"The sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross". "The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer of epiclesis (either at this moment or at the Easter Vigil). The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it may be 'born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5). -- Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1235, 1238.

In Christ Jesus through the Sacrament of Baptism she will be cleansed of the original sin of Adam and Eve. By the grace of God and desire of her parents and the body of Christ, the Church, Maria Therese will become a new creation spiritually alive as a new member of Christ's body the church. She will become an adopted child of the living God. She will receive the Sacrament of Baptism and will be anointed with chrism (blessed oil).

"The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one 'anointed' by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king. "The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has 'put on Christ,' (Gal 3:27) has risen with Christ. The candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In him the baptized are 'the light of the world.' [Mt 5:14; Phil 2:15 .] The newly baptized is now, in the only Son, a child of God entitled to say the prayer of the children of God: 'Our Father" (CCC 1241, 1243). She will be sealed with the Holy Spirit and will receive the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit -- WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNCIL, FORTITUDE, KNOWLEDGE, PIETY AND HOLY FEAR OF THE LORD (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Now begins Maria's journey as a newly baptized Christian. A journey which must be nourished by God's grace in and through his sacraments, the teaching of her parents, Godparents and Christian community (a reason why the parents and godparents must be practicing Catholic Christians and know their faith that they may convey it to their Children or godchildren).

"For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life. Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism" (CCC 1255).

Maria's Baptism is the beginning of her walk to everlasting salvation as an eternal member of heaven. She must make this faith her own and freely embrace this gift of Jesus our Lord and His truth which is fully proclaimed in his One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. By virtue of her Baptism she now shares in the common priesthood of all baptized Christians and is called to the mission work of Christ to share her faith and spread the Gospel of Christ to all (1 Peter 2:9, 3:15).

Baptism in Christ is the gateway to the other sacraments and entrance into his Church. Baptism is the beginning and not the end of the journey to salvation. The Word of God says, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22) and "not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of God who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). We all must continue to strengthen encourage and walk with Maria Therese on the journey of faith in Jesus our Lord, our God and our Saviour.

Jesus said, "Unless you are born again of water and Spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). No one by no fault of their own that is not baptized is condemned to hell. God is merciful and is not bound to his sacraments. Since God wills that all should be saved we can have hope. Those who die without baptism by no fault of there own especially in our culture of death resulting in the murder of millions of unborn babies, we entrust them to the mercy of God. 

In Baptism the original sin we all inherit from our parents Adam and Eve is washed away (Titus 3:5) and we become a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) "Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte 'a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who has become a 'partaker of the divine nature,'[2 Cor 5:17 ; 2Pet 1:4; Gal 4:5-7]. member of Christ and co-heir with him, [l Cor 6:15; 1 Cor 12:27 ; Rom 8:17] and a temple of the Holy Spirit" (l Cor 6:19). (CCC 1268).

The Holy Spirit will dwell in Maria's soul and will empower her with the grace of justification and sanctification being made right before God and empowered to grow in holiness "The baptized have become 'living stones' to be 'built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.'[1 Pet 2:5]. By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that (they) may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called (them) out of darkness into his marvelous light.'[1 Pet 2:9]. Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers. Reborn as sons of God, (the baptized) must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church' and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God" (CCC 1268, 1270).

Now in this graced filled relationship with Almighty God, Maria will be able to grow in the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love by this free gift of grace He has given her today. She will be freed from the total dominion and power of satan whom can only harm her if she allows him to by her free will to turn away from God's gift of grace. Through repentance and confession (1 John 1:8-10; John 20:21-23) she can embrace God's free gift once more and continue to carry her cross throughout life's ups and downs (Matthew 16:24).

The Seven Sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the sick. They are unending rivers of God's Grace. They are the visible signs of invisible grace and actions of our Blessed Lord acting on our soul. Baptism is a sign of the reality of Christ acting on and in our soul to convey Grace that we may become partakers in the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4). Jesus freely healed those of whom others made the request to heal, should we expect less of our Lord for those parents who bring their children to him to be healed and freed of original sin and the dominion of satan? (Matthew 8:5, 15:21, Luke 7:1, Acts 16:31).

The parents, godparents and church community promise on our behalf (a promise we one day must make our own) to live our lives for love of God imitating Christ Jesus, not for selfish love of self or choosing sinful desires over God in imitation of satan the father of lies. We promise that we will love God with our whole heart, mind and soul for God created us to know Him to love Him and to Serve Him in this world and to be forever with Him in Heaven. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing for He alone is the Way the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). So much is the Love of Jesus our God that he took on the sins of the world and died in our place as our ultimate sacrifice for our sins upon the cross of Calvary. Shedding his precious Blood and Dying our Lord destroyed our Death. Rising on Easter morning he restored our life which makes this Baptism in Christ Jesus our God and Saviour possible (John 3:16). Today Maria will go down into the waters of Baptism and die with Christ and with Christ she will rise as a new creation in Christ!

"I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). He willed that all should come to know him. "Therefore go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). No where does Scripture say that Baptism is reserved for adults but encourages us to bring our children to Jesus! "Jesus called the little children to him and said, Bring the children to me and do not keep them from me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Luke 18:16). Baptism is compared to circumcision of old which was to be perform on infants 8 days old and this is one of many reason we brought Maria to be baptized today (Genesis 17:12-14; Colossians 2:11-15). Whole households were baptized not excluding infants (Acts 16:15, 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin. And you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children" (Acts 2:38-39). "God desires godly offspring in faithful marriages (Malachi 2:15). "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:2-4). The amount of Water is not important but the words and intention to baptize, even St. Paul was baptized in a living room with little water since first century homes had no tubs inside them! (Acts 9:17-19).

Therefore, today out of our love and faith of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, I Marco and my wife Tracy Fallon bring our daughter Maria Therese Fallon to Jesus entrusting her into His love and merciful grace on this day of September 3rd, 2000. We pledge to continue to entrust Maria to our Lord all the days of our lives. Praise and glory to you Lord Jesus Christ on this your day that you have made! Thank you for sharing witness and celebrating our child Maria's Baptism. May the peace of Christ be with you always.

Marco and Tracy Fallon-parents; Michael Anthony Fallon-brother

Joseph Longano and Sarah Shields-godparents

Harold and Toni Fallon; Robert and Debra Kreiling-grandparents

Rocky Fallon and Jon Kreiling-uncles

Monica Fallon-aunt

Father Joselito De Los Reyes, In Residence
Holy Rosary Church Catholic Church
12021 Mayfield Rd Cleveland, Ohio 44106