Baby Kairi's Baptism
My favorite li'l bambina got baptized today. Isn't she just the cutest?
I've never been to a Catholic baptism before, so it was a really interesting experience. The priest put a lot of emphasis on the fact that Kitty and Taitai were making a commitment, before God, to raise Kairi in the Catholic faith, which means regular church attendance and participating in the community. It was almost aggressive, but in a good way. I liked that he emphasized that this was a solemn vow, an oath to the Lord - if the parents aren't serious about living up to all that the oath entails, they absolutely shouldn't baptize the kid.
At the church I went to as a kid, baptism like was a 'get out of jail free' card for the baby. We'd have parents show up at the church for a few weeks, do the baptism, and disappear again. It really was an empty gesture.
I don't know that I think infant baptism is necessary for the salvation of the child's soul; after all, the kid has no idea what's going on. Kairi will have absolutely no memory of being baptized. The whole reason confirmation has come to exist is because a follow-up ceremony is necessary, to confirm that the rational being the baby grows up to be will live within the folds of Christianity. Baptism is all about the parents, and holding them to a holy vow to raise their children righteously.
But it's also an excuse to dress a baby up in a puffy white dress and get the family together. She's so adorable - and her baptism cake was delicious!
