I have been present at,and part of, many ceremonies throughout my life. There were all the civil, school, and military ceremonies, but only one changed my life. It was actually a series of Christian rites performed on a single night; Easter Vigil.
Preparation for the event was months long. Before the weeks of adult Catechism there were months of reading and hundreds of dollars spent on books. I studied philosophy, theology, read the lives of many Saints, and their writings. I wanted to know the roots of my faith and even studied the Midrash; writings of the ancient Rabbis.
The Catholic faith had been abandoned with my father’s generation. I wasn’t brought up in a single church, but bounced from one, to another, in my youth. In my young adult life, I had decided that it was all bunk, and completely separated myself from God.
Early,in about my 32nd year of life I prayed, in earnest, and God set me back on a path to him. Not only did I receive the grace to stay on the path, but others were given the grace to help.
During Lent, before that Easter, I happened to read a book, ‘The World’s Greatest Secret.’ It had many wonderful things in it, the finding of St. Peters tomb, and stories of the Saints. One story that really stuck with me was that of an early martyr.
The Saint was carrying Holy Communion on a street and was stopped by a Roman soldier. The soldier had wanted to know what it was that was being hidden. Upon finding the Eucharist, the soldier wanted to know, why the saint was hiding bread, and what was the significance of the bread. The Saint was put to death, rather than, give up the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
After many long weeks of study, spiritual preparation, and juggling my schedule, as an over the road truck driver, Holy Week, and Easter Vigil, finally came.
Most of the Mass, up to, were the candidates were received, seems a blur now. I clearly recalled what happened when it came my turn. After making a profession of faith, the Litany of the Saints was prayed.
It was the long, original litany, and all through it, I wanted to run up to the Baptism font, and receive, new spiritual life. I kept looking across the isle at a friend and asking, “Can I go now?” “No, wait,” was the reply. I could hardly wait, my soul knew, and longed for, the life giving grace, that awaited.
When I was called to the Font, I did not hesitate. I leaned my head over and the water was poured, “Ed, I Baptize you, In the Name of…” Father had baptize me “Ed” after all the agonizing, over the name of a patron, but I didn’t care.
“Repent and be Baptized, so that, your sins maybe forgiven you.” I recalled the words of St. Peter, and they were true. I felt the life time of sin washed away in a moment.
Fr. Sean applied the Chrism, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I was handed a lit candle to symbolize my new life, and I returned to the pews, to contemplate it. But there was more to come.
I sat in wonder during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and when it was time, the Catechumens were pushed to the front of the Communion line. Fr. Sean held up the Host, “The Body of Christ.” Fr. Gus’ eyes sparkled, as he looked up at me, over the top of the Chalice, “Eddie, this is the Blood of Christ.”
Kneeling in the pew, the words of the lord, “If you do not eat my flesh, and drink my blood, you will have no life in you,” in the back of my mind, I knew the “World’s Greatest Secret.” I marveled at how is wasn’t a secret at all, only for those who refuse to accept.
After the vigil, there was a reception, in the Church Hall, with lots of food. I never made any further than the hallway; I stood there with a dopey grin on my face. I have pictures, the grin was there a full two weeks later. People came to me and wished me well, my Protestant friends, that were present, remarked how they had never seen anyone physically change after being Baptized before. I stood in the hallway holding my gifts and grinning; for hours.
I look out across, the snow covered, hood of my truck, at a wintry Nebraska day, some many years later. I fight back the tears as I think of how the Lord gave his life, in the 33rd year, to give me life, in my 33rd year.
