Mary Jane Frances was baptized on October 1: the memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux and also Respect Life Sunday.
Baptism was outside of Mass, and the service lasted almost an hour. Much to the surprise of our guests, whom I'd told to expect about fifteen minutes' worth of stuff. Oops.
The only mar on the baptism service was the middle part of Father's remarks: a pro-spanking, "kids these days don't get enough discipline" diatribe. Did you know that kids' ears are on their backsides? Oy.
We had a pewful of attachment-parenting friends in attendance; the seven attachment-parented children, sitting politely in a row, could easily testify otherwise. He's an exceptional priest, but... Somebody send the man a copy of the Popcaks' books, please. I'm perfectly aware that it's my Christian duty to discipline my child, part of the baptismal promises; and I'm also pretty sure that I have tools at my disposal, other than whacking them, to accomplish it.
It was also, of course, Respect Life Sunday. Amy asks what we heard. The theme of the homily in the Mass that preceded the baptism was abortion as a symptom, rather than a source, of our culture's sicknesses. That outlawing abortion tomorrow, though a reason for celebration, would not fix the underlying problems; that the culture must change first, and it must begin in our own homes.
I thought, what a blessing for MJ to be a sign of new life that day.
Hay guy he man all Know he is very very best man good luck.
Posted by: Sanjay | 23 February 2008 at 02:33 AM