Families and their sacred duties

CatholicAnchor.org

From what I was later told regarding the following event, it probably happened on a cold November weekday in the year 1924. The setting was a country church named Saint Henry in rural North Dakota. The event was a christening ceremony. Seemingly, there was a certain urgency about occasion and the ritual about to be performed because the child in question was the first-born of the Clementich-Keller family. This newborn must not pass on into this fearsome world without the waters made holy by Jesus Christ.

Gathered around the holy fount on that momentous day were four members of my family: Edward my father, Cecelia my mother and two witnesses: Margaret my grandmother and John my grandfather. Father Anthony Kopp was presiding.

All having gathered, promises of Catholic identity were made, the Tridentine Creed was pronounced, holy oil was administered to my tiny bald head, a few grains of salt applied to my gurgling lips and finally, a generous amount of cold water was poured over my half-naked body as the words of the priest were heard saying: “LeRoy Edward, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Grandma Margaret held the child aloft for all present to see as the priest added, “LeRoy Edward, baptized in Christ.” This child was ready for the world!

I just wanted to retrace those events of eight decades ago on the feast of the Presentation we will celebrate on this forthcoming Sunday because there is a certain similarity to be found there. The account in the Gospel of Luke relates that four individuals were present at Jesus’ Presentation at the temple in Jerusalem on a similar day: Joseph, Mary, Jesus and two senior witnesses, Simeon and Anna who made some astonishing predictions.

Obviously, both of these occurrences were moments in the history of two families. There was a certain satisfaction in knowing that the children were destined for certain undesignated tasks yet to be fulfilled in the world. In both instances, however, there must also have been a certain apprehension. Growing up in the world, as we know it can be an awesome experience, calling for strength of mind and spirit.

At the same time, the above-mentioned baptism and Presentation ceremonies were meant to be public signs that much is expected of those on whom sacred signs are engraved and acts of faith are proclaimed.

Given all we have said thus far, it is not simply incidental that Pope Francis in a recent exhortation to the members of the Council on the Family at the Vatican said this: “Children and the elderly represent the two poles of life and are also the most vulnerable and often the most forgotten group. A society that abandons its children or marginalizes its elderly members not only carries out an act of injustice but also sanctions the failure of that society. Taking care of the young and the elderly is the choice of civilization.”

Demonstrating his conviction about the importance of the family, Pope Francis is calling for an extraordinary synod in October 2014 to discuss the pastoral challenges to the family in modern life.

Family life, in all its various modern forms is the foundation for civilization itself. It deserves to be declared a holy communion of the elderly, the young and all those in between who hope to envision a future that holds promise. Of course, it all begins at a certain moment in history when family members, young and old, come together and publically declare that there seems to be great promise in the little one who is the center of all the attention.

The Scriptures

Malachi 3: 1-4

Hebrews 2: 14-18

Luke 2: 22-40