Confirmation, Italian Style

This afternoon, Florence and Ashley were both confirmed at the 5:00 Mass. As usual, the Hooks did their best to take over the entire liturgy: apart from 2 candidates (out of 7?), Michael was the proxy confirmation sponsor for BOTH girls, Eleanor & I sang in the choir, and Jeremy and James were the two altar servers. Now, being the only two altar servers at a Mass with a bishop presiding means that they got to deal with incense, croziers, miters, and so on. Very, very exciting.

But enough about the boys! Let's talk about the girls. So what was different about this Mass? To begin with, when the confirmation Mass was held: in September, right? Generally, confirmation Mass is held in the spring. Last year, though, I was asking the priest about timing...he explained that they now do it in the fall because, well, they just ran a little late on preparation a few years ago. They decided that it actually worked quite well to do it in September, given that every other ceremony takes place at the end of the school year, and it's just too hectic. So now? September it is.

Another thing? The tradition is to give a "basket" of food for the poor from each family participating in a sacrament. We had a box. A cardboard box. We looked at this box from the side. From the top. At an angle. And we couldn't decide whether said box should be gift wrapped or taken as-was. Ashley had no interest in dealing with it whatsoever. I was playing Scrabble with the boys, so wasn't overly entice-able. Florence wasn't sure what the right thing to do would be.

Michael the practical arrived at the critical point. "Get out a gift bag. Then you can go either way." Aha! He found a gift bag that looks remarkably like a green brown paper bag...as in, nothing special. By the time it was wrapped around the box -- I have to confess that even loving eyes couldn't see much that was distinguished about it. (When I saw the large, cellophane-adorned, deluxe baskets, well -- yes...ours did look pathetic.)

But enough about the basket! I was going to talk about the girls! They looked beautiful. Eleanor was hissing at me vehemently when I pulled out the camera. "No, Mummy! No photography!" (She knows I'm a stickler about this.) I coolly responded, "I'm not taking photos. I'm taking videos." Ha!

I have a few snippets of poorly lit videos for those who are really committed to seeing the pieces of the Mass that involved the girls. They're worth at least as much as you're paying for them...

The processional (Ashley's wearing salmon, Florence is wearing cream)

Oh... this was nifty... the repetition of the baptismal vows was held by the baptismal font! They all processed over there.

And it continues...

Finally:

And we have two new adult members of the Church! Welcome, Ashley and Florence!

Back home to finish the killer game of Scrabble, and off to La Mangiatoia for dinner!

Love,

Alexandra