Of Benediction and Baptism

It was a busy Friday night; very good but busy. I pulled double duty; presiding at the Benediction, which concludes our day long Eucharistic Adoration and conducted the Baptismal seminar for new parents.

For Benediction, realizing that this month's event occurs during Easter Week and just days before Divine Mercy Sunday, we prayed a Divine Mercy Chaplet. During the homily, I spoke about being bold, using the model of St. Peter in the Acts of the Apostles we have been hearing all week at Mass. Being bold means being able to defend our faith, the Church, and yes, our Holy Father, in these days of relentless media coverage which includes falsehoods and outright attacks on Catholicism. As I reminded the congregation, this requires us not to appear uncharitable or uncaring toward the victims. Yet the never mentioned victim in this crisis is the faith and the Church as the media lumps all one billion of us together. So we must be bold, in charity, about the faith. The Catholic Church, among many things, is Jesus in the Eucharist, Jesus in the Word proclaimed, Jesus, in the Sacraments, and Jesus, in the millions, if not billions, of people she has assisted over the centuries. To attack Catholicism, in his totality, is to attack the Eucharist, the Bible, the Sacraments and humanity. Be bold, in charity.

As the Benediction was being given, the realization that this is the same Jesus who gave his life for us and resurrected on that first Easter morning, was powerful. And this was the first Adoration and Bendection in our rededicated sanctuary under the watchful eyes of the Saints and holy men and women in our new stained glass windows.

In moving over to the Baptismal seminar I always enjoy meeting with the young new moms and dads as they prepare for the Baptism of their newborns. It is always a joy but on this night we had two couples, both very active with the church and their own personal faith life. It was a joy just to sit and visit with them.

I love the opportunity to be involved with the Baptism of our new Catholics. As a relatively new Deacon I have not had the opportunity to be involved in many baptisms. As a parish, we are blessed to have 2 Priests and 4 Deacons on staff so the opportunties are spread around as all of us are involved in the Sacrament. I'm always joyful for every opportunity to baptize and have fond memories of the ones I have done.

So the Church marches on. Be bold in praying for her and defending her in charity. And keep the faith, participate in the sacraments and the liturgical life of your parish. And persevere in prayer and Scripture readings.