My First "Solo" Baptism as a Roman Catholic Deacon

I have been ordained almost a year now and today was my first baptism without assisting a priest.

I was on my own.

What a wonderful experience.

The baptism was a beautiful experience.

The infant was about 1 1/2 years old and an exceptionally beautiful little girl.

I had asked my son Sean who is 15 years old to assist as a server and together we completed the Baptismal Rite and brought this precious soul into God's grace through the sacrament.

You might ask what is Baptism and what does it actually do?

Erases Original Sin (Sin from Adam and Eve)

Places an Indelible Mark (Character) on the soul, identifying the person as belonging to Christ. No sin can ever erase this mark.

Allows inclusion into the Christian Community / Family

Allows God’s grace entrance into the soul.

The person becomes a Temple of the Holy Spirit (They become Holy)

Enables the reception of the promise of eternal salvation and life with God.

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.

Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God, we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the church and made sharers in her mission.

From the very day of Pentecost the church has celebrated and administered Holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are:

Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude (or courage)
Knowledge
Piety
Fear of the Lord (Reverence)

This child will be able to fully complete the initiation into the Catholic Church when she receives 2 additional sacraments.

She will receive her first Holy Communion after the age of reason (2nd grade), and then she will confirm her faith in High School as she is sealed and strengthened with the Holy Spirit.

At this point, she is baptised on the faith of her parents, god parents, and the church. The sacrament isn't earned but a gratuitous gift.

She is to be nurtured in the faith, taught the faith, shown the faith through the actions and lives of her parents and God parents, prompted to live the faith, and later she will independently embrace and commit to her faith.

What a wonderful experience to raise this child up in my arms after the baptism and proclaim "Here is the newest member of our church community, not only a beautiful child, but now a child of God, a holy, innocent, and truly pure being, a temple of the Holy Spirit."