By Danielle Hetzel
This is the third part in a series about Baptism at Blessed Sacrament.
On July 8th, my husband and I welcomed our baby boy, Brendan Thomas, to our family. Everyone was healthy and we started to settle into our new lives together.
Both my husband and I were drawn to the name Brendan. After we did some research, it seemed appropriate because Saint Brendan is the patron saint of sailors and my husband is in the Navy. We chose the name Thomas because I had an Uncle Thomas growing up who died when I was in college. Saint Brendan and Saint Thomas are two great saints of the Church and we ask their prayers as our son grows in his relationship with God in the Church.
We had scheduled the Baptism for August 4 at 9:30 AM and we anxiously awaited getting to see friends and family. More importantly, though, we wanted to welcome Brendan into the Church family.
I highly recommend showing up at the Church at least 20 minutes before the baptism is scheduled. We were able to get prepared, and it eliminated any rush or worry. It was very nice to be in a calm, focused mindset for the ceremony. It also allowed our families to get settled and ready.
Brendan was wearing a Baptismal gown created from his grandmother's wedding dress. They are also available online and at Catholic bookstores. There were three babies getting Baptized that day, and every one had a unique gown.
As mentioned in the last post, the ceremony started outside of the actual sanctuary. After an initial blessing, we processed in to begin bringing our children into the Church body. The whole congregation was invited to take part in this procession, which was very unifying and welcoming.
The ceremony was similar in many ways to a Mass, which lent a nice familiarity. There were readings and a homily, and the choir sang some lovely songs.
Fr. Dyer's homily was about how Baptism should be the greatest day in your child's life. In his life, he realized that his favorite number, which was the jersey number of his favorite football player, was also the date of his Baptism. That was just one time where he realized that God works in many ways. Perhaps someday Brendan's favorite number will be 84.
The actual Baptism was a very happy and exciting occasion. It was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family and welcome our son into the Church. He didn't even cry when the water was poured on his head, which was great. Overall, he was very good for the ceremony.
As a remembrance of the day, each family gets to keep the small white garment the child receives after being baptized. The priest presents the meaning by saying, “See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.” You also keep the baptismal candle that the child’s parents and godparents received for the child during the liturgy to symbolize that the light of Christ is kept by the family after the baptism. During the liturgy the priest says, “Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.” When Brendan is old enough to hear the story of his Baptism, we will have his candle and white garment to show him, along with pictures of the ceremony.
If you are curious about the words of the Rite of Baptism, you can read them online. The iBreviary site provides them in English and Latin.
We were very blessed to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism at Blessed Sacrament. It was a wonderful community experience. We bought a brick commemorating the day to help support Blessed Sacrament's Courtyard Project and so that someday we can show Brendan how important this day was.
Thank you for joining us on our journey of Baptism at Blessed Sacrament. If you have any questions or comments of your own, please feel free to leave it below.
God bless!
This is the third part in a series about Baptism at Blessed Sacrament.
On July 8th, my husband and I welcomed our baby boy, Brendan Thomas, to our family. Everyone was healthy and we started to settle into our new lives together.
 |
| Brendan Thomas, two days old |
We had scheduled the Baptism for August 4 at 9:30 AM and we anxiously awaited getting to see friends and family. More importantly, though, we wanted to welcome Brendan into the Church family.
I highly recommend showing up at the Church at least 20 minutes before the baptism is scheduled. We were able to get prepared, and it eliminated any rush or worry. It was very nice to be in a calm, focused mindset for the ceremony. It also allowed our families to get settled and ready.
Brendan was wearing a Baptismal gown created from his grandmother's wedding dress. They are also available online and at Catholic bookstores. There were three babies getting Baptized that day, and every one had a unique gown.
 |
| In the Blessed Sacrament courtyard after the ceremony |
The ceremony was similar in many ways to a Mass, which lent a nice familiarity. There were readings and a homily, and the choir sang some lovely songs.
Fr. Dyer's homily was about how Baptism should be the greatest day in your child's life. In his life, he realized that his favorite number, which was the jersey number of his favorite football player, was also the date of his Baptism. That was just one time where he realized that God works in many ways. Perhaps someday Brendan's favorite number will be 84.
The actual Baptism was a very happy and exciting occasion. It was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family and welcome our son into the Church. He didn't even cry when the water was poured on his head, which was great. Overall, he was very good for the ceremony.
As a remembrance of the day, each family gets to keep the small white garment the child receives after being baptized. The priest presents the meaning by saying, “See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.” You also keep the baptismal candle that the child’s parents and godparents received for the child during the liturgy to symbolize that the light of Christ is kept by the family after the baptism. During the liturgy the priest says, “Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.” When Brendan is old enough to hear the story of his Baptism, we will have his candle and white garment to show him, along with pictures of the ceremony.
If you are curious about the words of the Rite of Baptism, you can read them online. The iBreviary site provides them in English and Latin.
We were very blessed to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism at Blessed Sacrament. It was a wonderful community experience. We bought a brick commemorating the day to help support Blessed Sacrament's Courtyard Project and so that someday we can show Brendan how important this day was.
Thank you for joining us on our journey of Baptism at Blessed Sacrament. If you have any questions or comments of your own, please feel free to leave it below.
 |
| Brendan with his brick in the courtyard at Blessed Sacrament |
God bless!
1 comment:
thanks for sharing this post.it is a nice post.
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