A Christening recently in Tiglio, a small village up in the mountains above Barga for the first born son of Martina Manattini and Andrea Bertoncini. The ceremony was held in the church dedicated to San Giusto at Tiglio Alto and took place just before the main Sunday mass.
Mattia Bertoncini was christened in the traditional Roman Catholic way dressed in a white christening gown and stayed absolutely calm and serene through out the whole ceremony. In fact more nervousness was shown by some members of the assembled family of Mattia – he just sailed through the whole thing without so much as a hiccup.
Be sure to check out the video and notice just what “traditional container” the holy water was poured from over the babies head
What happens during a Roman Catholic christening?
The parents and godparents have to make three declarations:
- That they turn to Christ
- That they repent of their sins
- That they renounce evil
These are answered by: ‘I turn to Christ’, ‘repent of my sins’ and ‘renounce evil’
They are then asked three questions:
- Do you believe and trust in God the Father who made Heaven and Earth?
- Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ who redeemed mankind?
- Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God?
Each of these must be answered ‘I believe and trust in Him’
The baby has water poured over his / her head – and the priest says ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’
The parents and godparents are given a lighted candle to represent Jesus as the light of the world. Then the priest or minister says ‘Shine as a light in the world to fight against sin and the devil.’
The godparents make a commitment to foster the faith received by the child from the church at baptism and to assist in fulfilling those duties that are implicit in the new baptismal dignity of the child, like attending church.
