Mary Duddy holds her new grandson Jonathon Whitaker at his baptism. (Courtesy of Mary Duddy)
THE MARRIED LIFE
Baptism is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. It is the entry into the Kingdom of God. Infant baptism allows the Holy Spirit to be present in a child’s life from an early age, providing grace, protection and son-or-daughtership with God the Father.
Recently I was privileged to be present for the baptism of our newest grandson, Jonathon Whitaker. It was a simple yet beautiful celebration. Afterward I held Jonathon in my arms. He was so peaceful, full of the Holy Spirit.
“Always give this opportunity to all children: to have within themselves the Holy Spirit that will guide them in life,” Pope Francis said. “Do not forget to baptize your children.”
Along with baptism, it is the unique responsibility of Christian parents to bring their children up in the faith. We can’t depend entirely on others to do this. Children need to see faith modeled by their parents and witnessed in their homes.
My mother used to say that faith is our most precious gift. It should be nurtured and not taken for granted. In our home, family prayer, the rosary, grace before meals, talking about God’s action in our ordinary lives, and stories from the Bible were a regular part of family life. Children going to religious education classes and attending Mass with the family enhances this.
It is always so beautiful to hear children pray. When my youngest daughter was little, she met a girl named Lisa who was a patient in Kapiolani Hospital. Lisa had leukemia and was very sick. My daughter witnessed some of Lisa’s suffering, and so she began to pray for Lisa every night.
One day we witnessed Lisa lashing out in anger and hitting her pillow saying, “It’s not fair!” Her favorite nurse was with her and ministered to her lovingly. The nurse said, “It doesn’t seem fair that you must die when you are only 7, while other people get to live a long time. But with Jesus, age doesn’t matter. Everyone must die sometime. Jesus will be waiting for you.” Lisa calmed down and accepted this.
Lisa’s family was Christian, and when they visited her, they brought her special food and sang by her bedside. Finally, one day Lisa died, surrounded by her family.
My daughter stopped praying for Lisa. I asked her, “Aren’t you going to pray for Lisa anymore?”
“No,” she said. “Lisa is already in heaven.”
I am sure that my young daughter’s prayers helped Lisa in her journey through life. And what a blessing that Lisa knew Jesus and was filled with his Spirit at an early age.
Still, it is never too late to come to the Lord. Baptism is a gift at any age.
A friend of mine told me the story of her father, who was Buddhist. Her mother was Catholic. After the couple wed, my friend’s father began going to church with his wife, then his family, each Sunday. He faithfully went with them to church for many years, but never converted.
Finally, as he lay on his deathbed, he said to his daughter, “I want God.”
My friend immediately got up and drove in her car to the church they attended which was nearby. Fortunately, the priest was available and agreed to come right away to their home. My friend’s father was baptized, confirmed, and received his first communion that very day. Two days later he died a happy and peaceful death and was given a beautiful Catholic funeral Mass and Christian burial.
God is so good; he wants us to come to him at any stage of life. It is never too late to respond to his call, for us or our children.
As I gazed at my newly baptized grandson, I was grateful that he was welcomed to the family of God at the start of his life. The Lord’s grace will never fail him.
