Has anyone come across a ceremony, at the start of Mass, involving a quasi-baptism. the child's head is crossed, oil applied to the chest, the child is "claimed for Christ".

no font though. other formalities missing too.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), March 10, 2005

Answers

it's a welcoming ceremony.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), March 10, 2005.

It sounds like the ceremony of "Christening", which is usually done in conjunction with Baptism. The term is often used as synonymous with Baptism, but in fact the Christening ceremony is distinct from the actual sacramental Baptism. My first child was in danger of death immediately after birth and was baptised by a nurse in the newborn intensive care unit. He survived and of course could not be baptised again, but we had the Christening ceremony in church with the family and godparents present.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 10, 2005.

this is done before baptism. it is to welcome the kids to Sunday Mass. perhaps its intention is to show the ingress of new blood into the Church. i don't know. the baptism then occurs at a later date. confused?

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), March 10, 2005.