Claire's Baptism

Claire was baptized (again) on May 30th along with her cousin, Patrick.  Fr. Carl led the ceremony along with Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, my brother-in-law's brother (and Patrick's uncle).  It truly was a lovely ceremony with just the right amount of reflection, reverence and humor.  

We honored Chris by placing a picture of him holding Claire and two candles on a table near the baptismal font.  The light from the candles created a warm glow around his image evoking an almost angelic tableau.

Claire wore Chris's wedding ring on a white ribbon around her neck.  I usually wear the ring on a chain myself but right before we left the house that morning, I felt the inclination to have her wear it. During the ceremony, she kept her thumb hooked through it. While in reality I know it was probably just a fun toy for her, I sensed that she felt her daddy's presence that day.

Fr. Carl talked about the night of Claire's first baptism--the night Chris died.  He spoke of how, in a matter of an hour, the people who had gathered in Chris's hospital room experienced the "bookends" of the Christian faith in a dramatic way.  Both Claire and Chris were anointed with oil as they each received their sacraments.  As incredibly sad and tragic as that night was, there were some beautiful moments and that was one of them.  I feel a slight sense of peace knowing that father and daughter forever share that spiritual bond.  Not that that is enough but I have to cherish any and all of the small blessings I have.

This is us without you, Chris.  We miss you.