Keeping little children attentive during liturgical services can be a task. Keeping them occupied during a baptism can be a major one.  Perhaps my memory exaggerates, but I seem to recall that at baptisms outside of Mass, we spent a fair amount time waiting for some family members to show up. That generally gave the little ones time to unleash their restless energies, usually noisily running about while parents chased after them.

One thing I’ve learned from years of baptizing is to include in the ritual, if possible, any smaller children present, which meant inviting them to gather around the font to “help” with the baptism. Carefully I show them how to scoop the water gently with both hands over the baby’s head. They seem to rise to such a solemn event, and in their own way feel they too share in the service.

Now, as I have grown older, a generation of grand nieces and nephews have been added to our family. Like most priests, when it comes time for baptizing any of these new-born, often I preside. A few summers ago, a niece and her husband in Toronto invited me to preside at the baptism of their son, Ryan. Thus, on a very steamy Sunday afternoon in the Danforth area, together with other members on both sides of the families, and along with some friends, we met in a church for an afternoon baptism.

I invited the two or three little ones present to “help” their uncle baptize their cousin Ryan. They eagerly came to the font, including six-year old Callum. Then I demonstrated how, with me, they could scoop the water over Ryan’s head. When the moment arrived in the ceremony, into the water plunged little hands with mine, some dabbling about, others following my lead of passing water over the baby’s head. When we had finished, Callum then rushed over to his grandparents, and announced: “That was my first baptism!”

Well, who could blame him! It mattered not that his great uncle was the main presider. In his mind, he had done what he had been asked, to help baptize his cousin Ryan. And so he had!