Irish Baptisms

John Florence Hannon

So there I was sitting in the big comfy chair while it is -25 outside and thinking about the various baptisms I have attended over the years. (Yes, I now know that I am addicted to family history.) In our family, there have been some really interesting ones. One of my personal favorites was in Kouts, Porter, Indiana.





My sister and I were up stairs -- they were really steep stairs too -- visiting our Aunt Mary and Uncle Bud with our mother. I recall the day starting with a gentle breeze carrying the scents of earth, crops, and country into the room. The animals were content in their early morning routines and you could hear them talking and eating. Beautiful bird songs floated into the room as I hear my sister yell, "Shut up out there!"





Now this is not someone who is "hung" or generally not a morning person. Today was just a day where my sister had one of those worst headaches ever mornings. We proceeded to get moving and head to the big farm kitchen and eat a quick snack so we would still be able to take communion at St. Mary's church. The group progressed up to the local church and we filed in for mass and then the baptism to follow immediately.





It is always interesting to be in a small town church that is heavily populated with your own family. This is an interesting dynamic and often was the first time people would see us as we arrived for our various and sundry visits over the years. Our mother was the first of the family to head off the farm and well out of the community. This offered us a bit of celebrity status as children -- perhaps it offered some egos too, that should be determined by the remaining family members.





Sitting in the church, we arrive about half-way through the mass when my sister suddenly goes stiff as a board and tips over. Yes, there were many hands grabbing toward her and that did protect her from the potential head injury from hard wooden pews, metal and wood kneelers and the wooden floor. Again, good to have lots of relatives right around you if you are going down for the count.





From that point, one of our cousins raced out to get his car so she could be carried back to the house and checked out by the local doctor. Yes, it was that small of a town. As our young, single cousin roars up to the front of the church, there is that moment of looking at stiffened young girl and Datsun 280Z. These are not the most compatible of things when someone is stiff and their mother is going with them. At this point, her body was starting to soften and the instant rigor from the mid-mass performance yielded enough to allow her to be folded into a sports car.





Off they raced to the farm house as the rest of us returned for the mass completion. After that excitement, the baptism seemed like something that would be somewhat more subdued. This is true, although we were provided with a good chuckle when the young girl was referred to as "Abe-be" rather than "Ab-Be" by the priest. Many lame jokes followed after the congregation shouted out the correct pronunciation of Abbey.





This family loves the liturgical events as it gives us an opportunity to share stories about learning to swim in the baptismal font, being drunk on wine at first communion, being slapped off our knees at confirmation and the list goes on.





Anyway, sister is fine and "Abe" is now a doctor so that worked out all right.







Irish Baptism Traditions
We'll be looking at John Florence Hannon today and how his baptism would have looked.

Baptism is the introduction of a new child into the Church community. Some in our family also have used the Christening garment made of pure Irish linen. Often there are prayers and blessings spoken over the child on that day. Baptism allows the child into the life of God. The water represents both the new life of the child and the new spiritual life. Most Baptisms I have attended are fairly informal. The participants are guided by the priest and there has never been any need for memorizing passages or responses.





Salt of the Earth
This is a tradition that some people have not seen in a long time. When the name of the child is announced, John Florence in this case, the priest puts a grain of blessed salt into the mouth of the infant. This ancient ceremony, reflecting the Biblical saying, "the salt of the earth," the child was admonished "to procure and maintain in his soul true wisdom and prudence, for which salt is an emblem inasmuch as it seasons and gives a relish to all things."



After that, the priest would cast out from the soul the Devil under whose power all humans were born by original sin. "I exorcise thee...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

These initial ceremonies (hearken back to the mid 1800's here) were performed in the entry of the church to signify that the infant was not worthy to enter God's place of worship until the Devil had been cast out of him. After the prayer for exorcism, the priest would place the end of the baptismal stole on the child and would then bring him into the church saying, "John Florence, come unto the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ unto life everlasting. Amen."



The child is then anointed with holy oil on the breast and between the shoulders while at the baptismal font. This anointed the soul by divine grace, fortifying him against his passions and sexual desires. Then with the godparents holding their godchild, the priest would pour water on the baby's head in the shape of a cross three times, simultaneously saying, "John Florence Hannon, I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

The ceremony is then recorded in the church's baptismal book. If you are fortunate and there were no natural disasters the information for your family is available in a local church too.













A Gaelic Christening Blessing
Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.

An Irish Blessing
For Your Baptism Day
May God grant you always
A sunbeam to warm you
A moonbeam to charm you
A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you
Laughter to cheer you
Faithful friends near you
And whenever you pray
Heaven to hear you.



An Irish Blessing
For Your Baptism Day
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields and,
until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.


Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Gaelic to English: Praise the young and they will blossom.











Links:


http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/irish_baptism_traditions.htm Blessing