Dearest Brother,

I have not looked at your forum for a few years, and am so glad that you are still alive and faithful. I prayed throughout your times of sickness. How is your health and faith, if I am not being too personal?

I am a Catholic, and know I can trust you to tell me the right thing. I have an Easter Baptism coming up next year - Catholic, Trinitarian, dunked three times into a pool that a priest has in his church. Just to confirm that it is necessary, as I do not wish to commit sacrilege. When I was a baby, I was apparently "Christened," it was not called a Baptism, and I have no certificate, gifts nor photographs to prove it. It was done in a church I did not ever embrace - one cross of water on my face (not three), no sprinkling, pouring, dunking, no oil nor even holy water, just water. The "Holy man" wore suits, not robes, and always tended to say "In Jesus Name." There was never mention of "Father," and "Son" and "Holy Ghost."

It was done when I was a baby, was certainly not what I would have chosen, and I am angry that it was forced onto me as that church did not do the trick for me. There were no prayers of exorcism done. I grew up thinking Jesus and the Bible were not real, just fairytales that some mad people chose to believe in.

My grandparents belonged to that church, and one of my earliest childhood memories is of going to rituals with them. The rituals involved people dressed as red devils in an arena, holding flaming torches, dancing and chanting around a fire. A priest told me those were initiations into the Church of Satan. Do you know? That place always focused on the devil in a way that was very scary for a child - booklets showing images of the devil (in traditional hoofed and horned form), how he is everywhere. Services spoke greatly of the devil.

Sadly, I eventually became an Ouija addict, learned spells, and so on. I became possessed, and some fabulous priests came to my rescue. They were unbelievable. The baptism is likely to go ahead, but I do not want to be bothered by my conscience that it is unnecessary. I feel like it is essential. There is so much to wash away, and whatever was done when I was a baby did not give me a good start. The Church of Rome has given me an anchor that keeps me going in the right direction - I now do not use the board. I did not know that I was doing wrong. I used to pray to the dark side. I go faithfully to Mass, say the daily rosary, prayer to St. Michael and Chaplet of St. Michael. I have worked very hard to better myself.

Please advise me. Thanks, and many blessings.

Shalom,
Angel
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