Strengthen Your Brethren - Sacrament of Baptism - July 2, 2006
One of the great joys of being a priest is the loving way in which families open their homes and lives to you. During my first year here at Saint Peter’s so many of you have kindly made me a part of your extended family with invitations to your special celebrations or just to “hang out”! For that I am most grateful. It is particularly delightful to accompany a family through pregnancy, birth, and then rebirth in the Sacrament of Baptism.
Earlier this week I took a call from an anonymous young woman concerning the Baptism of her newborn. She told me that she had already contacted at least one other Catholic parish in our area and was dismayed that she had to be a member of the parish (or at least have the permission of the priest of her home parish) and would be required to participate in a baptismal preparation program. After explaining to her that that was standard procedure according to universal Church law (see Code of Canon Law, 849-878), she responded with an irritated tone: “Oh, I myself was baptized at Saint Peter’s and thought I could get a quick and easy Baptism for my child. I guess I’ll keep looking.” The click in my ear of a hung up phone ended our conversation. Unfortunately, that is not the first such phone call that I have taken in 17 years as a priest. These calls always make me so sad. Sad for the child who may never receive the gift of new birth or formation in the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sad for the mother who – although possessing a flickering ember of faith – apparently suffered from a faulty formation in the faith that has rendered her unable to comprehend, much less fulfill, the basic responsibilities of being a Catholic mom handing on to her child the hope of eternal life. Her words still echo in my mind: “a quick and easy baptism.”
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (1213). Before so great a gift and mystery, how can the person approaching the Church for Baptism – for oneself or one’s child – be filled with anything but awe and wonder! What is more, any gift given by God is at the same time a task. It brings with it grave responsibilities for the one seeking Baptism (for oneself or for one’s child) and the one to be baptized (in the case of the child presented by his parents). The Church is obliged to assist her members to fulfill faithfully these duties having been freely taken up. Saint Peter’s gladly accepts this responsibility! For adults seeking Baptism, our parish offers a faith formation program following the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.). This multi-month series begins in September. For parents seeking Baptism for their child, our parish offers a four-session preparation program in February, August, and November.
Do not miss next week’s column, as I will continue this explanation of the preparation for and the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism at Saint Peter’s.
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!