Once, I made the sign of the cross on a woman as she lay dying of cancer.

"Remember that you are loved by God," I said as I marked with my finger on her forehead.

She took a deep breath and died.

I think of that powerful scene often as I mark the children who come to the altar in the same way. In that curiously paradoxical manner that defines so much of Christianity, I am hoping that these children will die as well.

That they will die to a world that seeks happiness everywhere but in God.

That they will die to the lies that have entrapped so many of us.

I pray that they will discover the joy that comes when we die to everything but trusting in God, trusting in love.

"For what does it profit us if we gain the whole world and forfeit our souls?"