Celebrating Baptism Well

The rite for the baptism of infants is to be revised …The roles of parents and godparents, and also their duties, should be brought out more clearly in the rite itself, said Vatican Council II more than six decades ago (SC 67). The resultant 1969 English translation of the Rite of Baptism for Children has enabled us to recover a profound sense of the beauty of baptismal symbols and rituals and to foster full, conscious and active participation in the liturgical celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Brisbane’s sacramental policy, Christian Initiation for Children (2015) sets the scene. In the sacramental preparation for the Baptism of infants, the parish focusses on the gift of God’s grace and the Church’s welcome of the child into life in the Spirit. It responds to the parents’ request for Baptism and offers them support in raising their child within the family of the Church (CIC 10).

In his book Take the Plunge: Living Baptism and Confirmation, former master of the Dominicans, Timothy Radcliffe, explores a life-affirming spirituality based on rediscovering the beauty of baptism. Infant baptism expresses the utter primacy of God’s love. This precedes anything that we do or say … The very existence of a baby is already a gift from God. The parents say ‘Yes’ to this gift by cherishing the baby in the womb and preparing for his or her birth. And they say ‘Yes’ when they bring their child to baptism ( p. 9).

Responding to Inquiries

At a time when Christianity, particularly Catholicism, is facing so many challenges in a secular world, it is a wonderful experience to be contacted by parents who want to pass on their faith by celebrating the baptism of their child.

The most significant people in nourishing a child’s faith are the parents who strive to be Christ-like for their child. Searching for meaning in the experiences of their daily dying and rising, they gift to their children unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness.

Our parish at Caloundra offers a genuine welcome to these young parents, beginning with a positive response to their inquiry. This involves sensitive listening and clear explanations of the steps involved in the journey to baptism. To ensure confidentiality, the parents are invited to meet with a member of the ministry team. They are given the opportunity to ask questions and any issues are explored and discussed. The meeting obtains all the details required for enrolment, preparation and celebration of baptism.

Preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism

Parents are then invited to take part in a preparation evening of prayer, formation and information, led by two sacramental team members. Prior to the arrival of the parents, the church is set up to enrich the explanations and significance of the water, font, cross, scriptures, holy oils, white garment, Easter Candle, lighted candles, vessels and other baptismal symbols.

The evening begins with a greeting and welcome followed by prayer. The question is posed: what does baptism mean to you? Parents are invited to discuss their understanding of Christian baptism with those sitting near them and share any experiences of taking part in baptism celebrations. Those who are comfortable doing so respond to the question with short sentences, phrases and words that have arisen. The responses are varied and interesting. Parents with other children who have already celebrated baptism often lead the discussions.

A sacramental team member provides extra theological and liturgical information as needed. This proposes ideas such as baptism as the foundational sacrament of Christianity; baptism as the first sacrament of initiation which draws us into the life of Christ; baptism as our birth into the Christian family, the Body of Christ; and baptism as the foundation for our ministry and mission.

A simple PowerPoint presentation is used during the evening to introduce the topics: living a sacramental life; what sacraments are; the seven sacraments of faith; the three sacraments of initiation; and the four parts of the Rite of Baptism.

Living a Sacramental Life

Some parents are experiencing a lack of community and a sense of isolation because they have moved far away from their extended families. So we explore with them the importance of living a sacramental life. Theologian Regina Coll suggests that living a sacramental life is the way people live together as members of a community of faith. How we celebrate liturgy and sacraments expresses and deepens our life together. Developing a sacramental vision and a sacramental imagination enables us to see God in both the ordinary and the extraordinary.

As the preparation evening draws to a close, parents are again invited to turn to those seated near them and share their responses to two questions. What name have you given your child, and why? What can you do to help your child’s relationship with Jesus?

Parents briefly share their stories relating to naming their child. Names are very important: no parent has yet said, ‘It was the first thing that came into my head!’ Much thought, time, love and consideration goes into this decision. Parents also have ideas arising from the second question. A leader supplements these if necessary. The evening concludes with prayer.

Each of the occasions in which contact occurs with parents is vital. It is essential that those who represent the parish in the preparation process show in action what their own baptism has made them.

They welcome families unconditionally and engage with them on issues that are real and significant and this means that some of the conversation must be led by the parents themselves on their own terms.

The Church of God Welcomes You With Great Joy

The baptism rite presumes that the people of God, made present by the local community, has an important part to play in the baptism. All are called to offer Christ’s open hospitality and welcome to the young families. There are about a hundred baptisms celebrated in our parish each year, mostly celebrated outside Mass. A small number of them are celebrated during Mass, particularly in our small country communities.

Before the celebration of baptism, families attend Sunday Mass during which there is a rite of reception and a rite of strengthening from the baptism ritual.

After the Collect, the presider invites the baptismal families to come forward and stand facing the assembly. Those who will take part in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word are also invited to come forward and to sit on the floor in a semicircle facing the families.

Parents introduce their child by name and ask God’s Church for baptism. The presider and parents trace a cross on the child’s forehead. Following this, the older children from the semicircle are also invited to trace a cross on the forehead of one of the children to be baptised. After the praying of strengthening, the presider anoints each child with the oil of catechumens. The assembly offers its support for the families by acclamation, the families return to their seats, and the children leave in procession for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word.

We hope that this part of the baptism will make connections for the family, older children and the assembly as a whole. We cannot predict how these connections may occur. Once, parents presented their five children to the parish for baptism. The older siblings were lively to say the least and loved the extra space that the sanctuary provided. The baptism was to take place the next day. Early next morning before the celebration, the parents took them for a good long walk. On the way, the family was stopped several times by parishioners who asked if they were the ones having their children baptised, and wished them well. Mum and Dad were thrilled to be able to tell of the support they received. Interestingly, during the actual baptism celebration, the children were little angels…

According to the Rite

Baptism is a liturgical celebration incorporating rich symbols and rituals. The four parts of the Rite of Baptism for Children are:

1. Reception of the Children
2. Celebration of God’s Word
3. Celebration of the Sacrament
4. Conclusion of the Rite
   

We prepare a leaflet of the selected baptismal responses and prayers. As people arrive for a celebration of baptism in our parish, they are handed this leaflet to help them to full, conscious and active participation.

Gathering to Celebrate

Over the years, hundreds of families have moved from interstate or overseas to live on the Sunshine Coast and in the communities of Caloundra parish in particular. Many of the young families have a Fly-In- Fly-Out father who works in Northern Queensland or Western Australian mines. For these parents in particular, a baptismal celebration is a wonderful occasion for relatives and friends to come together in faith.

There is always a tangible spirit of excitement, anticipation and expectation as people gather around the child, the parents and godparents for a celebration of baptism. Warm smiles and hugs intermingled with ripples of joyous greetings and laughter are reminiscent of a happy family reunion, which indeed this graced time is.

As outlined in the rite, the presider greets and welcomes everyone at the entrance of the church. Faith is a gift of God, which God invites us to accept; it is both lived and learnt. The reception of the children (which is repeated now in the presence of godparents, family members and friends) is held under the portico directly outside the doors of the church. The parents make a promise to do all that they can to make faith a lived reality in their home.

Then the people process into the church. Everyone takes part in the celebration of the word of God. From the ambo, a godparent reads a passage from the New Testament and another godparent or relative leads the responsorial psalm. The presider proclaims the Gospel and gives a short homily. A godparent or relative reads the petitions of the prayer of the faithful.

After the Litany of the Saints, the presider invites the parents, with the children and godparents, to gather around the font for the blessing and invocation of God over the baptismal water and the renewal of baptismal promises.

I Baptise You in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

The three-fold immersion or copious pouring of the blessed water with the invocation of the blessed Trinity is the highpoint of the celebration of baptism. Perhaps an acclamation can be sung after each baptism or another form of affirmation and joy may be used.

The explanatory rites that follow are the Anointing with Chrism, Clothing with White Garment, the gift of a Lighted Candle and Prayer over the Ears and Mouth (Ephphetha). Ritual actions and symbols used for the baptism celebration need to be strong. The words, As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King … are proclaimed clearly and the presider anoints the child on the crown of the head with sufficient chrism so that the beautiful aroma of balsam permeates the area around the font. The flame of the large Easter Candle is easily seen by all present and the child’s baptismal candle seen to be lit directly from it. The words, Receive the light of Christ are clearly heard by all.

You Have Put on Christ, in Him You Have Been Baptised. Alleluia, Alleluia.

After these rites, the presider, parents and the child process with the godparents to the altar. The rite suggests singing this processional song. At the altar, people pray the Lord’s Prayer and receive the final blessing.

Timothy Radcliffe noted in the introduction to 'Take the Plunge, Baptism is the great mystery of our faith' … It begins with us being named and claimed for Christ. This is the unconditional love which calls us into being but as the baptism proceeds, we discover that this love is demanding and transforming.

The families are invited to participate in the baptism of their child, to prepare and celebrate prayerfully, joyfully and actively. And they themselves are encouraged in the Christian life.

This article was originally published in Liturgy News ​Vol 48(4) December 2018. Reprinted with permission.