Memories of Baptism

Many, if not most of us, were baptized as infants or young children.  If that is the case we had little to say about whether or not we were baptized.  The promises made at our baptism were made for us by our godparents and our parents.   As we grew older we were told the story of the day of our baptism, shown pictures or maybe even a video.  Those stories created in us and for us a “memory” of a day that we most likely don’t remember at all.  Revisiting the “memory” of the day of our baptism may reminds us of a connection with our family, that we belong to a church, or that we are part of a parish community.

There are other important memories that the church hopes come to mind when we recall our baptism too.  These are the memories that the church hopes that parents and godparents plant in the baptized child as they grow, as they even more important than the family memories of the day.  These too are the memories of a life time.  They are memories that remind us that our identity as Catholic Christians began forming that day.  These are the memories that remind us that our baptism marks the day that we began a new life, a life that makes visible the gospel, and tangible our commitment to discipleship.  May your Lenten journey keep alive in you the memory of the covenant with Christ that you entered into on the day of your baptism.

Paula Raposo, Adult Faith Formation