A Glimse of Maddy's Baptism

I cannot resist writing a bit about the baptism before I do the mega-post (which I will begin when I get all the top class photos). I am so pleased for my little daughter. It feels like I have just ensured the best possible thing for her: Allowing the gates of heaven to open into her soul. In fact the last few days I have felt rather euphoric about the whole thing. I can remember such intricate detail from the ceremony. So many glimpses into the mystery of the Faith; so many images of the divine entering her life.

We began the ceremonies at 1:30pm with a Votive Mass for Our Lady (Salve Sancta Parens) at the beautiful Lady Altar in the Oratory. I had not expected so many people to arrive for this Mass, considering I was explicit that it wasn't part of the actual Baptism, entirely optional for them, and it would all be in Latin. But so many people were there, stationed behind Wendy, Madeleine and I, no doubt offering their prayers for little Maddy amidst the divinely still and transcendent atmosphere. We would all return to this altar after the Baptism, to dedicate Madeleine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Baptism itself began outside the church in the cloisters, and involved entry into the church (shown in this picture). Following the Mass, we were blessed with the same two servers assisting with the ritual. Everyone gathered round as Fr. Phillip began the prayers of purification and exorcism for little Maddy. Her soul was carefully being prepared for offering to God in the most joyous sacrament of Baptism. For this reason the priest's stole was initially a penitential purple colour, in a way representing the mourning over her old life in the flesh.

As the Rite progressed, Madeleine was brought closer and closer to the Baptistery. Questions were directed to her, which the godparents answered on her behalf. Once evil had been exorcised and Satan renounced, the Baptism itself took place, with the priest now clothed in a victorious white stole.

"Ego te baptizo in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti"

The words echoed within me as I realised Madeleine was now a daughter of the most high, God Almighty. She had been laid a foundation upon which her whole spiritual life will rest. She had asked for Faith, and God had infused the Grace by which that will flourish.

The final part of the Baptism nearly had me in tears (in fact, Wendy could bearly recite the words to hold them back)! We all gathered at the Lady Altar, full circle to where we had earlier offered Mass in thanks for Our Lady's intercession (which had led directly to Madeleine's conception). There we knelt with the priest and said a formula of consecration to Our Lady, in which we asked for her maternal protection over Maddy. To be a baby of Mary! How wonderful! As we began singing the Salve Regina, I gently rested Maddy upon the altar, where Our Lord had been born in the Blessed Sacrament only half an hour earlier, and my heart leapt with joy at this wondrous occasion.

Finally the paperwork was completed (Maddy's Baptism certificate is in LATIN!!), pictured here with the godparents (Janie and Andrew), and then we were all off to Pizza Express to celebrate Madeleine's new life in Christ! Deo Gratias!

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