Strengthen Your Brethren - Sacrament of Baptism, part 2 - July 9, 2006
This is the second installment in the series on the Sacrament of Baptism. At the very beginning of the Rite of Baptism for a child, after the celebrant asks the parents what name they give their child, he exhorts them: “You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?” (Rite of Baptism for Children, 77). A few moments later in the ceremony, the celebrant says to the parents: “You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit he (she) is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him (her) up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life God gives him (her) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) heart. 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 this child is about to be baptized” (Rite of Baptism for Children, 93).
The first thing to note is that it is the parents who present their child, petitioning the Church for the gift of Baptism to be given to the little one God has entrusted to their care. By approaching the Church with this request, the parents – trusting in God’s grace and renewing their own profession of faith – freely embrace the accompanying duties and responsibilities for the spiritual life of their child. These duties and responsibilities are not fleeting, but rather must be given their constant attention. Among these, the ritual mentions the obligation of training their child how to actually live out the faith. This means that in the family the child is to learn about and experience God and His Church; to pray to and worship the One God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to love God and neighbor by living the Commandments; and to generously serve others, especially those most in need. The responsibilities of the parents for the spiritual life of their child include a preventative aspect, namely, ensuring that the child is not (unnecessarily) exposed to the poison of sin and those things (and persons) which might be damaging to innocence and faith. The duties of the parents also include a positive aspect, namely, nurturing that baptismal grace so that it may continually grow and finally the child might attain faith’s goal, heaven. It is only in faith that parents can embrace such serious obligations and so the rite of Baptism calls for them to renew their own baptismal promises: rejecting sin and the lies of Satan, and professing their faith in the Tri-personal God. In the face of such weighty duties, it is no wonder that within the ceremony the celebrant bluntly asks the parents: “Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”
The very nature of faith and family life means that no family can take up these responsibilities on its own in complete isolation from others. Rather, parents do so within the Church, and, more concretely, within the family of families, our parish. Saint Peter’s offers various supports for families to live faithfully their vocation. Our parish offers a special four-part program for new (first-time) parents. More on that next week!
Universal Church law stipulates that each year a priest must take time for special spiritual exercises (Code of Canon Law, 276). My recent pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama fulfilled that spiritual necessity. In addition, a Pastor is allowed one month of vacation time (Code of Canon Law, 533). July 11-24 will find me with my dear friend and classmate from the Pontifical North American College (Rome, Italy), Monsignor Heberto “Bert” Diaz. You may recall that Monsignor Diaz is the Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, in addition to being the Pastor of a young parish that has a large grade school. Although July is not the best time of year to be going down into the tropical climate of Southmost Texas, I really do not have any option as this is the only month when I have no meetings! In my absence, Father Worzalla will tend to your pastoral needs.
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!