The Baptism of Julius Alexander

Our second son was baptized on May 2nd, 2009 at Saint Benedict Abbey in Still River by Father Marc on the feast of St. Athanasius. Although we didn't plan to have Jules baptized on that day for that reason, it seems providential since St. Athanasius shares a special relationship in history with Pope St. Julius. When St. Athanasius was being persecuted during the Arian heresy, it was St. Julius who declared St. Athanasius the rightful bishop of Alexandria. Although Pope St. Julius made many contributions during his papacy - from building many churches to commissioning masterpieces, he is most remembered for his defense of St. Athanasius.

Julius was baptized in the same gown worn by his great grandfather (Joseph Urban), his grandfather (Peter Urban), his father (Ben Urban), and his older brother (Leo Urban). 

In the photo below, Adrianne Niall, Julius' godmother, holds him over the baptismal font as Father Marc baptizes him.

After the baptism, we had a nice reception where refreshments were served. It was nice being able to socialize with all of our family and friends - many of whom drove great distances to be with us and to celebrate with Jules on his special day. We had about 45 people there!

My Aunt Judy (one of my father's sisters) holds Julius and comments how much he looks like our side of the family...

My friend Chrissy holding Jules...

Me and Ben's mother holding Jules...

One proud papa...

Father Marc is the priest who married us and has baptized both of our children. He is a very gifted priest whom we consider a dear friend. I thought that family and friends who weren't able to make it to Jules' baptism might enjoy reading Father Marc's homily:

Imagine, two babies, and already five popes - Leo, Benedict, Julius, Alexander and Urban - or even six, Urban I and Urban II. And just like the popes, the granddaddy of them all is Peter. Whether or not any of this will lead to either or both of Ben and Rebecca's two boys actually becoming pope, we have today the assurance of St. Peter himself that Julius Alexander this morning becomes , if not the Rock (St. Peter seems to want to reserve the word 'petra' for himself and his successors) at least a stone, part of a building built on a foundation which is Peter, who is himself built upon the Rock Who is Christ. And the holy of this building becomes part of a holy priesthood, so that even though not (yet) the pope, even though not even a bishop or a priest, Jules nevertheless has a share in the priesthood of Christ, so that he can join in the offering of the Church at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He can offer himself, represented in the bread and the wine; and once that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, he can offer Christ since he himself becomes a member of that Body, since the Blood of Christ will flow through his veins, just as the life of the vine flows through its branches. And, as always, we need to encourage Ben and Rebecca to do all they can to see that Julius Alexander lives up to the high calling he receives today - to teach him by word and example what it means to be a stone in this building, a branch of this vine, a member of this Body. They must especially bring him to the sacraments, to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that he may make his offering, and receive Him Who makes his offering acceptable, so Julius Alexander Urban may one day live in the happiness of the blessed with all the saints forever.