Baptism

A
God, our Creator, cherish this child.
Jesus, our Savior; protect him/her.
Holy Spirit, our comforter, strengthen him/her.

or:

B
Source of all blessings, protector of infants,
look with favor on this child, N.

Hold him/her gently in your hands.
When he/she is reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
bring him/her into the Church,
there to share in your kingdom
and with us to bless your name forever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen

The parents trace the sign of the cross on the child's forehead.

N., may the Lord Jesus, who loved children,
bless you and keep you in his love,
now and forever.
R/. Amen

Thanksgiving for a Newborn or Newly Adopted Young Child

USCCB. (n.d.). Thanksgiving for a newborn or newly adopted young child. USCCB. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.usccb.org/prayers/thanksgiving-newborn-or-newly-adopted-young-child.

Baptism and Christian Initiation

USCCB. (n.d.). Baptism and christian initiation. USCCB. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/baptism.

By Baptism, we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ.

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus.  Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist.  The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.  . . .  Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin.  However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.

In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.

~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults | en español

Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis began a series of catecheses on the Sacraments, starting with Baptism.

He said that the Second Vatican Council tells us that the Church herself is a “Sacrament”, a grace-filled sign which makes Christ’s saving work present in history, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And speaking of Baptism, the first of the Church’s seven Sacraments, Pope Francis said “it gives us new birth in Christ, makes us sharers in the mystery of his death and resurrection, grants the forgiveness of sin and brings us new freedom as God’s children and members of his Church”.

He urged us not to forget the great gift we have received. “Our baptism has changed us, given us a new and glorious hope, and empowered us to bring God’s redeeming love to all, particularly the poor, in whom we see the face of Christ. Our baptism has also given us a share in the Church’s mission of evangelization; as disciples, we are also missionaries”

Click here to request a Baptism for my child