BAPTISM

May I enlarge on a point raised by Mr. John Pitt in your issue of October 28?
Apart from those immediately concerned, we do pay disproportionately little regard to the administration of Baptism, and seem to treat this all-important Sacrament more as a surgical operation, to be performed as expeditely and as secretly as possible, than as the grant to a new Christian of the Freedom of the City of God.
Could not priests more generally recite the words of the Sacrament in English as well as in Latin, or see that copies of the text are available for all who attend? Others might perhaps follow the admirable example of at least one of our Bishops and explein during the ceremony what they are about (after the style, for example, of Fr. Martindale's What is he doing at the Font?), so that everyone present, Catholic and non-Catholic, may understand the full beauty and symbol'sm of the service. Layfolk v,oill-' len have an opportunity of fully appreciating a great rite of the Church which is now sadly neglected; and they might sometimes be rewarded, in roe case of adult baptisms, by being asked to undertake the charitable office of godparent to a convert who has no Catholic friends.
A final word on a different but related subject: Might it be a good thing to alter the title of' the ceremony now known as "Churching"? The word "Churching " somehow seems to perpetuate a common misconception. A name such as " Thanksgiving after Childbirth" would at least better indicate the true nature of this sacramental.
Ewe. BRENTINL
201 Willesden Lane, London, N.W.6.