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Today’s post is sponsored by Embroidered Heirlooms.
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When I think of my children’s baptisms, there are many memories that come to my mind. While it may not be the holiest thing to admit, the two things that really stick out to me about each sacred event was what they wore and who was there.
These two things are intertwined, for me, as both things make me think of family. The baptism gowns that each of my children wore each first belonged to either one of my sisters or myself. Not only were they very formally joining the Lord’s family, but they were wearing an outward sign that they belonged to our family too. What a beautiful gift our mother provided to us by having held on to and loving cared for our baptism gowns! The only thing that could have made it even more special, I think, is if we had gowns that even more family members had used.
And, yes, we did get some funny looks when our sons wore baptism gowns. But, we also got comments (more than the first type of comments) about how wonderful it was that we decided to use a more traditional type of baptism garment. Our only daughter wore my baptism gown, as it was considerably more feminine.
We now find ourselves in a different season of our lives. We have moved from having a string of baptisms to having a string of First Holy Communions. While the dress code at our parish left very few options for the first two First Communions in our home (both boys), we are just a year and a half away from an entirely different decision than, “What solid colored tie should we buy?” Instead, we’ll be making decisions about a dress, a veil, and more.
Although we had wonderful baptism gowns (at least two that were more heirloom-type gowns) to use, as Catholic converts (from the Episcopal Church), we have no gorgeous First Communion dress that belonged to some great-grandmother. It is now up to us to be the ones that pick the type of dress that could one day be worn by our great-granddaughter. With an eye toward that, I want us to not necessarily go with the cheapest or trendiest dress available. Instead, I want to consider something like this one, a gorgeous linen dress with our daughter’s name and First Communion date embroidered onto the attached slip:
A dress, like this one, says something about the special nature of the day and Sacrament. It says, “You are important. This is important.” And, in the future, it will say to another generation that they are also important. The sacrament that was celebrated by the first girl whose name was embroidered on the slip is the same as the one that is celebrated by the next girl whose name is on the slip. It signifies a tradition of faith and family that sometimes can’t be found in the type of dress that might split at a seam because the same care wasn’t taken while making it as one that is lovingly handmade. (Much like our baptism gowns where my store bought dress hasn’t held up nearly as well as the gorgeous, matching gowns that my sons wore, which were first made for my twin sisters.)
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Even if something like a handmade First Communion dress or baptism gown is out of someone’s budget, I think it’s important to find other ways to make Sacraments feel like the very special occasions that they are. What things have you done to make it clear to your child (and others) how important a Sacrament celebration is?
Angie can be found writing at her blog, Many Little Blessings. She is also the founder of Catholic Mothers Online and The Homeschool Classroom. She enjoys using her creativity at Just a Tiny Owl and doing web/blog designs. (She also actually feels this way about sacramental clothing, even though this post is sponsored. She was actually the one to suggest the post topic!)
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Today’s post is sponsored by Embroidered Heirlooms ~ Christening Gowns, Baptism Gowns, First Communion Dresses, Baby Bonnets and Personalized Blankets – all handmade with the Finest Silks, Linen, Swiss Batiste, Cottons, Laces & Trims – Using the skills of the French Heirloom Tradition.
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Carolyn says
Great post.
Our kids are not old enough to have anything but baptisms yet, but for each of our children we bought them their own rosary and had it blessed. I have one given to me as a child by my grandfather that I kept all these years, even when I didn’t believe. It’s one of my most treasured possessions. All three of our children wore the same baptismal gown, including our newborn son who was baptized in July.
Something else your post made me think of, because we have two girls the oldest of whom is just entering the public school system: our children’s everyday clothes should also say, “You are important”. My heart sinks in despair at some of the clothes marketed towards children these days. I have an especially hard time with my 5-year-old, because she’s very tall she wears clothing typically worn by a 7 or 8 year old. Clothing is an external reflection of our innermost God-given dignity. Many of the clothes today do not reflect that dignity.
Thanks.
Angie says
Amen to the everyday clothes too! Great point!
Terri says
As a convert, choosing a baptism gown was very important to me. We were on a tight budget, but I made the numbers work to buy a beautiful heirloom-quality gown that could be used for boys and girls. For each child, my friend has embroidered the initials and baptism date on the slip of the gown. It’s a precious keepsake!
Kathy says
Great post! Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and I believe clothing reflects that. It is important to set aside special garments for special days. All 6 of our children were baptized in the same gown that my husband wore as an infant for his babtism. Now some of the older grandchilren are using it for their babies baptisms. Three generations using the same beautiful gown…traces our Faith thru the years.
And I couldn’t agree more about some of todays’ fashions for younger girls. Modesty is so important but it is sometimes hard to find at Target!
Rhonda S says
We have 4 children. We had two and when they were 16 and 17 years old we had twins! The first two wore a First Communion dress made from my wedding gown. Yes, we cut it up and used it. When our last little girl came along the dress did not fit her. I was sad. However, I sewed her one myself. For the cost of a pattern, and $40 worth of silk fabric, the last little girl wore a dress that was maybe not cut from Mommy’s wedding gown but that was sewn with love by Mommy. And not much trumps Mommy love. I sewed it to be very similar in style to the one her older sisters wore. Our only boy, the other twin… well he looked so handsome in his suit.