There was a baptism held for a baby girl named lily yesterday.
Everyone was calm and happy sitting in their pews waiting for the cerimony to
begin.
I was positioned elsewhere because I would be taking pictures of the baptism for the
baby's family.

This is how it went:

The cerimony was about to start.
The priest was walking down the isle towards the baby and said a prayer in her name
with holy water in hand,
getting ready to start the prayer of the saints, which I'm not used to by the way,
on account of being christian, and not catholic.
But he stopped, to ask Tammy, the baby's mother a question.

" Is the father present to grant permission for this childs baptism?"

I paused remembering the last time I saw lilys dad.
During Tammys baby shower, I went to go get some cups from the supply closet,
And he was there smoking pot.
He was a total stoner.

Tammy tried to explain to the priest That the baby's father was a dead beat,
And couldn't be expected to be reliable.
" I called him about 10 times and he didn't answer his phone! I don't know where he
is!"
Tammy was close to tears now.
I felt terrible for her.

Everyone was a bit shocked to the priests' refusal to baptise the baby.
And all of them were catholics.

Later, when everyone was calm, Tammy's 12 year old daughter Amelia went up to her
mom
And blurted out, "would you mind, if I go to the confessional before we leave?
Tammy stared at her for a momment, no doubting she was thinking about what her kid
needed to confess to at a time like this.
But she let her go.
Amelia suddenly turned to me and asked me if I wanted to come with.
I said yes of course, not wanting to be rude.

We walked down the isle, past all of the ranting family members, And to the door
leading to the confessional.
She went in, and it took her about 10 min. to come out.
Her face was red from tears, And that freaked me out a little.
Would I come out the same way?

I asked her If there was anything I had to do when I went in there.
She calmly stated, ( despite her tear stained face) That I need to recite the
hail mary prayer before I confess,
And before I leave the confessional.
I nodded and told her that I did know the prayer.
( I shouldn't, but i do)

I went into the room and shut the door.
It was pitch black, and there was a wall next to me that held a little window with a
screen.
I didn't see anyone through it, but I heard a mans voice.
It was a calm and gentle voice, so I wasn't totally intimidated.

The voice greeted me and said nothing after that, So I thought he might be waiting
for me to recite the prayer.

" Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen."

" Amen. what weighs your heart down my dear?"

"Nothing."

" Nothing? So you are pure in heart?"

"No, But nothing is weighing my heart down father." I feel strange calling this man
father, but I do so out of respect.

" That can not be so. Sins will weigh your heart down, whether or not you choose to
ignore it and bear the weight is your choice.
Now tell me your sins, and I will pray for you"

" I have far to many sins to tell father, But I am happy, and I can pray for
myself."
I hear silence for a few moments, But then his voice is present once again.

" Yes you may my dear, but you cannot save yourself...Only god can."

I think about this for a moment.

" yes father."
I pause.

" May I recite the prayer now?"

he sighs.

" you may."

" Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen."

" Amen"

I let myself out of the confessional, Only to find Amelia waiting for me.

" How did it go?"
" It was great"

We ended up driving to a baptism after party for a baby that wasn't baptised.