Almost two years had passed since we joined LaSalette. In addition to all the other community activities, we became Eucharistic Ministers. The Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, is at the heart of the Christian mystery, the Christian story. During Mass, one by one, a line of people come to receive this gift. When I had the opportunity to give out communion, I sometimes felt that line stretched out over the entire globe and also back into history. Each person arrived as present as possible and I felt the call to reciprocate. It was always a joy-filled and powerful experience for me. In March, 2001, right after my 54th birthday, I decided it was the right time for me to be fully and “legitimately” baptized. There was no pressure whatsoever from anyone. I called Father Tom, the spiritual advisor to the community, whom I liked a great deal. I told him my story, about my first baptism etc. Father Tom suggested that we make it a private baptism at our house with a small group. It would be more intimate and a little less confusing to some in the congregation who had no idea I had never been formally baptized. I preferred it that way also. I asked Father Tom what I needed to do to prepare. He said that the two years I had been with LaSalette was the best possible preparation. Still, I wanted some kind of “formal” preparation and he agreed to come to our house for a chat. He told me that, traditionally, adult baptism is the outside sign of an inward change that had already occurred. Tom also reminded me that I was not being baptized into the LaSalette Faith Community, but the entire Catholic Church. I thought it quite marvelous to be connected to over a billion people spread across the earth. As it turned out later, there was indeed truth in this thought. There was a very funny moment (to me) during Tom’s visit. We were in our sunroom, surrounded by nature. Tom sat on a rocking chair. Catherine and I, plus our dogs and cats, were on the couches. Tom mentioned that he was not quite at ease with animals. Our most friendly cat, very appropriately named Joseph, jumped off the couch and onto Tom’s lap and began happily purring. I was quite proud of Tom as he seamlessly continued his talk with Joseph snuggling in. It later turned out that every October, for ten years at the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we had a blessing of the animals at our farm. Father Tom was always one of the celebrants who blessed all sorts of critters including dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits and so on. I like to think that he had a kind of “baptism” himself that day. As I have pondered the meaning of Christ, and also being Catholic, for the past twenty years, my understanding is that Christ is the energy of connection. It is not me, in my usual sense of myself, that connects to the vast universe with all its creatures, human and otherwise. My job, so to speak, is to value this connection and do my best to allow Christ in. One of the LaSalette community members, when giving out communion, would often say, “Receive who you are, the body of Christ. This always resonated deeply with me. In addition to be baptized I also agreed to be confirmed. Father Tom told me I needed a sponsor for confirmation. I asked him what the requirements were for a sponsor. He laughed and said “Since you have arrived at baptism through a somewhat unconventional and backdoor route, it would certainly be a good idea if your sponsor was already a practicing Catholic. Also, your sponsor will there to guide and support you throughout your life.” Instantly, I thought of my mother-in-law (I called her Babci - the Polish word for grandma). From the time I met her, Babci and I formed a mutual admiration club. She was my favorite (and only) mother-in-law, and I was her favorite (and only) son-in law. Her quiet devotion, her remarkable good cheer, her sense of service and, of course, her delicious meals had been a subtle yet profound influence on me for the past 25 years. After Father Tom left, I called her and told her the requirements. I said I could vouch for her being a good Catholic woman. But since she was now in her 80s, would she be able to support and guide me for the rest of my life? Without skipping a beat, she said “Oh David, whenever you need me just look up and I’ll be watching out for you.” On June 9th, in our own backyard, on a sunny 80-degree day, I was officially baptized and confirmed by Father Tom. It was a very small gathering with Catherine, Babci, Grampy (my father-in-law), three of my reunion group brothers and their wives, Christina (a college roommate of Liz who was living with us at the time), her boyfriend Dan (the perfect “stranger” who just showed up at the right time) and Beverly, the woman who had first introduced us to the LaSalette community. Liz, our daughter, was in the Peace Corps and living in Paraguay. Bodhi, our latest dog, a slightly geriatric border collie representing the animal kingdom placed himself under the picnic table that served as an altar. The “music” was provided by our chickens and ducks who were clucking and quacking, as well as the local birds. The ceremony consisted of Mass, baptism, and confirmation. I looked around and saw the deep joy of Christ in the faces that were there. As had happened to me now hundreds of times, I received the whole experience emotionally. I saw and breathed in the deep green colors and smells of the earth, the sunlight pouring through the large maple tree, our black and white Bodhi under the picnic table, the red wine, my white baptismal / confirmation robe, and Father Tom, the wonderful priest whose presence at LaSalette had opened me to new ways of understanding Christ and the deepest energy in myself. I chose the name Francis for my confirmation name. It is Catherine’s middle name, my mother-in-law’s first name, Liz’s confirmation name, my sister-in-law’s confirmation name and, of course, St. Francis, the lover of all creatures. Bob, one of my reunion brothers bought me a beautiful cross from the San Damiano church where Christ first spoke to Francis. I loved this cross because I had seen it many times in the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon. I found a place on the wall in our bedroom so I could visit every morning. It is still there, now 20 years later reminding me that I am part of a very deep and beautiful tradition of the human species that, in spite of many deviations, has brought great joy and healing to the human adventure. Note: This completes this sequence of blogs on “Becoming Catholic”. More blogs on other topics to come.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
David FeldmanDog walker, Dog Mediator, Father, Husband, Categories |