Page 14 - Water of Life Infant Baptism

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Remembering Baptism
Your child’s baptism candle is an important keepsake. As your child grows up, you will be teaching him/ her to pray and preparing for the next sacrament. You can bring out this special candle as part of your prayer time, and share with your child the story of their baptism.
Similarly, your child’s baptism certificate can be part of this storytelling. The certificate is usually presented at the end of
the baptism ceremony. It is an important document. It means that your child’s baptism is formally recorded in the baptism register which is held in the parish where your child is baptised.
As years go by, your child will require the certificate as proof of baptism when preparing to receive further sacraments (Confirmation, Reconciliation, First Communion) as well as the sacrament of marriage or holy orders or another vocational commitment within the Church.
Baptism candle
In every age people have searched for the true path to God. In your parish church stands the Paschal (Easter) candle which symbolises Christ our Light who shows us the way to God.
Your child’s baptism candle is lit from the Pascal candle. It signifies that your child has been enlightened by Christ who is light to the world (John 1:5,9).
As the candle is lit (by a godparent or family member), the celebrant prays:
Receive the light of Christ.
Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of the light. May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in his/her heart. When the Lord comes, may he/she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.
Reflection
As parents, you harbour deep desires that your child will find the right, safe, and true path through life. In the baptism ceremony we pray that Christ will be your child’s guide, lighting the path and showing the way.
Prayer tip: As you prepare for your child’s baptism, light a candle each night (or at the meal table) and pray: “Lord Jesus, light the way for our child.”
Pray that the light of Christ will burn brightly in you and your home, so that your child’s faith and values may be ignited by your example.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light. John 1:5