Lesson 9
More on the Sacrament of Baptism (Part I)
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The Ritual for Baptism provides for the baptism of one person or multiple persons. The most ordinary form of Baptism is for a newborn baby. Normally, a newborn baby is brought to the Parish Church for baptism within a month of their birth, since the Church asks for newborns to be baptized “within the first weeks of birth.” (Can. 867) So that’s a month. If the Church wanted you to wait longer, it would have stated, “within the first months of birth.” Why the rush? Because Baptism is necessary for salvation. Normally, newborns are baptized on a Sunday.
And it’s pretty easy to plan ahead. Usually, parents have eight to nine months of notice that a baby is on the way.
When the Parents and Godparents arrive to the Church, the Pastor – wearing surplice and stole, and sometimes a cope – which is a fancy word for cape – greets them warmly, welcomes them and asks them, “What name do you give your child?” “Joseph.” And then, “What do you ask of God’s Church for Joseph”? And they respond, “Baptism.” Parents are encouraged to give their child a Christian name, who will be their patron saint, but any name will do unless it offends Christian sensibility. I have never known a child to be named Judas or Satan, but Joseph and Mary are certainly fine names.
Then the priest addresses the Parents and Godparents with some very direct words and questions:
“You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the
responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?
PARENTS: We do.
Then the celebrant turns to the godparents and addresses them in these or similar words:
Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?
GODPARENTS: We are.
Next, the Pastor traces the sign of the cross on the forehead of the baby and invites the Parents and Godparents to do the same.
And that’s it for today. Tomorrow, the rest of the ceremony.
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