Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Besides being the patronal feast of the Americas, it is also a Holy Day of Obligation. The Archdiocese of St. Paul, happily, did not abrogate the obligation to attend mass simply because it fell on a Saturday. This was the first time our family of four attended mass together. We attended the vigil mass at a nearby parish, since ours did not offer a vigil. We knew we were at a good place when in the narthex we discovered the parish had children's mass books for use.
Josie slept through most of her first mass. Elijah was a dream child. He happily read his provided books, sang some of the hymns and took an interest in the liturgy. He likes to kneel when we do, and he genuflects in his own fashion on entering and exiting the pew. Yet, it is when he solemnly offers the sign of peace to his neighbors that he wins their hearts.
Elijah's angelic disposition did not go unnoticed by those around us. Several folks in the pews nearby commented, after mass had ended, on how good he had been. The praise did not end there. I don't want to be too boastful, but my kid got a tip for attending mass. I am not talking a snippet of advice, I'm talking (Minnesota) cold, hard cash. A fellow mass goer was so moved by his behavior that she gave little Elijah a neatly folded one dollar bill.
We promptly deposited it in the box next to the votive candles and lit one in front of the St. Joseph statue. Elijah was happy to put his money toward lighting a candle and sung the first few words of Happy Birthday-- which kinda relates to the feast, right? Our Lady being concieved without sin so that she could be born the first among us all, and a worthy vessel for our eternal and uncreated God to become a part of his creation, merits a round or two of Happy Happy on our part.
