Andre F. Lijoi
St. Catherine of Bologna Writing Group
A bright white orb
heralded a new day and
reflected blue-silver, blinding light,
like a knight’s flashing saber,
lighting a baptistry
on the banks of the Zygatis
tree lined, an oasis of green
at Philippi where Paul
ushered Christianity west
baptizing a certain Gentile woman
a dealer in deep purple cloth
and red dyes.
Widowed in life you traded the regal
color of your cloth for the white veil of
a bride of Christ.
Faith, light, awe, love flowed west.
Not yet Christian your fervor for Jesus
delivered your entire house
to be baptized with you
an evangelist before your time.
What inspired your rush to believe?
Plunged into water
forever transformed by Jesus
you received an indelible mark
rendering you a child of God
for eternity bringing Light.