A BRIGHTLY BURNING LIGHT

Thoughts about Birth and Baptism

The baptism of an infant may not stimulate quite so intense thoughts or emotions, but in fact the miracle of new life brought about by this sacrament is equally awesome.

With that ritual, God, through the Church bestows a precious gift upon the infant, a sharing in the divine life of the Risen Christ. The sacrament thus cleanses the baptized from sin, ushers them into the kingdom of God, incorporates them into the Church and opens for them the door to heaven and to everlasting life.

However, such a wonderful birth in the Spirit, equal to the marvelous birth in the flesh which precedes it, is only the beginning of a process, the sowing of a seed. The life of Jesus within the child must grow gradually and be nurtured carefully until at an older, mature age, the now young adult can say, "Yes, I do believe."

The task of caring for that planted seed and helping it develop properly rests primarily upon the parents. You promised to do so at the start of the baptism celebration, agreeing to train the child in "the practice of the faith" and to bring the infant up "to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us by loving God and our neighbor," At that moment also, those you selected as godparents agreed to help with this responsibility.

At the conclusion of the baptism, the Church prayed that you might carry these duties out properly and blessed you. It reminded all the parents that they will be their children's first teachers in the ways of faith and asked God to help them be "the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do."

This means in practice that whenever as parents you believe, pray, love, correct, forgive, go to church, help neighbors or in any way live as faithful Christians you will be nurturing the seed of Jesus' life within your child's heart.

One simple, practical and easy-to-implement procedure to help in this formation process is to renew annually the baptismal promises. By lighting the baptismal candle each year on the anniversary and following the brief ceremony, you will inscribe forever in your child's heart and memory the actual date of the baptism and perhaps insure that your child will live out the promises which you initially made at the baptismal font.

You must speak the words during the earliest years. Even then the child will consciously or unconsciously sense something special about the day and the ceremony. Gradually, you would lead your youngster to respond, "I do" to the questions posed.

Any time is a good time (or: Any time is suitable) to have this annual renewal, but the main meal may be the most opportune. The presence of the godparents, when feasible, would both stress the importance of their role and link them more closely to their godchild. The candle could be lighted only for the actual ceremony or during the entire meal.

A Renewal Celebration

Prior to the actual renewal of baptismal vows, parents or godparents might read one or two biblical passages to remind the participants of the meaning of baptism and of God's presence through these inspired words.

Here are two excerpts which are commonly used at baptism:

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans:
Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If we have been united with him through a like resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5)

A reading from the gospel according to Mark:
One of the scribes came up, and when he heard them arguing he realized how skillfully Jesus answered them. He decided to ask him, "Which is first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied: "This is the first:"
'Hear, O Israel! The Lord Our God is Lord alone!
Therefore you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.'

This is the second,

'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

There is no other commandment greater than these. The scribe said to him: "Excellent, Teacher! You are right in saying, 'He is the One, there is no other than he.' Yes, 'to love our neighbor as ourselves' is worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice." Jesus approved the insight of this answer and told him, "You are not far from the reign of God." And no one had the courage to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34)

The following other passages from the bible which the Church uses in its baptismal rite could likewise be read to provide variety and depth:

Exodus 17:3-7	1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10	John 4:5-14
Ezekiel 36:24-28	Matthew 22:35-40	John 6:44-47
Ezekiel 47:1-9,12	Matthew 28:18-20	John 7:37b-39a
Romans 8:28-32	Mark 1:9-11	John 9:1-7
1 Corinthians 12:12-13	Mark 10:13-16	John 15:1-11
Galatians 3:26-28	John 3:1-6	John 19:31-35
Ephesians 4:1-6

After a period of silent reflection or group discussion on the readings, a parent or someone from the family next could explain the meaning of baptism for this child in these or similar words, and lead all present in the renewal rite which follows:

Leader: Some time ago we presented N.... for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he (she) received the gift of new life from God, who is love. On our part we have made it our constant care to bring N.... up in the practice of faith. We have tried to see that the divine life which God gave be kept from the poison of sin and might grow always stronger in N....'s heart. We share a common faith, the faith of the Church, and it was in this faith N.... was baptized. At the time we rejected sin and professed our faith in Christ Jesus. Now that you, N.... are older and your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, we ask you to renew the vows of your own baptism. (or: Until N.... is older and able to accept this responsibility , we now in N...'s name renew the vows of baptism.)

Leader: Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God's Children?

Child: I do. (If the baptized child is too young for a response, all present instead would say "We do," to this and the following questions.)

Leader: Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to me mastered by sin?

Child: I do.

Leader: Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?

Child: I do.

Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Child: I do.

Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Child: I do.

Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Child: I do.

Leader: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: N....you have renewed the vows of your baptism. You are called a child of God, for so you are. In confirmation you will receive the fullness of God's spirit. In holy communion you will share the banquet of Christ's sacrifice calling God your Father in the midst of the Church. In your name, all of us, sharing a common sonship, now pray together in the words our Lord gave us. (If a child is very young, the leader would change the words accordingly in this fashion): We have renewed N....'s vows first made at baptism. He (she) is called a child of God, for so he (she) is. In confirmation N....will receive the fullness of God's Spirit. In holy communion, N....will participate in the banquet of Christ's sacrifice, calling God our Father in the midst of the Church. All of us, like N...., sister or brothers in Christ, now pray together in the words our Lord gave us. (Likewise a change should be made if confirmation or holy communion has already been received.)

All: Our Father....

Leader: May God the almighty Father, who filled the world with joy by giving us the only Son, bless N....May he (she) grow to be more fully like Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: May almighty God, who gives life on earth and in heaven, bless the parents of N....May they always show their gratitude for the gift of life and grace in N.... by loving and caring for this child.

All: Amen.

Leader: May almighty God, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, generously bless all of us who are his faithful children. May we always live as God's people, and may the Lord bless all here present with his peace.

All: Amen.

Leader: May almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless us.

All: Amen.

Rev. Joseph M. Champlin
Vicar for Parish Life and Worship.

Romans 6:3-5 and Mark 12:28-34 are taken from the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE, copyright 1970, by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Rite of Baptism for Children 1969, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.