A New One in the Fold
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Monday, March 09, 2009 3:30 PM
We’ve got a brand-new Catholic at our house!
Blaise was baptized yesterday afternoon at our parish, along with three other babies. It was a joyous occasion. Both sets of the baby’s grandparents and all but one of his aunts and uncles were there, plus his godparents who are some dear friends of ours who live a few states away.
When I was still young enough that all religious ceremonies seemed boring, I remember thinking that the one good thing about the rite of baptism was that at least it was fairly short.
That’s not true at our parish, where the entire rite - including music, the deacon’s homily, and some extra prayers - takes close to an hour. As a kid I would have found this tedious, and I think some of the children there did. But as an adult, celebrating my precious baby son’s reception into the Catholic Church, I drank in every word.
I found myself tearing up as we prayed over Blaise’s ears and mouth, that he might hear the Word of God and proclaim it. After he’d been baptized and anointed with chrism, the tiny snow-white baptismal stole wrapped around his shoulders, I couldn’t stop grinning!
It is both incredible and daunting to know that as his parents we have a huge responsibility to help our son learn to serve God throughout his life. I expect there will be times when it’s very difficult for us to do that job, and I pray that God will give us the grace to get through them.
At this moment, though, I’m simply joyous at the thought that little Blaise is beginning his life as a Christian. For him, this is the start of the road, and it’s very good place to be!
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