Baptism Guide

A Guide to

Baptism

at St. Benedict Parish

Dear Parents, Congratulations! We join with you in thanking God for the gift of your child. This is indeed a busy and wonderful time in the life of your family.

We, the Parish Community of St. Benedict, look forward to joining you on this journey of preparation. Preparing for the celebration of a sacrament is a time of joy and anticipation in the life of the church and in the life of the family.

The first step in preparing for the baptism of your child is to attend one of our Baptismal Preparation classes. These classes are offered the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm in the Rectory, as well as the second Sunday of the month at 11:30 am in the basement of the Church.

When you are ready to begin the preparation process, please contact the Rectory at (773) 588-6484. A representative from our staff will gather information to register your child for baptism. Baptisms are scheduled on all Sundays at 1:30 PM, as well as during one of the Masses on the fourth Sunday of the month. Parents must be registered parishioners.

We at the St Benedict Parish Community are so pleased that you desire to have your child baptized. As parishioners of St. Benedict, you will be sharing our capstone values of belong, pray, learn, give and serve. The baptism of your child provides an opportunity to renew your own Christian life and spirituality. In bringing your child to be baptized, you are saying that you want to share your living Catholic Christian faith with your child; this is a serious commitment to raise your child within the community of believers and to educate them in the truths of the Catholic faith.

We pray that God will bless you and your family as you continue to grow in faith.

In the service of Christ, Fr. Jason Malave

CAPSTONE VALUES AT ST. BENEDICT PARISH AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL BELONG

Belonging is a fundamental desire of all humans.

We pray that you invest yourself lovingly and generously in our parish community.

PRAY

The most powerful way that we pray is during Mass every weekend.

It is here that we gather around the Eucharistic table and thank God for all of His gifts and blessings.

LEARN

When it comes to growing in faith, we are truly life-long learners.

As our journey continues to unfold, we learn more about the beauty and richness that is our Catholic faith.

GIVE

We give generously of our time, talent and treasure on a regular basis.

In sharing these gifts, we are offering thanks to God and dynamically supporting our St. Benedict Parish.

SERVE

Service is the natural outgrowth of an active faith life together.

The more generously you serve St. Benedict Parish, the more you will feel a sense of belonging.

Theology of Baptism

What is Baptism?

ENTRANCE INTO A COMMUNITY OF FAITH • Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation.

• By birth, our child is brought into our family; by baptism, our child is brought into the universal church community, the community of St. Benedict.

• We are acknowledging, pledging, that we are taking on the responsibility of raising our children as Catholic Christians.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT • Baptism is not just the singular event, but a long-term commitment for us as parents. We gather to prepare for a way of life that enables us to be role models of our faith to our children.

GROWING WITH JESUS • We need to belong to a community that supports us in our values and helps us grow as Christians – a community of people who believe in Jesus as our model, brother, friend, and Savior.

• Being Christian means building a relationship with Jesus.

COMMUNITY SACRAMENT • We are bringing our child into this faith community which we believe in and are committed to – a community which supports the values we want to teach our child.

• In the community sacrament of baptism, we are asking members of the community to help us raise our child with Christian values. We are partnering with other parents and members of the parish staff to form a support system.

RE-COMMITMENT OF OUR OWN FAITH • We are renewing our commitment to God and to our church.

• We are committing to share our faith with our child.

• We realize that we need to keep our own faith life nurtured and growing as we cannot hand on what we ourselves have not received, nurtured, or grown.

Sharing our own faith lives in words and actions with our child is a primary way of handing on our faith. “Faith is caught, not taught”.

Theology of Sin Baptism acknowledges that sin is a reality in our lives.

Over the ages, theologians have classified, or looked at, sin from three different perspectives:

ORIGINAL SIN Original sin is not the story of Adam and Eve. It is not an individual sin at all, but rather a description of the condition of the world. We continually face both good and evil temptations in our everyday lives.

Every day we need to differentiate the bad from the good. The world has always been and still is loaded with “isms” (materialism, sexism, racism, terrorism, etc.) and it is so easy for these worldly values to seep into our lives. They become part and parcel of us. Evil, or sin, is a condition of the world and we are part of the world.

Christian baptism acknowledges that, as individuals, we cannot overcome original sin. We need one another. Baptism gives us grace to help us overcome human weaknesses and temptations.

VENIAL SIN Venial sin simply means a less than perfect condition in our daily lives.

We are not living a God-centered life as well as we could be doing, based upon the moral teachings of the church and our own Christian values (handed on by our parents and grandparents). Perhaps we are not trying to live in holiness or not presenting our most loving response to others. God does not expect us to be perfect but God does expect that our prayer lives and actions match what we know to be true based upon our Catholic Christian faith (rooted in Scripture and Tradition).

MORTAL SIN Mortal sin is better understood, not as a single act, but as a condition after a whole series of acts. It is the result of living a life that continually has us turning away from God and/or turning in on one’s self. We become “self-centered” rather than God-centered.

The whole question of venial or mortal sin is this, “In which direction are we trying to go?” Are we on a path towards God and God-centeredness?

In baptism, we admit that we can become what we immerse ourselves in for both good or for bad. We therefore acknowledge that we need to spend time with others who are living within our value system, the things we have come to value, the things we value so much that we will hand them onto our children.

We come to realize, if we haven’t already, that we need to see and be in a community wherein there are thriving marriages and families that share our values. We need to see examples of sacrifice, giving, loving, and sharing.

We come to admit, if we haven’t already, that we benefit from being with others who are attempting to live the same Christian values.

As part of the community struggling to live Christian values and ideals, an individual can overcome original sin. Through the grace of God and with the support of others, we can reject sinful behaviors. Daily reinforcement of seeing Jesus in one another helps us to reject sin as does a consistent prayer life, both private and communal.

Baptism does save us. It brings us into community, a community of the church, a community that commits itself to living Christian values and pledges to one another that we will try to support each other. This community of the church is human and has its faults and failings, but guided by the Spirit and nourished by the Lord, we continue to try and make the Kingdom real (on earth as it is in Heaven).

Symbols in Baptism

WATER Symbol of both life and death New life in Christ: dying to sin and rising to new life.

CANDLE Symbol of the light of Christ, which is coming into the child’s life.

While children are still little, parents have the responsibility to keep this flame alive.

• Lit from the Easter (Paschal) candle.

• Held by godparents or father.

• Candle can be used at family birthday celebrations or baptismal anniversaries. It can be used as the centerpiece at First Communion and Confirmation celebrations.

OIL Oil has always been a symbol of power and strength which comes from God. Chrism “to anoint”: Olive oil with perfume used to anoint forehead in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. Chrism is used to set people apart for a special role.

Oil of Catechumens: Plain olive oil used to anoint breastbone or under the chin (optional). We understand this oil to be a sign of God’s strength for the child.

In the catechumenate, adults and older children spend time learning about the faith and growing stronger in their belief. The infants and young children being baptized are beginning that same process.

They will be asked to learn about and grow stronger in their faith all their lives.

WHITE GARMENT • Symbol of putting on Christ, i.e., of taking on a new way of life in Christ • Sign of transition and change; purity and cleansing • Bibs sewn by people in ministry at St. Benedict’s

GODPARENTS • Represent the Christian community in welcoming your child into our family.

• Take on the responsibility of helping the parent bring up this child in a life of faith.

• Act as a Christian role model for your child.

• Should be people who are willing to maintain a long-term relationship with your child.

• Should be someone who gives witness to God in their everyday lives and in whom you would entrust the raising of your child in faith.

Requirements of Canon Law: • One of each sex, if two are chosen.

• One must be a confirmed and practicing Catholic at least 16 years of age.

Rite of Baptism for Children RECEPTION OF THE CHILDREN Celebrant: What name do you give this child?

Parents: N. Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s church for N.?

Parents: Baptism Celebrant: You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so, you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and your neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

Parents: We do.

Celebrant: (to Godparents) Are you ready to help these parents in their duty as Christian mothers and fathers?

Godparents: We are.

Celebrant: My dear children, the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name, I claim you for Christ our Savior, by the sign of the cross. I now trace the cross on your foreheads, and invite your parents (and Godparents) to do the same.

CELEBRATION OF GOD’S WORD Scripture Readings Homily General Intercessions (Response: Lord, hear our prayer)

Litany of Saints (Response: Pray for us) Prayer of Exorcism Anointing before Baptism

CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

Blessings and Invocation of God over the Baptismal Water Celebrant: Dear Parents and Godparents: You have come here to present these children for Baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit, they are to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.

On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life, which God gives them, is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in their hearts.

If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus.

This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which these children are about to be baptized.

Parents and Godparents: Answer “I DO� to the following: Do you reject Satan?

And all his works?

And all his empty promises?

Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

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 seated at the right hand of the Father?

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

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

All: Amen.

BAPTISM Celebrant: Is it your will that N. be baptized in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you?

Parents and Godparents: It is.

Celebrant: N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Acclamation Anointing with Chrism Clothing with White Garment Presenting the Lighted Candle

CONCLUSION OF THE RITE Blessing of the Parents Final Blessing

St. Benedict Parish 2215 W. Irving Park Road Chicago, IL 60618 773.588.6484 www.stbenedict.com