A procession is formed to the baptistery, led by the Paschal Candle.When the procession reaches the baptistry, the celebrant offers a prayer before passing through the gates. Once inside the baptistery, the celebrant prays over the font, that the Lord will deign to remake those about to die to their old selves in its waters into His spiritual sons and daughters by the grace of His Spirit. He divides the water in the form of a cross. He touches the water with his hand.The celebrant breathes on the water three times in the shape of a crossThe celebrant plunges the Paschal Candle into the water thriceThe acolyte removes some of the baptismal water for the aspersory: the celebrant sparges himself and his ministers with the Easter Water. An assisting priest circles the church to sprinkle the faithful with Easter Water.The celebrant pours the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of Sacred Chrism into the baptismal water. The consecrated baptismal water will be retained in the font for the baptisms throughout the year.The celebrant changes into white vestmentsThe catechumens are baptized. This year there were nine baptisms.Each newly baptized receives his white garment—a symbol of his baptismal innocenceEach receives his baptismal candle, lit from the Paschal candle. It symbolizes the new light of grace which he received.The procession returns to the sanctuary. The Confirmation candidates kneel.The celebrant anoints each by name on the brow with the Chrism consecrated by the bishop on Spy Wednesday. He strikes the cheek of each, a sign of the hardships and mockery each will endure as a Christian.The sacred ministers divest and prostrate themselves at the foot of the altar. After a time, they retreat to the sacristy to change into festive vesture. The Litany of the Saints is chanted by cantors. On this night, the entire invocation is repeated after the cantors, not only the response.
Related Articles
No user responded in this post