The Presentation {Samuel John Baptized}

Rob and Aileen's newborn son, Samuel John, is dressed in his baptismal gown ~ the gown worn by his mother ('67), brothers Peter ('99) and Ryan ('03), and by his dearly departed sister Lucy(+'01).

With great joy we present our newly baptized Godson Samuel John, born again in Christ through the Holy Spirit in the waters of baptism on January 8, 2012.  As Sam's Godparents, we promised before God and the entire community to support his parents, Rob and Aileen fulfill their duty in raising and forming Samuel in the Catholic {Christian} faith for his entire life.  On his behalf, we renewed the vows of our own baptism(s), vows made on our behalf at our baptism(s) by our Godparents and parents.  We renounced sin and professed our faith, after Father Hagelin solemnly reminded us:

Dear parents and Godparents:   You have come here to present this child for baptism.  By water and the Holy Spirit, he is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.
On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life, which God gives him, is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his heart.
If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which this child is about to be baptized.

Father Brad Hagelin baptizes Samuel John with consecrated (holy) water and the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ

The light of Christ, represented in the Pascal candle

Fr. Hagelin lights Samuel's baptismal candle (from the Pascal candle) and presents it to Tim and me, as a tangible reminder for us to keep the light of Christ burning bright as we support Samuel in his Christian life.

 

“Christ himself says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? ...[T]he candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice” ~Pope Paul VI.

Baby Sam, born again in Christ!

 Godparents, parents and brother Ryan, together with Sam after his baptism.

Our new Godson, Samuel John, cherished child of God

Now, Master, You can dismiss your servant in peace;
You have fulfilled Your word.
For my eyes have witnessed Your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see:
A revealing light to the Gentiles,
the glory of Your people Israel. 

~Luke 2:29-32

This Gospel passage, known as the Canticle of Simeon, proclaims the moment the Light of Christ, Christ Himself, entered the temple in the arms of his parents, who dutifully presented their firstborn Son to the Lord.  The Presentation of Our Lord, celebrated at Mass today, February 2, with candle-light processions, has been a part of Christian tradition since at least the fourth century.

The Presentation of the Lord in stained glass;

Church of the Assumption, Bellingham, WA