And their voices were soft, for it was the season of their loves.
The holy man, persuaded that they belonged to some idolatrous people and that in their own language they gave adherence to the Christian faith, invited them to receive baptism.
"I think," said he to them, "that you bathe often, for all the hollows of the rocks are full of pure water, and as I came to your assembly I saw several of you plunging into these natural baths.

Now purity of body is the image of spiritual purity." And he taught them the origin, the nature, and the effects of baptism.
"Baptism," said he to them, "is Adoption, New Birth, Regeneration, Illumination." And he explained each of these points to them in succession.
Then, having previously blessed the water that fell from the cascades and recited the exorcisms, he baptized those whom he had just taught, pouring on each of their heads a drop of pure water and pronouncing the sacred words.
And thus for three days and three nights he baptized the birds.
VI.

AN ASSEMBLY IN PARADISE When the baptism of the penguins was known in Paradise, it caused neither joy nor sorrow, but an extreme surprise.

The Lord himself was embarrassed.

He gathered an assembly of clerics and doctors, and asked them whether they regarded the baptism as valid.
"It is void," said St.Patrick.
"Why is it void ?" asked St.Gal, who had evangelized the people of Cornwall and had trained the holy Mael for his apostolical labours.
"The sacrament of baptism," answered St.Patrick, "is void when it is given to birds, just as the sacrament of marriage is void when it is given to a eunuch." But St.Gal replied: "What relation do you claim to establish between the baptism of a bird and the marriage of a eunuch?
There is none at all.