carson's baptism

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 
Galatians 3:27

Just a bit of background on Catholic Baptism:

Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common. In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with.

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." 
Romans 6:3

To the Catholic Church, original sin isn’t a personal sin of the unborn, but a sin transmitted from generation to generation by birth. All men and women are born with original sin, and only Baptism can wash it away. Baptism can be regarded as a vaccine against sin.

 

 

 

The ritual of baptism in the Catholic Church

Baptisms in the Catholic Church usually take place on Sundays, during the parish mass or in the early afternoon after all the Masses are over. In most cases, the parish priest or deacon administers the sacrament, anointing the person being baptized with oils, and pouring blessed water over the child or adult’s head not just once but three times.

"John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." 
Mark 1:4

In the eyes of the Catholic Church, any Baptism that uses water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity as in “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” is a valid sacrament.

 

 

 

A person being baptized in the Catholic Church is expected to dress in white to symbolize purity of faith and the cleansing power of Baptism. The white garment symbolizes the white garments Jesus wore when he was placed in the tomb after his death on Good Friday. An infant may wear a baptismal gown handed down for generations; an adult typically puts on a full-length white gown known as an alb.

Now to the amazing and moving moment when Carson was Baptized into the Catholic Church.

As you can tell he did not enjoy the baptismal moment what-so-ever.  Poor guy could not even look at the priest after that without getting a frown on his face. 

During Baptism, blessed oil or chrism is marked on the forehead and chest of the person being baptized in the sign of the cross. This symbolizes receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Even though most children being baptized wear a white gown or outfit, they also receive another white garment during the ceremony, which signifies “putting on Christ.” Both children received garments hand-embroidered with a cross by someone in the parish. The personalized touch always reminds us that the white garment was a welcome gift from a member of our parish family.

The baptismal candle is lit from the Easter candle and reminds both the baptized, parents and godparents to be light for the world and Carson's faith.

And the celebration that followed...