After Jesus’ resurrection, He gave His apostles an important mission:
“go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19). “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16).
Baptism is the First Step
The word baptism comes from the Greek word, baptizein, which means “to plunge” or “immerse.” The water that’s poured onto our heads at baptism symbolizes the washing away of original sin. The act not only symbolizes our purification, but it also marks our rebirth or renewal. In the words of Pope Francis, baptism “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.” In a nutshell: baptism gives us salvation, granting us eternal life with God.
Pope Francis urges us that just as Jesus instructed His disciples, our goal once we are baptized and become holy people of God, is to [quote type=”center”]transmit our faith from generation to generation.[/quote]
Why Do We Baptize Infants?
Pope Francis encourages the parents and godparents to “help these children to grow well” by giving them “the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus.” He urged them to set a good example, getting into “the habit of reading a passage from the Gospel,” and also to “always carry a small Gospel in your pocket or your purse, to read it.”
Why Do Babies Wear White Gowns?
The tradition of wearing a white gown is an ancient sign of the newly baptized individual’s pureness and new life in Christ. White reflects the purity of being cleansed of sin, and of the child taking on a new identity as a son or daughter of God. During the baptismal ceremony, babies are given a white bib or garment to wear as a symbol of “putting on Christ.”
Symbolism of the Shell and the Dove in Baptism
Dove
Shell
Remember the Date of Your Baptism
Pope Francis urges all of us to remember the date of our baptism, just as we would any important date—birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Pope Francis calls it a “happy day.” If you don’t know the date of your baptism, find out! When we neglect to recognize the importance of this day, we “risk losing sight of what the Lord has done for us, of the gift we have received. We end up considering it merely as an event that took place in the past – and not even by our will, but rather by that of our parents – that has no effect on the present.”