The Little Bride

As I approached Our Lady of Victories parish (my home parish here) Saturday morning for Mass I noticed a large crowd outside dressed in formal attire. Nearing the small island where this parish is located I considered more than twice driving up a few blocks to a nearby adoration chapel instead of venturing into what celebration this could be, but alas, the strong toll of the bells invited me to Calvary.

Much to my surprise (since I had been expecting a wedding, or quinceañera celebration) I saw a little girl in the middle of the aisle waiting nervously to take her place in the wooden kneeler in front of her. I took a seat and was relieved perhaps a first communion would not take nearly as long as what I had feared other celebrations might. 

The Mass unfolded as normally, and I event felt some guilt in wanting to avoid the the more social aspect I thought it would bring. However somewhere between the Homily and the offering of the gifts a beautiful moment occurred. The priest descended from the altar and asked the girl to walk to the entrance of the church with a white flower he handed her from a vase next to the portrait of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As he handed her the flower he told her this was her wedding day and that she'd be walking down the aisle to meet her bridegroom. The little girl smiled and walked up the church doors, and the organ lady suddenly started playing "Here Comes the Bride" as she walked down the aisle. When she approached the priest he asked where her groom was and why he wasn't there. In a half-giggle the girl pointed at the crucifix and mentioned he was there already. The priest smiled in agreement and asked for her to approach Him then. Obediently the little girl walked up a few steps to the cross and then returned to her kneeler. 

As the priest spoke a bit of this little girl's "marriage", I couldn't help but smile and feel a great peace. I was reminded of the Carmelites in St. Louis I know, of the marriage Mass a cousin had over the summer with her now husband... and I even recalled a bit of my own "little" marriage ten years ago. I also grew enthusiastic that in a few minutes I was meeting the bridegroom. The marriage continued, His love continued, despite tears, doubt, joys, and everything else that had occurred in those 10 years.

My first communion at St. Cecilia's Parish (St. Louis) 2001

"I betrothed you to one spouse, that I might present you a chaste virgin to Christ" (Corinthians 2 11:2)