be a priest in the whole world more clever, kind and understanding than Father Tom, Annie decided.
Surely it couldn't be a coincidence that he had mentioned the saints whose names Dad, Mother, the godmother, Trudy and even she herself bore?
From the broad smiles on the faces of the others she could see that the significance had not escaped their notice.

"Almighty and ever-living God," Father Tom was saying, "You sent your only Son into the world, to cast out the power of Satan, spirit of evil, to rescue humanity from the kingdom of darkness, and bring humanity into the splendour of your kingdom of light. 
We pray for this child; set her free from sin, make her a temple of your glory and send your Holy Spirit to dwell with her."
Aunt Theresa now undid the top two buttons of the back of Trudy's robe.
The baby awoke and blinked sleepily as Father Tom anointed her with the words: "We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the Name of Christ our Saviour.
May He strengthen you with His power, Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen."

Aunt Theresa fastened the back of Trudy's robe.
Then Father Tom led the way to the baptismal font.
He blessed the baptismal water, praying meanwhile that the Lord would bless it and make it holy, and by the mystery of the consecrated water, lead Trudy to a new and spiritual birth.
Having invited the parents and godparents to reject the devil, he led the family in confirming their belief in God.
Annie's answering: "Amen" could be heard above all the other voices, but Mrs Benson smiled bitterly and looked away.

Now the moment of the actual baptism had arrived. 
Once again Father Tom asked the parents and godparents whether it was their wish that Trudy be baptised in the faith of the Church which they had professed with him and they repeated that it was.

Jesus was baptised by John. Why not watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_dr9njVzKM&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=23

With thanks to Mormon Bible Channel and Youtube
Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette - for use copyright free