The Priest claims the child for Christ by signing the child’s forehead and he tells the parents and godparents to do the same. Everyone moves on to celebrate God’s word. A Gospel passage or two are read, usually describing the baptism of Jesus; during which the parents and godparents sit. After a short Sermon in which the priest explains the reading, the prayers of the Faithful or Bidding prayers are recited to help the parents, godparents and the child followed by the Litany of saints, where all those present ask the saints to help the child
The priest now recites the Prayer of exorcism; asking for the child to be rescued from the slavery of sin and pass into the freedom of God. We pray for this child:
Set him free from original sin
Make him a temple in your glory
And send your holy spirit to dwell with him
We ask this through Christ our Lord”
He anoints the child on the breast with oil of Catechumens and everyone proceeds to the Baptismal font. A hymn may be sung before the Priest blesses the water and invokes God over the water at the font. As the child cannot declare faith for he those present renounce sin and profess their faith, and the parents are asked again if it is their will to have the child baptized, after which the actual Baptism takes place.
“I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit”
As the Priest names each member of the Holy Trinity, he pours water over the child’s head. He then anoints the child on the top of the head with Chrism. This is done in silence, after which the child is dressed in a white gown which means being clothed in Christ and sharing the resurrection of Christ
The celebrant now holds the Paschal candle and says: “Receive the light of Christ”
A Parent or Godparent lights the child’s Baptismal candle from the Paschal candle as a sign of sharing the new life with Christ and carries it to the altar for the child after the Prayer over the Ears and Mouth of the Child:
“The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak.
May he soon touch your ears to receive his word,
And your mouth to proclaim his faith,
To the praise and glory of God the Father
The right of baptism ends at the altar. The Priest says:
“ Dearly beloved, this child has been reborn in baptism. He is now called the child of God, for so indeed he is. In confirmation he will receive the fullness of God’s spirit. In Holy Communion he will share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice. Calling God his Father in the midst of the church.”
The Our father is said by all those who are there; the Priest blesses the mother, then the father and finally he finishes by blessing the congregation.
“May God send his peace upon all who are gathered here, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Baptism is a sacrament where new life is celebrated; it is a sign of God’s welcome and the welcome of the Christian community. Baptism is full of important and very significant symbols, words and actions. Christians believe baptism washes away sin, and gives new spiritual birth as a child of God.
To be baptized is to go into the destructive water, which means that we have died to evil and sin and go with Jesus to be anointed with his spirit and share a new life with him and a better life.
The most important symbol in Baptism is water. Water has many meanings.
It is meanly used for cleaning, but it also brings life, and we would not be able to live without it. Water is powerful but as well as life giving, it can be destructive. Floods, torrential rain and tidal waves all represent the destructive force of water.
AO2
The meaning and significance of baptism is that you can receive God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of reconciliation and you can feel better about yourself and perhaps you feel less stressed. By being baptized you can also avail of getting married in the Church and can ask God to become part of the marriage making it more sacred and special. Another example would be receiving the Last right when you are very ill and dying.
The significance of getting baptized is to show that you believe in the lord God and Jesus and you have faith in them and the religion and are telling everyone and showing people because they have been baptized. People like to go one step further and get baptized the way that Jesus did in Marks Gospel. Jesus got baptized according to mark by John the baptize in the river Jordan. John put and held Jesus underneath the river Jordan and say ‘I baptize u in the maws of the father and the son and the holy spirit. Different Christian groups believe in different ways of being baptized like some groups think that you should not get baptized when you are a baby because they don’t know what is going on an and have no choice in the matter so you should get baptized when you are over the age of 12.
AO3
Baptizing babies is pointless.
I agree and don’t. I agree because they have no choice in the matter and it is there parents that make up their mind for them and they don’t know what is going on and don’t understand what is happening and because they are babies they wont know about the teachings of Jesus and the ways of him and God. But on the other hand the parents should have the choice in what region they follow because they have given birth to the child and they want they to follow what the family follow so they all have the same idea has each other and can celebrate the holidays and way with them. But if the family want to be in-depth Christians then they should let they grow up and let them be baptized has an adult like Jesus was. Because he was baptized at a later age.
