I returned to the Catholic faith as a married adult. I had prayed so much that my children, too, would all be able to be Catholic, as there was division in my marriage on this subject. I remember leaving for a retreat the weekend my oldest two sons should have received their First Communion. I had gotten into a fight with my husband on the topic and was told by him that morning we should get a divorce.
I definitely had something to confess at that retreat, and I came home thinking I would need to start planning a new place to live, but instead, I was greeted by my same husband (however, a different man), who calmly and lovingly told me that our children could be raised Catholic! My jaw dropped. I knew God was real before this, but I truly saw Him in this instance.
So, we started my two oldest sons' First Sacrament preparations at the beginning of the next school year, and everything was going very well. They both seemed excited to learn and prepare for their First Reconciliation…until the day came. It was to happen on a Wednesday evening during Faith Formation classes. I drove to pick my three boys up from school that afternoon, and as they got in the truck, my second oldest son was livid! To say he was upset would be an understatement.
"Why do we always have to go to church?"
"I don't want to go to church tonight."
"Take me home," " etc.; he was incredibly vocal about the anger he felt inside towards me during the car ride to town. When we got to church, he was utterly silent, but it was apparent he would probably be upset with me into his 80's.
He stood in line with the rest of his class as I knelt in prayer to wait for him to return to the pew. After his confession, I was pleasantly surprised that he came to kneel beside me.
Then he leaned over and said, "Mom, I feel so different!" "I feel so peaceful." …and he gave me a hug. Not a side hug, but a hug!
He underwent a considerable transformation simply because of the grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I thank God for giving me that grace to see how real and present His forgiveness and peace is to all who simply ask to receive it.
—Anonymous