Brittany’s immediate preparation for Confirmation is just beginning, and the first topic they covered in class was Baptism. I just finished e-mailing her my responses to several questions about Baptism. How appropriate that this month’s e-newsletter topic is also Baptism!

Baptism is the key to understanding Lent. Lent was originally a 40-day period of retreat, a final preparation for those who were preparing to be baptized at Easter. The Norms Governing Liturgical Calendars state that “the Lenten liturgy disposes both catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery: catechumens, through the several stages of Christian initiation; the faithful through reminders of their own baptism and through penitential practices” (27).

Brittany’s questions reminded me of her Baptism back in 1990 as well as my own 40 years ago this April. The three questions she had me answer were:

None of these questions was easy to answer, but each of them forced me to reflect on my life in light of my Baptism. That’s what Lent is supposed to do for us. It’s a time for every one of us—preparing for Baptism at Easter, baptized in the last few years or baptized 40 (or more!) years ago—to reflect on the meaning of Baptism in our lives. How does/will Baptism make a difference? What do I need to do to be true to the responsibilities of Baptism? What do I need to change? What more can I do?

As we look to the new life of resurrection at Easter, let’s put some new or renewed life in ours as well. Challenge your parishioners to consider what needs to die within them in order to rise to new life with Christ at Easter. Baptism is a once-and-for-all-times event, but we need to grow into and live and renew our Baptism every day of our lives. Lent is a time to remember and refocus on who we are and what we are about.

Adult Baptism: Exploring Its Meaning is one of our best-selling Catholic Update Videos. Its four segments—story, witness, teaching and music video—present an exploration of the imagery and the meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism especially when celebrated in the initiation of adults. Click here (RealMedia | Windows Media) to see a video clip from the teaching segment of this video. While its most obvious use is with adults who are preparing to celebrate Baptism at Easter, it invites all adults to explore the meaning of their Baptism—whether that is a past or future event.

St. Anthony Messenger Press publishes a nice little series of booklets to help us when we are taking a more formal part in the celebration of Baptism. This series, called “Handing on the Faith,” offers booklets especially written for the role that we are undertaking. Your Child’s Baptism gives parents wonderful insights into what it means to bring your child forward for Baptism in the Church and how you can begin to nurture the faith that you seek to give to your child. When You Are a Godparent is an equally enlightening booklet aimed at those people whom we ask to “stand up” for our children as we bring them forward for Baptism. This little booklet is full of helpful advice for making this role a meaningful part of our relationship with the newly baptized child, complete with stories from godparents and tips for appropriate gifts and practices for godparents.

For those who are journeying with older children, a helpful little book for parents and sponsors is When Your Child Becomes a Catholic. This book can help answer questions you may have about the process of Christian Initiation and how it fits in with the sacramental life of the Church. And for those of you lucky enough to journey through the RCIA with catechumens, When You Are an RCIA Sponsor is an excellent roadmap for your adventure to Easter Vigil and beyond.