Bishop Fratelli of New York City

Bishop Fratelli, a Catholic living in the borough of Queens, New York, had a neighbor. Every time she had an opportunity, she offered him some Christian literature. Though he took it, he always threw it away. Then one day, he had to present a message and discovered that the title on the literature was just what he needed.

He took it, and it turned out to be just what he needed. When he saw her, he expressed his appreciation for the material.

This started a more cordial relationship. One day, she was going to a special prayer seminar and invited him to attend.

Though a little reluctant, he accepted and went with her. It turned out to be just what he needed. He had never heard people pray like he heard praying that night. Since it was a week-long seminar, he attended every night.

By the conclusion of the week, he had come to the realization that though a bishop, and a man of sixty-nine years of age, he had never really known the Lord. Prayer was tedious to him. Now prayer was a joy. He learned that he could communicate directly with heaven.

This newly found experience resulted in his decision to read more into the Bible. It was then that he realized his need of starting anew and being baptized.

He decided to set a date and invite all his friends to celebrate his birthday. When the occasion arrived, priest, bishops, and others attended.

Though surprised that the chosen site was a Protestant site, the friends waited anxiously to discover what was going on. The program began with a brief introduction, then after a special musical item, Bishop Fratelli spoke.

He said, “Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. However, I am not celebrating my physical birthday today, but my spiritual rebirth.

I have decided to be baptized.” “You may ask, ‘Why are you being baptized when you have already been baptized?’

I was baptized as a baby. My parents decided that for me. I had no part in the decision. They meant well for they did what they thought was best for me at that time.

However, I have discovered that baptism is a divinely ordained ceremony. It is to be done as a direct result from a personal conversion to Jesus Christ. But in order to be converted, there must be repentance—a sorrow and a turning away from sin of which I had no part when I was sprinkled.

Today, I am being baptized as a testimony of my personal love for Christ—a public confession of my faith in Him as Lord and Savior and a washing of my past sins.