Claim the Baptismal Promises of Your Son or Daughter

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A prayer for the renewal
of your son or daughter’s baptismal promises

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Lord Jesus, You said: “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” And You took <name here> in Your arms and blessed him <substitute “her” when appropriate>, laying Your hands on him. Do this again, Lord Jesus, as I pray using the baptismal promises from the day I consecrated him to You. Take <name> into Your arms again and bless him. Lay Your hands upon him now and deliver him from evil.

Obeying the Word of our Lord Jesus, and sure of His presence with us, we the parents, <your names here>, on his behalf, by the authority given to us in the Holy Spirit, renew the baptismal promises granted to <name>, whom the Lord has called to be His own.

In Jesus Christ, God has promised to forgive our sins and has joined us together in the family of faith. He has delivered us from darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Jesus Christ, God has promised to be our Father, and to welcome us as brothers and sisters of Christ.

These promises of God are for our child . By baptism, God put His sign on <name> to show that he belongs to Him and gave him the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that, sharing Christ’s reconciling work, <name> will also share His victory; that, dying with Christ to sin, <name> will be raised with Him to new life. Through the renewal of these baptismal promises, we pray for the humbling of <name>’s spirit so that once again he dies with Christ and is raised to new life. We pray this with confidence in the name of Jesus Christ who is <name>’s Savior and deliverer.

As his parents, when we presented <name> as an infant for baptism, we announced our faith in Jesus Christ and showed that we want our child to study Him, know Him, love Him, and serve Him as a chosen disciples. We hereby renew this earnest desire through the power of the Holy Spirit.

On the night that Jesus was arrested, He prayed for all who would believe in Him, and in so doing, He prayed for <name>: (John 17:20-23)

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

Lord Jesus, we pray that Your Holy Spirit helps <name> become one with Jesus and one with us his family, so that through this witness of love and unity, the world may believe in You and Your love and Your redemptive power.

God our Father, we thank You for your faithfulness, promised in the Sacrament of <name>’s baptism, and for the hope we have in Your Son, Jesus. When <name> was baptized with water, You baptized him with the Holy Spirit, so that <name> may speak Your word and do Your work. We ask You now, Father, to renew his baptism in the Spirit, so that he may turn away from words and works that are not of You. By Your power, may <name> be made one with Christ our Lord and one with us his family, united in common faith and purpose.

O God, Who called us from death to life: We give ourselves to You again, we give You our family and we give <name> to You, and with the Church through all the ages, we thank You for Your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Take the example of faith we have been to <name> during the years of his childhood and inspire him to return to the truth, to the Holy Eucharist, and to the family. Renew the grace of <name>’s baptism. Help him to grow in his relationship with You and restore his relationship with us his family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God uses the sacrament of water to give his divine life to those who believe in Him. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus told His disciples: (Mark 16:15-18)

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Lord Jesus, we ask you to renew in <name> the divine life You have given him. Restore his ability from the Holy Spirit to discern spirits and cast out the evil ones, speak in new tongues, and be unharmed by whatever he’s exposed to that could be deadly to him. Put people into his life who will lay hands on him to pray for him so that he can recover from the sicknesses of his body, mind, and spirit. Anoint the counselors who are in his life to help him heal and become the son of God and the son of our family that he was created to be.

Holy Spirit, we turn to You and ask You to pour upon <name> Your gift of life once again from the baptismal font in which <name> first received sanctification, because You live in timeless eternity.

Father, You give us grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of the wonders of Your unseen power. In <name>’s baptism, we used your gift of water, which you have made a rich symbol of the grace you give us in this sacrament. At the very dawn of creation, Your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness. The waters of the great flood You made a sign of the waters of baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness. Through the waters of the Red Sea, You led Israel out of slavery to be an image of God’s holy people, set free from sin by baptism. In the waters of the Jordan, Your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. Your Son willed that water and blood should flow from His side as He hung upon the cross. After His resurrection, He told His disciples: “Go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Father, look now with love upon our family, and unseal for us the power of the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Spirit and the timelessness of eternity, cover <name> again with the water of his baptism and the grace of Your Son. You created humanity in Your own likeness; cleanse <name> from sin in a new birth to innocence by his baptismal water and the Spirit. We ask You, Father, with Your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the memory that’s in <name>’s soul of his baptism. Since he was buried with Christ in the death of baptism, raise him again to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

As <name>’s parents, we presented <name> for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit, he received the gift of new life from God, who is love. We made it our constant care to bring him up in the practice of the faith. We saw to it that the divine life which God gave him was kept safe from the poison of sin and taught him to grow always stronger in his heart. In renewing his baptismal promises, we renew the vows of our own baptism. We reject sin and profess our faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which <name> was baptized.

† We reject Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises.

† We believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

† We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

† We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

† This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

<Name> was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This child of God was received into the holy catholic church. Father God, renew this baptism and return him to the fullness of life in the church.

<Name> was anointed with holy oil: God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ freed <name> from sin, gave him a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed him into his holy people. He anointed <name> with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so too was <name> anointed to live always as a member of His body, sharing everlasting life. Amen. Father God, renew this anointing upon <name>. Raise up his calling to imitate Christ as Priest, Prophet, and King.

<Name> was clothed with a white garment: <name> became a new creation and was clothed in Christ. This white garment was the outward sign of his Christian dignity. Father God, bring that dignity again to the surface of his life from the depths of his heart, and bring it unstained into the everlasting life of heaven. Amen.

<Name> received a lighted candle: This light was entrusted to us his parents to be kept burning brightly. <Name> was enlightened by Christ. We taught him to walk always as a child of the light. Holy Spirit, renew the flame of faith and enliven it in his heart. Remind him of all he was taught. Purify his understanding of the faith he was given in our home. When the Lord comes, may he go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

Almighty God, giver of life, You have called us by name and pledged to each of us Your faithful love. We pray for our child, <name>. Watch over him, Lord. Guide him Holy Spirit and help him grow in faith. Give him understanding and a quick concern for neighbors. Father God, help him to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, who was baptized Your Son and servant, who is our risen Lord. Amen.

God of grace, Father of us all, we pray for ourselves as parents. Help us to know You better, to love <name> with Your love, to teach <name> Your truth, and to example the story of Jesus in our interactions with him, so that Your word may be heard. Bring about Your plans for our family as You have promised, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Holy God, remind us of the promises given in our own baptisms, and renew our trust in You. Make us strong to obey Your will and to serve You with joy, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy Spirit, fulfill in <name> your calling as written in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen!