“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Pope Francis on Baptism:
Baptism is the Sacrament on which our very faith is founded and which grafts us as a living member onto Christ and his Church. Together with the Eucharist and Confirmation it forms what is known as “Christian initiation”, like one great sacramental event that configures us to the Lord and turns us into a living sign of his presence and of his love.
Yet a question may stir within us: is Baptism really necessary to live as Christians and follow Jesus? After all, isn’t it merely a ritual, a formal act of the Church in order to give a name to the little boy or girl? This question can arise. And on this point what the Apostle Paul writes is illuminating: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4). Therefore, it is not a formality! It is an act that touches the depths of our existence. A baptized child and an unbaptized child are not the same. A person who is baptized and a person who is not baptized are not the same. We, by Baptism, are immersed in that inexhaustible source of life which is the death of Jesus, the greatest act of love in all of history; and thanks to this love we can live a new life, no longer at the mercy of evil, of sin and of death, but in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters.
Many of us have no memory of the celebration of this Sacrament, and it is obvious why, if we were baptized soon after birth. I have asked this question two or three times already, here, in this square: who among you knows the date of your Baptism, raise your hands. It is important to know the day on which I was immersed in that current of Jesus' salvation. And I will allow myself to give you some advice... but, more than advice, a task for today. Today, at home, go look, ask about the date of your Baptism and that way you will keep in mind that most beautiful day of Baptism. To know the date of our Baptism is to know a blessed day. The danger of not knowing is that we can lose awareness of what the Lord has done in us, the memory of the gift we have received. Thus, we end up considering it only as an event that took place in the past – and not by our own will but by that of our parents – and that it has no impact on the present. We must reawaken the memory of our Baptism. We are called to live out our Baptism every day as the present reality of our lives. If we manage to follow Jesus and to remain in the Church, despite our limitations and with our weaknesses and our sins, it is precisely in the Sacrament whereby we have become new creatures and have been clothed in Christ. It is by the power of Baptism, in fact, that, freed of original sin, we are inserted into Jesus' relation to God the Father; that we are bearers of a new hope, for Baptism gives us this new hope: the hope of going on the path of salvation our whole life long. And this hope nothing and no one can extinguish, for it is a hope that does not disappoint. Remember, hope in the Lord never disappoints. Thanks to Baptism, we are capable of forgiving and of loving even those who offend us and do evil to us. By our Baptism, we recognize in the least and in the poor the face of the Lord who visits us and makes himself close. Baptism helps us to recognize in the face of the needy, the suffering, and also of our neighbour, the face of Jesus. All this is possible thanks to the power of Baptism.
The Catechism on Baptism:
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua) , 4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
This sacrament is called Baptism , after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."
Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.
The Rite of Baptism:
In the Rite of Baptism for Children, the Priest or Deacon addresses parents in the following words: “You have asked to have your children baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”
With these words, the Church entrusts parents with the responsibility of raising their children in the Catholic faith. Parents engaged in adult formation and active in the life and mission of their parish provide a compelling witness to their children. Family participation in the Sunday Mass and commitment to service within and beyond the parish community demonstrates enthusiasm for the Catholic faith. Parents are called to be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith by introducing them into the Christian life style of prayer and worship, belief and service. Beginning in the home, fathers and mothers, and extended family members teach their children through example the life of sharing, welcoming, respect, and forgiveness. This is the most effective way of forming a person into a follower of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the full sacramental life of the Church. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ entering into the life of the Church and made sharers in her mission.
The Symbols of Baptism:
The symbols used in the Baptismal rite - water, anointing with oil, the white garment and the Paschal candle - speak to us deeply of our Christian calling and commitment. Water, necessary for life and growth and a memorial to Jesus' own Baptism; the anointing, indicating that someone is special as well as a sign of strengthening; the white garment is a symbol of Christ’s victory over death and His glorious resurrection and represents our being clothed in Christ; and the candle lit from the Easter candle, pointing to the light of faith in Christ's promise of new life which is passed on to the newly baptized. These are symbols which come from our human experience and enhance the Baptismal celebration. But most especially, they are signs which work together in celebration and point beyond our mere human action.
Godparents:
The Church requires the following for those who are chosen for Godparents:
Registered parishioners:
Parents requesting Baptism for their children should be registered parishioners of Saint Patrick Basilica or obtain a letter of permission from their pastor.
For more information on Baptism celebrated at Saint Patrick Basilica, email: [email protected]
If you are an adult and are enquiring about Baptism, please email us at [email protected]