Part 3 - The meaning of the prayers and symbolic actions of
the Service
Being a parent brings out the very best that is in us. We would willingly lay
down our lives for our children and probably spend far too much time worrying
about their future! As parents, you really want the very best in life for your
child; that is why you are asking for your child to receive the Sacrament of
Baptism.
In this section we will go through the service of Baptism and help you to grow
in your understanding of the words and symbolic actions that form the parts of
the service.
The Rite of Baptism for children
1. The reception of the child.
The service opens with the words “Welcome”. The celebrant
welcomes everyone who has come to participate in this very special celebration.
The Celebrant will then ask you a number of questions
Celebrant: What name do you give your child?
Parents: We have chosen ............. as the name of our child
We are all wonderfully made by God and He has called each of us by name. Our
names are very important to us. They are a symbol of who we are. This simple
word becomes a part of our whole identity, an answer to the question “Who are
we?”
At Baptism your child’s name is given a special meaning by God. Some parents
choose names that are a reminder of someone we love or respect. Sometimes we
choose the name of a Patron Saint who can act as a role model, showing our
children how to walk with the dignity and strength of Christ in the world.
Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s Church?
Parents: We want our child to be a member of God’s Family
Baptism is called the gateway to life with God. Jesus came to give us life to
the full, a real life full of joy, peace and hope! So by taking your child
through “the door” of Baptism you will give your child the potential for the
very best life imaginable. As a member of God’s family your child will come to
learn about God’s unconditional love and begin to know that he gazes upon each
one of us with love. Your child will join the family of the Church, a community
of friendship ready and willing to support and encourage its members. Your child
will be able to experience God’s healing and forgiveness for the mistakes we
make in life.
Through Baptism your child will be open to God’s Grace, experiencing His help
and His presence throughout the many challenges that your child will meet in
life. His Holy Spirit will give your child a sense of purpose and the courage to
live according to God’s law of love. Your active participation in the life and
worship of your local church will help you to bring up your child in the
Christian faith. How can we possibly not want all this for our children?
The Godparents of the child are then asked:
Celebrant: Are you ready to help the parents of this child in
their ministry of nurturing the seed of faith that God is giving to this child
today.
Godparents: We are ready and willing, with the grace of God and the help of the
Church
Next the celebrant claims the child for Christ and welcomes the child in the
name of the community of the Catholic Church. He traces the cross on the child’s
forehead and invites the parents and godparents to do the same.
Celebrant: The Christians community welcomes you which great joy.
In its name I claim you for Christ our Saviour by the sign of the cross. I now
trace the cross on your forehead and invite your parents and Godparents to do
the same.
The signing of the cross is a reminder of what Jesus has won for us all:
salvation, freedom and real community. Originally slaves were marked with a sign
of ownership, the early Christian community took this symbol and made it their
own. By being signed with the cross we show that your child now belongs to
Christ. Everyone wants to belong to something; we follow a football team, join a
club or form a circle of close friends. Through Baptism we belong to Christ’s
body on earth, the Church, God’s family.
We now listen as God’s family to the teaching he has given us, the teaching
that is his personal word to us on this very special day.
Celebration of God’s Word
One or more scripture readings may be used. The celebrant will
discuss this with you when you meet with him. The stories remind us of the true
meaning of Baptism and of our life as Christians. God’s word has the power to
touch each of us individually. Through it we can be strengthened, encouraged,
challenged and instructed. The key is to listen to what God may be saying to
your child and also to you through the readings.
The readings are followed by a homily given by the celebrant.
Then follows the intercessions.
Intercessions
During the Baptism ceremony you will have the opportunity to ask
God to bless your child, your family and yourselves.
There are so many things to pray for. The good news is that we are not alone in
our prayer. As Christians we are part of the Church, not only here on earth but
also in Heaven. We have the Saints who can pray for us and with us for our many
needs.
The celebrant then anoints the child with oil. A prayer for the strengthening
of the child is said. The anointing with the sign of the cross with oil on the
breast of the child highlights the transformation of the child freed from
original sin to a new life in and with Christ.
Anointing Before Baptism
Your child’s soul, like all of our souls needs to be restored to
its original beauty, which was disfigured by man’s sin. The Holy Spirit of God
will make his home in your child and promises never to leave.
Before battle soldiers used to anoint themselves with oil to strengthen their
bodies before the fight. This sign of the cross signifies protection for our
child like a shield over the heart.
Life can be hard for us all. Through Baptism your child will become open to the
power of God that will bring the strength that your child will need. Without
God’s strength, life can be a tremendous burden, but with God’s help we can do
what otherwise would be impossible, day after day.
2. Celebration of the Sacrament.
The celebration now moves to the Baptismal font. The celebrant
briefly reminds the congregation of the meaning of the rite.
Blessing and invocation over the water.
The celebrant blesses the water with a prayer of thanksgiving,
reminding those present of the saving history that water carries.
Profession of Faith
The adults in the gathering are then called upon to renew their own Baptism.
It is at this point in the ceremony that the focus is upon the parents and the
godparents. It is here that you will profess the faith that you want your child
to grow in, you profess it on their behalf. You will say ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ,
Son of God, the Saviour and giver of all life. You will reject sin and willingly
accept God’s invitation to you to bring up your child to know and serve our
loving God. At the end of this section the priest says: ‘This is our faith. We
are proud to profess it.’
Now is a good time to stop and renew your own belief in God.
The celebrant will them baptise the child by pouring water over the head of
the child, while saying, “(........... I baptise you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
The Baptism
The baptismal water is holy water as it is infused with the Holy
Spirit. The word ‘baptism’ means to be totally immersed, not just in water but
into Jesus’ death. When Jesus died for mankind on the cross it was not a
failure, it was God’s rescue plan. He died to save us from evil, to forgive our
sins and to heal our wounded hearts. Through baptism we are immersed into the
very death of Jesus leaving our old life behind.
Jesus restores us to a loving relationship with our Father in Heaven. This
amazing event is at the heart of human history and we can experience the power
of it in our lives as we share His resurrection from the dead.
Like a baby being born from the water in the womb, through baptism we are born
again to a new life with God.
We can now share his life together as members of the family of the Church. We
come to share in a life of joy, peace and hope that will last for eternity.
Anointing With Chrism
The child’s head is anointed with Chrism, the same oil used in
the sacrament of Confirmation. This anointing is a sign that your child is
chosen by God. Through baptism your child will receive the power to make a real
difference and will take on the mission of Jesus to be Priest, Prophet and King.
That means to bring God to a needy world, to boldly speak the truth of God’s
love and to serve the poor and afflicted with compassion and mercy. We all seek
this kind of meaning and purpose in our lives. This oil signifies how special
your child has become. Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation. In
Confirmation when your child reaches the age at which s/he can understand the
promises you have made for your child today, the initiation begun today will be
completed.
The celebrant then clothes the child with a white garment as a sign of
becoming a new creation and being clothed with Christ.
Clothing With The White Garment
Your child will be clothed with Christ. That’s why we have the
white garment. It symbolises the dignity that faith in Christ brings. It is
because of this that your child will be able to walk, as St. Paul says, with
head held high whatever happens, knowing that they are special and loved by God.
What a difference this can make throughout a child’s entire life.
The Lighted Candle
As the parents are handed candles lit from the Easter candle
they are asked to keep the flame of faith alive in their hearts and to help
their child develop a strong and active faith within the church.
As parents, godparents, family and friends we accept the responsibility to keep
this flame of faith alight.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our children can now call God, father. They receive the gift of
prayer. As they grow up they will be able to develop an intimate, loving
relationship with God. Prayer is an amazing gift. It means they will never have
to be lonely on the inside because they will be able to speak to God as a friend
throughout life.
The Blessing
The celebrant first blesses the parents and godparents of the
child and lastly the whole gathering. What an amazing privilege we have to bring
up our children. But we can not do it alone. God wants to be very involved in
our parenting. Being a parent often stretches us more than anything else in
life. We need his help.
The blessing that you will receive at the end of the ceremony will give you the
grace and help that you need in the midst of the many challenges of parenting.
After The Baptism
Baptism is not a one-off event; we have to experience it
everyday. Maybe the busyness of life has taken over your life. This is a good
time to think about your priorities and to experience more of God’s love in your
own life, more of his strength, healing power and joy.
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During the preparation for the baptism of your child make a note
of any points you would like explained further and you will have the opportunity
to put these to the priest.
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