Testimony of faith. In heaven, right?

I see us again, my sister and I, little girls, jumping joyfully in the May sun, almost running towards the patronage where Sister Marie-Vincent was waiting for us for the rehearsal of the celebration of our private communion. I was so excited. For the occasion, mother had two beautiful white dresses sewn by our big seamstress sister. Two other big sisters had made flower crowns. We, “the dolls,” as our family called us, were very pretty and ready for this big party. By the end of the rehearsal, I knew everything by heart. I knew my place, just in front of my friend Sylvie, in the first rows, with the little ones. We had to join the choir in procession, sit in the stalls. We would sing to Mary: “Take my crown, I give it to you…” No, I wouldn’t be wrong, I had remembered everything!

On Sunday, waking up early, I was shaking like a leaf. That morning we had breakfast in underwear and undershirts. We shouldn’t get our dresses dirty. Finally, the long-awaited moment has arrived. During mass, moved, I asked myself a thousand questions. What was going to happen? How was Marie going to take the crown that I offered her so willingly? No matter: I had confidence! Then, my throat tight with emotion, my arm outstretched, my crown at my fingertips, my eyes full of tears and a sob in my voice, I tried to throw my crown while singing: “Take my crown, I give it to you, in heaven, you will give it back to me. » Alas… nothing happened! My crown remained in my hand. I came home feeling confused and sad. My first heartbreak.

Remembering this episode, I smile indulgently at the little girl I was. What traces did he leave? I only know that I kept my distance from Marian piety: I feared Mariolatry. But the joy of saying my faith, of saying God, has marked, like a red thread, my whole life until today. First as a catechist, then with adults requesting baptism, and now with grieving families, speaking at funeral celebrations. I add that for the past ten years, through the practice of rereading in my CLC group, I have given Marie a more important place.