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For young people

Josemaria’s First Holy Communion

Tags: The Escriva family, For younger readers, Holy Communion
From the book <i>Vida y venturas de un borrico de noria</i> <br>© Paulina Mönckeberg, 2004
From the book Vida y venturas de un borrico de noria
© Paulina Mönckeberg, 2004
When he was 10, Josemaria received Jesus into his soul for the first time. It was April 23. His mother had dressed him smartly and he looked radiant. His sisters Chon and Lolita were also wearing their best frocks for the occasion. From early in the morning his Guardian Angel had been whispering in his ear, prompting him to say the prayer he had learned beforehand to prepare for his first Holy Communion. “Josemaria, ‘I wish, Lord…’”

And the little boy said the prayer: “I wish, Lord, to receive You
with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your most holy Mother received You, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.”

His Guardian Angel also reminded him of the other prayers he had learned to say ever since he was little. He wanted to prepare Josemaria’s heart very well, because the greater his love was, the
happier he would make Jesus and the more graces he would receive.

When Josemaria came back to his place after receiving his First Holy Communion he joined his hands and shut his eyes, and had a long conversation with Jesus. There was so much he wanted to say: asking after Rosarito, praying for Dad, Mommy, Carmen, Chon, Lolita, and Maria the cook… Thanking Jesus, saying sorry, and, most of all, telling Jesus how much he loved him and how much he’d been looking forward to this moment.

The Little Watch-mender stayed with him, trying to keep any distractions away from his mind, whispering more ideas of things he could say, and especially, offering up to Jesus the slight burn he’d received the day before.

From the book Vida y venturas de un borrico de noria, (“The Life and Adventures of a Water-Wheel Donkey and His Little Watch-Mender”)
© Paulina Mönckeberg, 2004
© Ediciones Palabra, S.A., 2004

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