| Churching of the Catechumen. The procession into the church. |
|
Prayer of the Catechumen |
|
"I lay my hand upon Your servant (name)... Write down his name in Your book of life." Exorcism: (Facing West the priest says:)"Do you renounce Satan?...Have you renounced Satan?...Do you believe in Christ?" (Facing East we all profess our faith:) "I believe in one God, Father Almighty..." |
|
|
Pouring the Oil of Gladness
|
|
|
The Blessing of the Water: "...That this
water may be sanctified through the power and operation of the Holy Spirit,
let us pray to the Lord."
|
|
|
Immersion into the Font of Life: "The
servant of God, (name), is baptized in the name of the Father, (first
Immersion), and of the Son (second immersion) and of the Holy Spirit (third
immersion)."
|
|
|
Dying to the old man (sin) and rising to
the newness of life !!!
(The baptized in Christ rises from death to life in Christ.)
|
|
|
Blessing of the new clothes: "The
servant of God (name) is clothed with the garment of righteousness, in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (While the
baptized is dressed all sing:) "Give unto me a robe of light, O You who clothe
yourself with Light as with a garment. O most merciful Christ, our God!"
|
|
|
Blessing of the Cross.
|
|
|
Chrismation
Anointing with Chrism: "The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit." (Reply:) "Amen." (The priest anoints the baptized making the sign of the cross with chrism on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, breast, hands and feet singing the above each time.)
|
|
|
Receiving the light of Christ.
|
|
|
The first footsteps of the new
Christian. (All sing while processing around the font and through the
congregation to the Royal Doors:) "As many as have been baptized into Christ,
have put on Christ. Alleluia."
|
|
|
Reading the epistle. (Romans 6: 3-12)
"For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we
shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. . . ."
|
|
|
Reading the Gospel. (Matthew 28: 16-20)
". . . Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize
them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the
end of the age."
|
|
|
"The servant of God (name) is presented
to the Church..."
(Processing through the congregation, making the sign of the Cross three times with the child, the priest raises the child in offering to God.)
|
|
|
First Communion. (The baptized is now a
full participating member of the Church of Christ - and as such receives
communion with all the faithful.)
|
|
