Celebrate your baptism!

How often do we think about our baptism? If you’re anything like me, the answer is probably not much. But two recent events have changed that and inspired me to reflect on the importance of my baptism — my daughter’s confirmation and the “33 Days to Morning Glory” Marian Consecration.

These two events have thrown fuel on the fire of the Holy Spirit within me to not only have more appreciation for my own baptism, but to also take time to contemplate the beauty of the sacrament of baptism and the connection between baptism and confirmation.

As I watched my daughter, Katie, renew her baptismal promise at her confirmation, it caused me to reflect on when my wife and I answered those questions on her behalf 17 years ago during her baptism as an infant: “Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises?” “Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?” “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?” “Do you believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?” These four questions are so incredibly powerful, but at the same time, they simply summarize our faith. 

Then a week later, Bishop Scharfenberger invited our Diocese to commence the “33 Days to Morning Glory” Marian Consecration. I have done this self-retreat in the past, but felt it was time to give my faith an extra boost. The book’s introduction reminds us that growing closer to Mary helps us grow closer to Jesus and that giving ourselves to Mary can help form us into saints. That’s more than enough reasons for me to want to make this consecration again! But wait, there’s more! St. Louis de Montfort emphasizes the importance of renewing our baptismal vows. St. Louis goes on to explain that renewing our baptismal vows makes baptism all about Christ and that the Holy Spirit continues to form us as members of Christ’s body. He states that the whole goal of true devotion to Mary is our on-going, post-baptismal transformation in Christ.

The connections between baptism and confirmation are powerful. It has been said that we are baptized in order to be confirmed. The graces from confirmation provide us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit needed to boost our faith. 

If you don’t know the date of your baptism, I encourage you to find the date and celebrate it as much as you do your birthday or other important anniversary dates in your life. Lastly, if you are so inclined, I recommend getting a copy of your baptismal certificate and hanging it on a wall in your house as a reminder to celebrate the day we were cleansed from original sin and joined the Body of Christ. 

Please contact me with any questions about boosting evangelization efforts at your parish at [email protected] or by visiting https://www.rcda.
org/evangelization. Follow me on Instagram: tom_rcda.