Jacob and Rachel

You probably don't know Jacob and Rachel. The truth is, neither do I. All I know is that Jacob and Rachel were both welcomed into the Catholic Church last Sunday during our mass at St. Bernadette's. It was a beautiful day to be baptised because the Church was celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family on that day.

They say that the day of our baptism is the one we should celebrate more than our birthdays. It is the day we are truly born. MacGyver and I chose special days for our little angels to be baptised. GI born 10 September 1993 was baptised on the Feast of the Guardian Angels, 02 October. RD who was born 30 December 1997 was baptised on the Feast of the Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) the following year, 17 January 1998. MyGirl was born on 26 January 2001. She was baptised on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11 February. (I don't know for sure but I think I was baptised on Father's birthday.)

Going back to Jacob and Rachel.

We usually stay on the side of the church where the tabernacle and the baptismal font are located. However, last Sunday was the first time I'd seen the baptismal font at work. The baptism was incorporated into the mass. The couples and their respective babies, Jacob and Rachel, were asked to stand in front every so often as various rites were performed.

At a certain point, the priest left the two couples in front as he turned on the water at the fountain. To my surprise, when it came time for the babies to be baptised, the priest carried the babies one at a time and immersed them into the water. Yes, they were in their birthday suit.

Both Jacob and Rachel cried as their bodies touched the water. They didn't stay underwater for very long. The priest quickly returned them to their parents and all was well again.

I found the whole ceremony very impressive indeed. Very different from the baptismal rites at the home country which are normally done in a secluded corner of the church with only the immediate family and godparents around.

Now, I wonder what happens during adult baptisms here.