Baptism - The Family Rosary Way of Grace

• Baptism is the first Sacrament in the Christan life. 
• Baptism washes clean the stain of Original Sin and any other sins which have been committed. 
• The newly baptized are anointed with the Oil of Chrism as a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Baptism makes one an adopted child of God.
• Baptism imprints an indelible (invisible, unmoveable) mark on the soul. 
• One can only be baptized once. 
• The ordinary minister for baptism is a bishop, priest, or deacon.
• The Trinitarian formula. As the minister of baptism pours water over (or dunks) the candidate for baptism, He recites: “N, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (The names of each member of the Trinity.) 

• Water (Being baptized in flowing, living water represents death to Origin Sin and rebirth in Christ.)
• Oil (Chrism Oil symbolizes anointing and strengthens through the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
• Fire (Baptismal candle that is lit from the Easter or Christ Candle symbolizes the light of Christ.)
• White clothes (Some parishes have white robes or white bibs made for the newly baptized to wear. This symbolizes becoming a new person in Christ.)
• Baptismal promises (Each Sunday at Mass we remember these when we recite the Creed.) 
• Godparents (They help the parents and represent the community.)

• Photos of each child’s baptism, godparents, and other persons present at each baptism.
• If easily accessible: baptismal candle, white garment, and other gifts received at baptism.
• Bible to look up scripture.
• Bowl with holy water, or tap water, for session 2.
• Candle to help create a holy, prayerful space, before session 3.

Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: The angel said to [the shepherds living in the fields near Bethlehem], “Do not be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all people. This very day in David’s town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:10-11)

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: Baptism is the first Sacrament, and it is through Baptism that we become adopted children of God and members of the Catholic Church! Your presence at Mass and in the world is just as special and important to God as it is for the oldest person! 

When you were each baptized, we asked (name each child’s godparents) to be your godparents and to help you learn about God and our faith. (As time allows, share photos/stories from each child’s baptism.)

This week, we are also learning about the third of the Joyful Mysteries: the Nativity of Jesus. God so desired to fully experience our humanity and to free us from the slavery of sin, He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to enter human history as a baby. Just as the angels proclaimed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, we are empowered, through our baptism, to help proclaim Jesus to other people through our words and actions.

Biblical People: St. Joseph is a pretty special guy. He doesn’t say any words in the Gospels. We know he is a just man, he trusts the words the Angel Gabriel speaks to him in dreams, and he is obedient to God. He loved and cared for Mary and Jesus. He helped Jesus learn about his Jewish faith and taught him about carpentry. Click here to read more about St. Joseph.

Discussion/Reflection:

Everyone: What is your favorite thing about Christmas and celebrating Jesus’ birthday?
Who is someone who helps you to know or love Jesus better?

Parents: Share the story of how each child came to join the family.
Help each child send his/her godparent(s) a picture or note.
* Child(ren) preparing for Sacraments should invite godparent to participate in preparations/celebration. 

Response: Jesus could name his relatives back to King David, and to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-14) Create a family tree of faith as far back as you can. Decorate it as a family, and put it in your family prayer space. Encourage prayer for family members, living and deceased.

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father every day this week. On the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) today’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima Prayer (Oh my Jesus). Click here for help with prayers.

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(Photo Credit: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

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Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, Simeon took him into his arms and gave thanks to God: “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light to reveal your will to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:27b-32)

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: Through the waters of Baptism, we are washed free from the stain of Original Sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Do you remember that story? (If you have the time, pause and re-tell, or look up the story: Genesis 3:1-24.) You were given a white garment to represent your becoming a new creation in Christ. 

We wanted you to grow up with faith, to become friends with Jesus, and someday be with God in heaven, so we asked to have you (each) baptized. We gave our yes to the baptismal promises for you, and we promised to raise you in the faith and to know God. We are blessed to have the people of (name of your parish) to support and help us teach you.

Today we are learning about the fourth Joyful Mystery: the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Because Jesus was the first (and only) child of Mary, he had a special Jewish ceremony of consecration to God in the Temple 40 days after his birth. We celebrate that feast day on February 2, also called Candlemas. A Jewish priest performed Jesus’ consecration ceremony. For a Catholic baptism, the ordinary minister is a bishop, priest, or deacon.

Biblical People: There were two older, holy people in the Temple that greeted the Holy Family and adored Jesus. God had promised both Simeon, a holy man and Jewish priest, and Anna, a prophetess whose husband had died, that they would live to see the Messiah, Jesus. You can read the whole Gospel story about Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:22-38.

Discussion/Reflection:

Everyone: Who is someone who helps you learn about the faith and pray to Jesus? How does he/she help you learn or pray?

Response: Family Renewal of Baptismal Promises: gather in your prayer space, or around the table, with Holy water, or even tap water, in a small bowl. (Parent leads:) The response is “I do.” “Do you reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises?  R: I do. Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?  R: I do. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?  R: I do. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?  R: I do. This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  R: Amen.

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father every day this week. On the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) today’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima Prayer (Oh my Jesus). Click here for help with prayers.

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(Photo Credit: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

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Parents, please read this aloud with your child(ren):

Holy Scripture: His parents were astonished when they saw him [in theTemple], and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.”  And he said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:48-49)

Prayer: (Sign of the Cross) Heavenly Father, please bless, inspire and guide our family as we grow in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sign of the Cross)

Story: As (Bishop N., Fr. N., or Deacon N.) poured water over your head at your baptism, he said, “(Child’s Name) I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Repeat to each of your children who have been baptized.) 

Your soul was washed clean, and your head was anointed with the sweet-smelling Oil of Chrism. The oil was a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit within you. You also received a candle, lit from the Easter Candle, as a sign of receiving the light of Christ. During your baptism, the Holy Spirit marked your soul with a special, indelible (cannot be removed) mark to signify that you are now an adopted child of God! Through your Baptism, and gift of the Holy Spirit, you are also called to learn how to live a life of holiness and how to be a disciple of Jesus.

Today, we are also learning about the fifth Joyful Mystery, finding Jesus in the Temple. Jesus, his parents, and his relatives would travel to the Temple in Jerusalem once a year. The Temple, like our church buildings, was a holy place where God was truly present. When Jesus was 12, he would have had a special ceremony at the Temple to celebrate his transition from childhood to adulthood in the Jewish faith. In some ways, this is similar to how we think about our Sacrament of Confirmation. Staying behind in the Temple, close to God’s presence, seemed natural to Jesus. When Jesus understood that his parents were not ready for this, he went home and was obedient to them. 

Holy People: Look on your parish website, or search online for information about the life of the patron saint for whom your parish is named. Try to find an image or prayer for the saint you can add to your family prayer space.

Discussion/Reflection: 

Everyone: Where is a place that you feel really close to God? What does it feel like to be there?
How can we, as a family or as individuals, focus on growing in holiness this week? 

Response: If your home prayer space doesn’t have a candle, find a special candle to add to it. If possible, find a candle or candle holder your family can help decorate. 

If anyone is preparing for Confirmation, begin discerning a Confirmation name; this can be their baptismal name or another “name not foreign to Christian sensibility.” (Can. 855) If choosing a new name, consider the names of holy people in the Bible and recognized saints and blesseds.

Family Prayer this Week: As a family, please pray the Our Father every day this week. On the day your family chooses, please pray 1 decade of the Rosary, meditating on (thinking about) today’s mystery: 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be, & 1 Fatima Prayer (Oh my Jesus). Click here for help with prayers.

Property of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker

(Photo Credit: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary)

Print-Ready PDF