Rory FitzgeraldReflecting on the beauty of Baptism and new life
Sometimes when I am rushing around the house, doing a million things at once, as usual, I am stunned by a vision of purity and joy. Yet this is no mystical experience – or perhaps it is, in a way. This happens when, in my haste, I suddenly come upon my baby daughter. I am stopped in my tracks and all my worries evaporate as I see her smiling up at me, her blue eyes overflowing with a gentle joy.
She’s certainly a lovely person to be around, our little Emilia. Even when I’m awoken by her cries in the middle of the night, it’s nice to be reminded that she’s nearby, despite the sleep deprivation. We had longed for her safe arrival and, now that she’s here, we feel deeply blessed.
After the chaotic kerfuffle around the birth, the first real fuss made over a new baby is when she is baptised. The sooner the better, we thought – especially as her intended godmother was due to have a baby herself within just a few weeks.
At short notice, therefore, our local parish priest in Dublin’s Killester, Fr Alex, was kind enough to offer to administer the first sacrament to Emilia, before a small gathering of our close family.
The reassuring peal of the bells of St Brigid’s can be heard from our house, and their sound affirms that we live within its embrace. It was a nice feeling to take the short walk to the church with my wife, as she held Emilia close, in a sling. We stepped into the silent church at a quiet hour of the day, to find the paschal candle lit.
The church was empty, apart from the waiting priest. Our close family gathered together before the font to witness the baptism of a much-loved baby girl.
Grandmother
Emilia wore a white Christening gown, lovingly crocheted by her grandmother. Her older brother and sister were proud as punch to be made Fr Alex’s “helpers”, carrying the chrism oil and the vessels.
There was time to listen and reflect. We were asked to imagine our own baptisms all those years ago, and to picture who had been gathered around us then.
Emilia did not stir as the water was poured over her head at the baptismal font – although the wily priest knew all the tricks and he had warmed the water beforehand.
Indeed, Fr Alex warmed all of us present, bringing an easy friendliness, and a deep sense of the sacred, to the occasion.
He explained the sacrament in all its depth, leaving us as parents and godparents in no doubt as to the solemnity of our tasks.
We left with a feeling of joy that Emilia had become part of something greater, that she had been granted a blessing, a protection and a light to shine over her always.
A sign of new life – and love.