Baptism Question

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I attended a Baptism, which was done during the Mass. During the Baptism the congregation got up and went to the front of the church and made the Sign of the Cross on the baby’s forehead. Anyone ever hear of anything like that?
 
Baptism by preference is done during Sunday Mass as a sign that the child is being initiated into the community, and part of the right calls for the parents, godparents to make the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead. As the godparents represent the community, it is also in order to invite other friends and relatives to come forward and do the same, so there is nothing wrong with inviting the congregation to participate, as long is it does not unduly prolong the rite.
 
I thought it was quite nice myself. I just had never attended a Baptism where it was done this way.
 
The procedure is part of the rite of Baptism. I am glad it impacted you! Perhaps the next time you enter a church you will be reminded as you dip your hand in the holy water fonts and make the sign of the cross to not only remember your own baptism but also the baptism you witnessed in church and to keep that child in your prayers!
 
My nephew’s baptism 15 years ago, everybody “signed” the babies, not just our baby.

Gotta go get that kid a birthday card…
 
Everyone in the congregation making the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead is not following the liturgical book. It has in Baptism for Children:

“41. … He signs each child on the forehead, in silence. Then he invites the parents and, if this seems appropriate, the godparents to do the same.”

(From The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN 0-8146-6015-0, page 378).

It has the same for the baptism of one child, in n. 79. For a large number of children the celebrant makes a general sign of the cross, and from n. 111 “Then the parents (or godparents) sign the children on their foreheads.” Similarly when a catechist administers the rite, in n. 136.

So it is not being faithful to the liturgical books to have a procession of people making this cross on the forehead. It undermines the special role and responsibility of the celebrant, parents and godparents.
 
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