Better Than Sharpies

Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ.   (Definitely better than Sharpies, don't you think?) 

During the mass today, the priest asked if we remembered when we were baptised.  He recommended that the children call their godparents a week before the anniversary of their baptism and remind their godparents of the upcoming special event.  He added (and I'm not sure if he was kidding or not), for them to take the opportunity to remind their godparents that cash would be nice.

We chose special dates soon after the children's births for them to be baptised.  The Feast of the Guardian Angels (02 October) fell on a Saturday in 1993.  The Feast of the Sto. Nino, which is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of January, fell on 18 January in 1998.  The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (11 February) fell on a Sunday in 2001.  

I hope the kids remember not only their baptismal dates, but also the true meaning of this sacrament.  I pray that they remember that God loves His children unconditionally and waits patiently for them to to come home. 

In the home country, there is an idiom about 'returning baptismal candles' (nagsolian ng kandila) which is used when close friends end up fighting.  I believe this is because one usually chooses a close friend as the godparent of their child, then during baptism, the godparent traditionally receives a baptismal candle;  if the godparent returns the candle because of a quarrel, they cease to be compadre/comadre (i.e., cease to be friends).

I don't know for sure if the idiom basis is accurate.  I have to find a third party to validate what I have just written.   I don't know if the return of the candle is an actual physical action or if it to be taken figuratively.  I don't think a person can simply cease to be one's godparent just because of a petty quarrel.   Who knows what they did in the olden times?

In addition, I have to check with Mother if I was really baptised on Father's birthday.  (That may just be my personal urban legend.)