Last weekend we had Philo baptized.
I'm actually surprised at what a moving experience it was. Our parish has three church buildings and we had the ceremony at the same church we got married in. It was the same priest, too. It was amazing to think that it had been almost two years since we'd stood at the front of that church and said our vows. Now we were standing in front of that church again with our son.
I felt really happy that day. I felt like I was doing something very important to Philo...I was introducing him to something that would shape his life in a way few things would. But I also felt like I was inviting him to share in something that was a huge part of the way Mike and I were raised...from Sunday Mass to Catholic school, from fasting on Ash Wednesday to celebrating on Easter Sunday, from praying to patron saints to appreciating the small blessings we receive every day. Catholicism seeps into your everyday life in a way that's very pervasive if you stop and think about it. It was a big part of Mike's and my experience, and now it would be a big part of Philo's.
I was also happy because the priest mentioned what a great name Philo is. I've had a lot of people hating on the name Philo, so it was nice to hear that someone liked it. He also mentioned that Philo of Alexandria was one of the early philosophers of the church, and it's a neat coincidence considering that Philo's middle name is Alexander. Before that I had only read about St. Philo who helped St. Ignatius (I don't feel like finding a link, so just Google it if you're curious). Anyway, it was really neat.
So now Philo's been a baptized Catholic for a week. Mike and I were hoping that he might immediately become more serene and at peace, but judging by the fact that he spent some time today screaming loudly in the car, that hasn't happened. Maybe with his First Communion.
(PS - I just wanted to add that my last entry was about praying to St. Gerard to start labor. I prayed that morning, started having contractions that afternoon, and was timing them by 9 PM that night. Thanks St. Gerard!)
