no longer a heathen baby...

yesterday annabel was baptized! it was a very nice ceremony and everything was really beautiful. deacon gill from st. brendan's church and deacon robbie (my dad) performed the baptism. and they did a wonderful job. my sister erin and our friend tom linbeck were the godparents and both were able to be here for the big day. after the ceremony we all went to lunch at cap city fine diner in grandview. overall, a very joyous occasion. :)

baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

1. the removal of the guilt of both original sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the fall of adam and eve in the garden of eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).
   
   
2. the remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).
   
   
3. the infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of god within us); the seven gifts of the holy spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the lord); and the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity).
   
   
4. becoming a part of christ.
   
   
5. becoming a part of the church, which is the mystical body of christ on earth.
   
   
6. enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.

our role as parents has always been to raise our baby to be happy, healthy and wise. now that annabel has been officially "infused" and welcomed into the church, it really hammers home our responsibility for educating her in the faith. our faith has been strengthened through the experience of bringing annabel into this world and we look forward to sharing that faith with her.














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