[The women of the pagan Roman Empire know this: Christian baptism transforms hellacious vessels of evil matter into joyful, wonderful, innocent babies.]

[In Augustine’s time, mothers know this.

They also know that their babies could die long before they were old enough to acquire secret knowledge.

Baptism is like a ticket out of a Manichaean trap. Mothers want their children baptized in order to redeem the baby’s spiritual spark within its material evil.

Plus, they wanted it done without delay.]