Walking the Baby and the Diddly Music
  • DrJS
    Posts: 12
    Hi all,
    At my parish, following baptisms for infants and young children, our priest takes the child in his arms (or holds the young child by the hand), and walks him or her around the church. While he does so, he commands me to plays what he calls “diddly music.” One time he actually said in front of the whole church at this point, “[my name] will now play some diddly music.”
    This past weekend, he even had specific requests for the diddly music. There were two children baptized: the first was walked around the room to “Away in a Manger” and the second to “O Come, Little Children.”
    This is for baptisms that take place during Mass, after the homily and before the offering.
    I think this is treacle, but this is my first job in a Catholic parish. I would like to know whether this custom is:
    A) Perfectly normal for Catholics (if so, shame on all y’all)
    B) Licit (albeit tacky) but unique to this priest
    C) Illicit
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,410
    This particular situation seems like it's tacky. Once the baptism is completed, there is no call for the priest to "parade" the child around the church so everyone can see them. For more legitimate processions, I would ordinarily provide some "walking music" or "processional music"
    Thanked by 4DrJS MatthewRoth Abbysmum LauraKaz
  • TCJ
    Posts: 1,037
    I would be looking for a new job because that is an indicator of more crazy things to come.
    Thanked by 3MatthewRoth LauraKaz davido
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,485
    I think it's B but priests commanding control of children like that...is a decidedly creepy look for other reasons.
    Thanked by 5MatthewRoth Abbysmum LauraKaz PaxMelodious CHGiffen
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,269
    the priest needs to be told that the name is inappropriate and that he needs to stop walking the kid around like this.
  • tandrews
    Posts: 211
    Sorry, in the wake of abuse scandals and celebrity trials, the priest has to find a better descriptor to use than "diddly" music when walking around church with a kid.
    Thanked by 3canadash LauraKaz CHGiffen
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,546
    Seriously. This is absolutely ridiculous. Our organist would just stare (not reply) at the priest and not do it. Though, I'm pretty sure it falls under the B category. I'm so sorry.
  • TCJ
    Posts: 1,037
    Our organist would just stare (not reply) at the priest and not do it.


    I wouldn't do it either. Make the priest look awkward and maybe he'll stop.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,236
    C. If liceity is really a thing in the Novus rite, then adding a solo procession of the newly baptised is illicit, IGMR 34.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 619
    It’s illicit and serious weirdness factor. I have never seen this done before, and I’ve attended baptisms in some pretty weird and out there parishes.

    If you must play something, you could passive aggressively improvise on the Jeopardy Theme. I once heard of an organist who drowned out the bishop of his or her diocese at a confirmation mass when the bishop started singing and playing This Little Light of Mine on his ukulele.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 12,045
    That's the silliest thing I have heard yet. You could play "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," a genuine show stopper.
  • tandrews
    Posts: 211
    If you absolutely must do this for your job, Baptized in Water (Bunessan) is probably right up his alley. Treat it like a sprinkling rite I guess.
    Thanked by 1DrJS
  • DrJS
    Posts: 12
    I am relieved that this is not a standard part of Catholic culture, and that your reactions match mine. Our electric organ has a theatre organ suite that seems appropriate to this sort of moment...
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,485
    Toccata in d would be ... diddly.

    Or an organ transcription of Night on Bald Mountain:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFE3AejoHmc

    Or from the final movement of Symphonie fantastique:

    https://youtu.be/UGQBdiuFy_0?t=184

    . . . all of these choices would energize the moment with . . . vim and vigor.

    (Channeling a "Are you HIGH, Clairee?!" energy from Steel Magnolias...)

    * * *

    For a different flavor of diddly, though of course on piano ... Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1.


    #BeCarefulWhatYouAsk4
    Thanked by 2CharlesW DrJS
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,103
    "Baby Elephant Walk" would be very diddly:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1z4JfxFb6c
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen davido
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