The Power of Baptism

By Fr. Uriel Santos

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I want to share a testimony that has deeply marked my priestly life, a testimony that began in 2021, when I was a transitional deacon.

At the end of a Mass, a young couple approached me. Their faces reflected anguish, exhaustion, and sadness…but also hope. They were the parents of a little boy named Mateo Carruyo. They told me that Mateo had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. His condition was very critical.

They had migrated from Venezuela to Peru, then from Peru to the United States, searching for medical help, searching for a chance at life for their son.

Imagine that journey. Leaving their homeland, starting over, carrying not only luggage, but the weight of fear and uncertainty over a child’s health.

At the end of the Mass, they asked me something simple, yet full of faith:

“Could you bless our son?”

"Why do you want the blessing?" I asked.

"Mateo is very sick," they replied.

"Has Mateo been baptized?" I asked. They answered no.

Seeing how serious his condition was, I felt something very strong in my heart. He needed to be baptized as soon as possible. I encouraged them to do it soon, but a difficulty arose. They had only been in the country for a few days. They didn’t know anyone. They had no godparents.

And in that moment, with a deep inner certainty, I said, “I will be his godfather. I will baptize him. And Mateo will be a testimony of the power of Baptism…because he is going to be healed.”

It was not a casual statement. It was a deep conviction, not based on me, but on the grace of God. We baptized Mateo. It was a simple moment but filled with God’s presence. The water was poured over his head, and with it, new life in Christ.

Time passed. And against all medical expectations, Mateo was freed from hydrocephalus. Yes, free.

But as a consequence of the illness, some effects remained: difficulties with speech and learning. The healing was real, but the journey was not over. And neither was faith.

Five years passed. And on February 20, 2026, before Mass began, we met again. Mateo was no longer that fragile little child. He is now a bigger, smiling boy.

My comadre, with tears in her eyes, said to me,“Father, today they told us that Mateo has no more aftereffects. He is a completely normal child.”

Imagine my joy. In that moment, I understood something very profound: God does not act only in a single moment. God acts over time. Baptism is not just a ritual. It is not just a tradition. It is a sacrament that grafts us into divine life. It is the gateway to grace. It is the beginning of a new story.

Mateo is a testimony that God continues to work. Sometimes immediately. Sometimes step by step. But always faithfully.

Today I invite you to reflect on the following: How much do we value Baptism?

Are we aware of the grace we received that day? Do we trust that God can make all things new?

Mateo did not only receive water on his head. He received the identity of a child of God. He received hope. He received a promise. And today, that promise is confirmed. My godson Mateo is a living testimony. A reminder that faith does not disappoint. That grace is at work. That God writes straight even with crooked lines.

Today, I publicly give thanks for Mateo’s life, and I ask the Lord to continue to bless him, guide him, and may his story continue to be a light for many. If you are reading this and going through a difficult time, if illness, uncertainty, or fear are knocking at your door, do not lose faith. Trust in grace. Draw near to the sacraments.

Because God is still working miracles. Mateo is a testimony. And may his life continue to proclaim the greatness of God. May the Lord bless you, and may we never forget that we are beloved children, marked forever by the grace of Baptism.