"Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

The sun sets, the sky darkens, but in St. Mary's two years before, the lights shine bright. Tommy stands in front of his pew with a group of his peers, young high school sophomores, dressed in their best. Tommy wears his newly fitted suit, dark, heavy, and oppressively hot this particular evening.
Watching the man up front, a priest - the Bishop of the diocese - Tommy wonders what the big deal is. The church is packed. So many friends and family of Tommy and his peers are in the the church to watch the Confirmation, but Tommy is still at a loss to understand why. He doesn't yet understand what was so special about the little bit of oil which will be crossed on his forehead by the Bishop; Confirmation preparatory class had done little to clear up Tommy's confusion.
He watches as his peers in the front row go up to the Bishop one by one, saying their full Confirmation name, and being Confirmed in their faith. Tommy had chosen as his Confirmation name, "Aquinas." He had been at a loss as to what his Confirmation name should be, and his grandfather told him to consider the name "Aquinas." Tommy unquestioningly followed his grandfather's advice.
Glancing back a few rows, Tommy sees his grandfather, old and frail, wise, filled eyes watching the miracle before him. Tommy can see that what is taking place is a miracle in the eyes of his grandfather. There is an air about the old man - an air of peace and serenity, of hope and love, an air that redounds silently through the whole of St. Mary's as the Bishop confirms the young members of Tommy's class.
Tommy has not yet caught on to the greatness of the moment, nor will he understand the moment's immensity for another two years. This, however, is not fault great enough to sidetrack the mysterious ways of God, and the miracle which the eyes of his grandfather witnesses, will take place all the same.
Tommy's row starts to move, and before he knows it, he is standing in line, watching the young girl - suddenly a mature woman of the Church - be confirmed before him. Then she steps aside.
The Bishop, short of stature, with black hair and a beardless face, catches Tommy's eyes in a loving gaze.
Tommy, as he had been told to do, repeats his full Confirmation name. "Thomas 'Aquinas' Hanson," he tells the Bishop, not quite meeting his eyes.
All the same, the Bishop holds Tommy with his eyes, "Thomas 'Aquinas' Hanson, be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." The symbol of the Sacrament, the Oil of Confirmation, is coolly pressed against Tommy's forehead as the Bishop parts his hair.
Somehow Tommy can feel the eyes of his grandfather looking at him - he feels the eyes of his grandfather witnessing the miracle that is taking place.
Throat dry, "Tommy replies hoarsely, "Amen."
The Bishop takes Tommy's hand, and says "Peace be with you."
Tommy replies, "And also with you." And while he feels nothing, a seed is planted within him. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in him, and then begins the long, arduous years of change - the period of preparation for his lifelong journey in Christ.

BACK TO THE BEGINNING