Baptism and "The Communion of Sinners"

There was a beautiful Baptism in our church this past Sunday. A wonderful visiting priest from Borromeo Seminary said the mass and presided at the Baptism. In the initial blessing of the baby before mass, the priest, Fr. Bob McCreary, a Capuchin Franciscan, anointed the baby and said a prayer welcoming the infant into "The Communion of Sinners." It was a Freudian slip, and Father quickly fixed his error by saying "The Communion of Saints." But he might have had it more correct the first time! Later, Father said that he was anointing the baby girl as a priest and as a prophet. I thought the message was so fantastic and I'm glad the church acknowledges the priesthood of the people. It's not just a church for men or for priests or for bishops.

At the end of the mass, for the closing blessing, Fr. Bob lifted up the child, and made the sign of the cross with the baby. We felt incredibly blessed by this sacred gesture!