The priest then signs the child with the cross claiming the Childs dedication to Christ. The parents and Godparents also do the same.
The service moves to the Lectern, where a reading is presented on a topic relating to baptism, followed by a short sermon explaining baptism. Prayers of faithful followed by the Litany where the saints are asked to pray for the child. Catechumen is anointed on the forehead of the baby. This signifies that they will be open to sin and temptation throughout their lives and this is to give them strength to resist temptation. A prayer of exorcism is also said at this point however this does not mean that they are possessed by evil but simply by being born they are surrounded by evil, sin and temptation.
It is at the font where, the water for baptism is blessed. As the child is too young to renounce sin and proclaim faith, the parents and godparents do this on the Childs behalf. The actual sacrament takes place when the child has water poured over its head 3 times with the words “ I baptism you in the name of the Father, Son, Holy spirit, Amen.”
Water in everyday life can be both life giving and also destructive e.g. it provides fluid to hydrate a person body. It can be destructive in the form of floods etc.
In the Old Testament it was also life giving when the Red Sea opened to let the Israelites go free but destructive when it is closed killing the Egyptians. The same idea of life giving and destruction can be applied in baptismal water today. It can be fully seen by full immersion through pouring on has the same meaning. To go fully under water means to die to sin and come up out of it means to share a new life with the Lord Jesus Christ, following his example.
The child is wrapped in a white garment which symbolises purity and that the child has been clothed in Christ. The baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal candle. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, he will have the light of life.”
The child is asked to follow the example of Jesus and to be an example to others. The parents must lead by example, so that they will follow the correct path in life.
Before leaving the font, the Childs ears and mouth are blessed praying that it will hear the word of the Lord and speak it. At the altar the “Our Father” is said, followed by a blessing for the mother father and the congregation.