In 1910, Saint Pius X signed the “liberating” decree, allowing little children to receive Holy Communion from the age of discretion. Magnificat Vol. LX, No. 1 23 Guy de Fontgalland had prepared for his first encounter with Jesus with admirable fervor. On the eve of the big day, he took stock of the little sacrifices he had made in the last month and counted 118. On May 22, 1921, Trinity Sunday, Guy received the Bread of Angels for the first time. What took place in this pure, generous soul at that moment? Jesus looked at Guy and loved him... and wanted to keep that exquisite little flower for Himself alone. “O my dear little Jesus,” said the child, “how I love You! I love You more than anything. Look! To prove it to You, I will leave everything for You, I will be Your priest!” And Jesus must have smiled when He replied, “And I love you too, My pure little lily; you will not be My priest, but My angel. The earth would deflower you. Soon I will take you with Me to Heaven. Soon!” That evening, his mother asked him: “Sweetheart, are you happy?” “Oh, yes, my little Mamma!” “And did you pray well to dear Little Jesus? What did you ask Him?” “I did not ask Him for anything, anything; it was Jesus who spoke to me... I listened to Him and simply said yes.” Guy received Communion regularly from that memorable day on, first every two weeks, then every Sunday. The child changed visibly from his contact with Jesus Host. One could sense that he was recollected and maturing. Father André Callon, who had prepared him for First Communion, wrote of him: “What holy Communions little Guy must have made! In my opinion, as the director of the child’s conscience, if Guy became what he is, it is because he corresponded faithfully to the graces of his First Communion, made when he was a very young child.” One afternoon, O the supreme joy! the two little Fontgallands were allowed to go to the circus. Their teacher accompanied them. But Guy retained the memory of his Divine Friend even among the acrobats. Leaning on the edge of the box, seemingly absent-minded, he watched the performances of the young tightrope walkers without seeing them. “What are you thinking about, dear child?” the teacher asked him gently. “Oh, Miss, I was trying to count how many children and grownups there are around here, wondering how many of them love the Good Lord Jesus. So tomorrow, at my Communion, I am going to pray for all those who are at the circus!” And the next moment, the child, happy and cheerful, was applauding the joyful clowns... In 1922, Guy, Mark and their parents went to Dauphiné. The old family home was next to the church. Nevertheless, the Countess de Fontgalland considered the parish priest and his assistants as “early birds” compared to THE EFFECTS Guy is transformed by “Little Jesus in the Host”
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