I Love the Smell of Chrism in the Morning!

#6 became a Christian person this weekend and was officially named after his great-grandfather and 2 great saints.

Sr Philomena, my high school catechism teacher and all time favorite nun, used to say that being Catholic was more than our religion, it was also our culture. “It is the way we welcome babies..” she would begin her talk on Catholic culture. He was welcomed this weekend by our family and closest friends. Thank God for our good friends and relatives who greeted #6 with such joy. There were many smiles around the Baptismal font on Saturday night.

The biggest smile was that of our priest, Fr F. I don’t know who had looked forward to the baptism more, us or him. He even chose the day, calling us and saying, “I found a good day for #6’s baptism. Next Saturday is the Feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist. I figured you would like that one.” I guess most people don’t like the bloody martyrdom feasts. I understand completely. Who wants to think of their sweet newborn as being martyred? Martyrdom is usually a brutal affair and who wants that? We certainly don’t, but if he should face it, then I want him to have the prayers of all the great men I can find for him.

It’s all about getting good help, and the coolness factor. The Martyrdom of John the Baptist is just cool to us crazy Catholics. We are raised with the idea that death is a part of life and that bad things can happen to good people, and so we’re not uncomfortable with grisly stories at all. In fact, Catholic children like the bloody saints, as my children call them. They like the stories of people who stood by God through the impossible and never wavered. Children like heroes and there is nothing more heroic than that.

So, the Beheading of John the Baptist for a baptism date, born on the Feast of Ignatius of Loyola, and named for a martyr and a great priest. I’ve done all I can, I’ve gotten some great men on his side, let’s see what he does with it!

This is #6 and Fr F. I don’t know who to call at the Vatican, but he’d make a great bishop. His best qualification? He doesn’t want to be one.