June 19, 2007

Sunday morning I had the joy and privilege of baptizing a baby, Francis Ifechukwu. Since I am not a parish priest, I don’t often have the opportunity of administering the sacrament of baptism; rather, as a friar, my work is more focused on the spiritual needs of my religious community: celebrating the Eucharist daily, making myself available for confessions, spiritual direction and counseling. Therefore, baptism, the “bread and butter” of the parish priest is a wonderful and special meal for a friar!

Unless you are a convert to the faith, many of us do not remember the day of our baptism. For our grandparents, the Christening Day was recorded by being inscribed into the family Bible. Some who are older revisit the day by looking at a few shiny black and white snapshots aging in some photo album. Today, technology will help people remember everything, as now the entire ceremony can be captured on cell phones and instantly e-mailed miles away. Yet, a question now posed to you the reader remains, “Why bother with baptism?”

The baby I baptized was born here in the States, but his mother and father are from Nigeria. As is the case with many Africans, their faith is very tangible and alive. The young father, Vincent, is a medical doctor and a devoted husband who, with his wife Cecilia, love their four small boys. Doctor Vincent’s mom, Jane Francis, comes to our friary every day for Mass, many days having one or two of the little tikes in tow. The friars are often amazed as they witness how well the boys behave in chapel. They observe and then imitate the friars—standing, sitting, and even kneeling—and quietly! As they are “energetic” little boys, I suspect grandma gives them a “last minute reminder” before stepping into the friary’s front door!

My friends, somewhere in the Psalms we read, “Blessed are they who walk in the way of the Lord.” How wonderful it is to see children learning the way of the Lord. Unfortunately, we live in times when it appears too many children are learning to walkin the ways of the world. Children are often confused; they are given too many choices. Quite often parents forget how ignorant and insecure children are. They need and want to have direction, even if they indicate the opposite! Children need to have set before them a clear path to follow. Some parents, who see themselves as open-minded, are closed to the reality that children not only have material needs, but also spiritual needs. They need not only to hear, but to see their parents walking in God’s way.

How is it that some “enlightened and educated” parents, who will allow their children to choose their religion when they older, don’t allow them to choose what they eat, what they wear, and where they play. God forbid they walk in a house where there’s third hand smoke, ride a tricycle without a high impact helmet, or talk to strangers like the mailman. Young parents want their children to eat good food, get a good education, and “be successful in life”—and boy, they will do their very best to make this happen. They refuse to “shove religion” down Johnny’s throat, but when it comes to the latest vitamin kick or cure, “Come on, open wide for mommy!”

Good health, safety, and success are indeed important and an obvious good we should pursue, yet, not to the exclusion of religion. To do everything to provide for the building of a “happy life” without providing a spiritual foundation is totally irresponsible and reprehensible. To deny a child an authentic and healthy religious orientation is to deny them the psychological, social, and spiritual footings they need in order to face the winds and waves of the world. Parents who want their children to become financially secure and successful, without any real reference to what is true success, are simply very sad.

Little Francis Ifechukwu, welcome to the Holy Catholic Church! You are now a member of His Mystical Body. Be it a doctor or a doorman, no matter; may your life be a success, and it will if only you watch daddy and mommy walk in the way of the Lord!

Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ

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