Not every week, but for many years now, I have attended the 11:30 Sunday mass at a parish near my home. At the moment of communion, I faithfully watch about a dozen adults make their way to the altar. Among them is a young man—a man now—with the unmistakable signs of Down syndrome.
Attentive and dignified, he accompanies one of the eucharistic ministers. Together they move down the side of the church to distribute communion. I watch him hold the chalice always with that seriousness and great dignity that are so much his own.
He is surely an active member of the parish community. Far more so than I am.
And every time it brings me joy to see him walk with his determined stride toward the altar and then come back down toward all of us—brother, servant, active member of the Church.
- N.S.
True love is a force (as patience is a force, as gentleness is a force). It is an energy that draws us toward another so that we might draw him to us—but so that he might have more life, so that he might express himself, grow, move forward, so that he might be happy and at peace.
When we love, there is a double movement in us: I welcome the other into my being, and at the same time I give to him, so that he might rightly reach a fuller abundance.
- Jean Vanier