BAPTISM
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What is Baptism?BAPTISM is a Sacrament. It is symbolic word and gesture through which
Christ makes the child a sharer in the very mystery by which he gave new life to the world, the mystery of his death and resurrection. We know that Christ is present baptising the child into his mystery, because he is present in the Church, which celebrates baptism. It is through the Church that Christ manifests his presence in baptism, giving his love and his life to the child who is washed with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. THE CHRISTIAN PARENTS are members of the people of God and they represent the Church in a special way. They are the domestic Church, the family Church of mother and father. Through the sacrament of marriage they have become the living sign of the Church’s union with Christ in everlasting love and faithfulness. IT IS THE CHRISTIAN PARENTS who make a home in which Christ is present and in which their child will come to know and love Jesus as a brother. And so the parents and their child form the centre of the Christian community, which celebrates baptism. The congregation builds up around them and widens out from them. THE GODPARENTS have a special function to perform in the liturgy of baptism because they are closely connected with the child’s family, and because they represent the Church, which loves, helps, and cares for the baptised child as the child of God. The parents invite the Godparents to accept the responsibility of their child’s faith development, especially if something should happen to them or if they neglect their responsibility. This is why the Church insists that the Godparent(s) be Catholic. THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM normally takes place within the parish church. This is the centre where the parish community comes together as a priestly people to profess its faith and to worship through Christ. The setting of baptism within the parish church, and the presence of members of the parish community, brings out an important feature of baptism. Each child is baptised in the faith of the Church and becomes a member of the priestly people of God. BY BAPTISM each child is united with Christ in the saving mystery of his death and resurrection. And so baptism is normally celebrated on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the day when the entire Church celebrates the joyful mystery of Christ’s resurrection. RECEPTION OF THE CHILD Greeting Conversation with Parents The Parents accept their Mission Conversation with Godparents Signing with the Cross CELEBRATION OF GOD’S WORD Scripture Readings Homily Prayer of the Faithful (Intercessions) Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT Blessing and Invocation of God over Baptismal Water Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith Baptism Anointing with Chrism Clothing with White Garment Lighted Candle Ephphetha or Prayer over Ears and Mouth CONCLUSION OF THE RITE |