Page 23 - Water of Life Infant Baptism

Conclusion
During the baptism rite, parents and child and those assembled have processed from:
• the entrance of the church,
• to the place where the Word of God is read, • to the baptismal font.
Now they gather near the altar, for it is from here that the newly baptised child will one day be nourished by the Eucharist: the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Here the ceremony concludes with the Lord’s Prayer (‘Our Father’) followed by blessings for the mother, father, and all those gathered.
Blessing is a beautiful and fitting way to conclude the baptism ceremony. In a similar vein we conclude the reflections in this booklet with this prayer:
Loving God,
How blessed we are to welcome this child!
How blessed we are to be ‘familied’ in the love of Jesus Christ!
May we continue to be a blessing to one another, especially for the sake of this little one. Through our love for one another, may this child grow up having Jesus as their guide, and knowing the truth of God’s love enveloping their existence, this day and forever.
We praise you, for you are our God, source of all life and love. Amen.
Spirituality in the home
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
More prayers from our Catholic tradition are found at the back of this booklet.
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