This man loves Babies
Father Alexander Anderson firm sure footsteps clink down the long hall, his coat clean (for once) of any stains of his Work, hands folded neatly in posture, as he tried not to linger longer then needed as this was a nunnery of Section IX, a space meant for women, and he did not wish to trespass longer than what was required of him. He came upon a request for a letter sent with a seal, from a girl whose name was baptised as Maria Josphine Thomas just shy of the age when youth would give way to a proper woman. This girl had been burdened and her family shamed by it, so they sent her off, like many a ‘wayward’ girl, to hide the mistakes. Yet Anderson could pass not such a harsh judgment when she was still quite young and thus he could not see the state of her as being any fault of her. (in fact it quite angered him deeply yet for now he must hold tongue, if he ever did find the man who dared sew the seed, the lot of the brute would be quickly swiftly and painfully cut down by Anderson own hand)
Since her family was known by the Sections, she was escorted by Anderson, who happened to be doing the Good Work in the area her family lived. The villa was just outside of Rome. Her father, a God fearing Christian man, ushered her to Anderson side with not much word or fanfare. When he saw her, belly heavy and round just a few months more, it was clear she had not much choice in it given to her, but he did his best to give her some hopes that once the child born into the world by the Blessing of the Lord God Almighty with the Gift of Life and Soul, the babe would be placed with a loving family that would care of it as their own blood (ie rich with church ties, but Anderson and girl’s family feels she was too young herself to be made to care for a babe as a mother)
Now a few months have past, and in the letter, he was informed the baby had finally come. The nuns, midwife, and nursemaids successfully delivered the baby (healthy) to the world upon the day of the Good Lord late November. To his surprise, the girl Maria had requested that he be baptized. He was unsure why all he did was transport her from her family home to the nunnery safely (and not been one to pry, question, nor did he once look upon her as she was a stain of failures) He could not refuse, nor did he wish to. So he arrived, being met by the Mother Superior, the abbess, and led to the room which Maria was assigned with a few other young women. She is the youngest by far. The girl looked tired, which was to be expected after such an ordeal, but her health had not failed, and in her arms, close to her, she held the baby for now
Anderson could not hide the smile that spread upon his face, as the wee thing cooed with cubby fingers, stirring at the new and strange presence. He lowered his hands, arms open as she shifted the tiny precious bundle into his large arms. It’s a girl, pink skin, bald and then crying loudly, a good set of lungs, all the fingers and toes, ones that reached and held fast his own hand. He turned so the women would not see the bit of dew in the corner of his eyes as he attempted to bob the baby to calm it. Joy. Pure. It Swelled within his Soul. As the Dawn Light.
Maria and the nuns followed him into the baptismal. There the babe girl was blessed and named Baptised as Miracle Anguilique. Her family name for now left blank for the ones who would adopt the small bundle. After a few weeks of rest, Maria would return to her family, he would pray for her always. Knowing too well the world, many girls like her, many of them lead her for a while, but he trusted God to be by her side. And though the choice was few, the nuns for the most treated her with enough kindness, setting what was to be expected. Some of her heart would wonder about Miracle, some nights she would think about this child she brought into the world.
After Anderson did the duties, and the babe fed and nursed at the nunnery’s nursery it was old enough to thrive, then placed to a family of the church's long roster, who would sign their last name to her, keeping Miracle her to their house, hopefully loved and cherished.
Amen.
( I just had an image of a tiny wee baby hand holding Anderson's massive gloved hand and him being all soft and squishy emotional wise from the adorable thing and somehow it turned into a teen pregnancy adoption thing?)
I marked this mature for the mention of underage pregnancy
I'm not Catholic I don't know how any of this actually works
