The Baptismal Font

As a parishioner enters Saint Michael Church, he/she is welcomed by a big marbled baptismal font.  Parishioners that enter the Church all soak their fingers into the font and mark themselves with the sign of their identity – the faith into which they are baptized – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  The ritual of marking oneself with holy water from the font reaffirms the common bond of the people that worship.  The baptismal font then is a place of unity.

It is interesting and certainly inspiring to see a whole family, or a group of friends, approach the baptismal font together.  Such a holy action transcends the many other visible signs of unity like uniforms and name tags, because as we are blessed by the water from the font, we again acknowledge that all of us are brothers and sisters in the Lord, and members of the one family of Christ. 

next time you enter the worship space, we invite you to take time to appreciate this very beautiful ritual and perhaps even say a short personal prayer like, “My Lord, My Father, I belong to you.  As I make this sign of the cross, keep me united with your family, and help me to remain in your love!”