Something bizarre and barely comprehensible rippled through the church during the christening of this little boy. No one present had ever witnessed a child wail, shriek, and twist so wildly.
Panic swept across the pews as the echoes of the boys cries rose while the vicar dipped him into the font. At one odd moment, those gathered fancied the water might have been scalding hot. The boys mother felt an ache pulse through her chest as she heard him sobshe stared silently for what seemed odd and endless minutes. Unable to bear it any longer, she drifted towards her husband and murmured quietly:
Excuse me, but when on earth will this be over?
Another fifteen minutes or so.
Is there any way to hurry this along? I cant stand to watch my child scream like this.
You know quite well, if we break off the ceremony, then the christening wouldnt count for anything. The boy must be baptised properly.
But look at himhes suffering so.
True, but it isnt the christening thats causing all this commotion. Theres something else at play…
What do you mean?
The reason is you and your husband.
What are you saying?
Did you marry in church?
No she replied.
Hes barely a month old. So Id wager he was conceived during Lent. And, forgive me, I suspect you may have ended a previous pregnancy.
The mother bowed her head.
Have you done anything to atone for all this? Have you been to confession?
She had nothing to say.
There you have it, then. You broke the law of God, so not just you, but your son bears the weight of it. If you want your son to be at peace, repent sincerely and strive to do better.
Tears began streaming bitterly down the mothers cheeks as she sobbed. She returned to her family, and at that instant, the boys cries faded away. The vicar calmly continued with the christening ritual.
In that shift, it seemed as if the wrongs of the parents drifted off the boy, for his tears ceased and a strange sense of hush settled around him.
