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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

I Claim You for Christ

Richard J. Clark · April 8, 2016

HE SACRAMENT of baptism is rich in theology and deep meaning for our everyday lives, no less eternal life. It is also widely misunderstood—not that I will pretend to understand everything about it. One can witness or read the Rite of Baptism over and over and garner greater meaning with each experience. You can read the Rite of Baptism with the various forms here. This includes text in English and Latin.

DOWNLOAD a very simple Baptism Acclamation SATB or UNISON:

    * *  PDF • You Have Put on Christ (SATB) with congr. insert

During the Easer Vigil, many of us may have witnessed the baptism of adults. I always emphasize to the choir the vast importance of their work for the Elect. Not only do they appreciate the music enormously, the music is very much part of their formation. Why? The music is wedded to the liturgy and hence the sacraments they have prepared for months to receive. The impact of reverent and beautiful liturgy upon the newly baptized is immeasurable.

It is very emotional to witness adults baptized, confirmed, and entering into the Church. They have made a conscious choice to make a radical change in their lives. This kind of action strengthens the entire faith community and challenges all of us to experience metanoia in our lives.

This deliberate choice of an adult is obvious and easy to grasp. It is an occasion for great joy. For infants, there is something different, but equally extraordinary at work. It is the conscious choice of the entire Christian Community, and it is found in the Rite of Baptism.

NE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL experiences of my life was during the baptism of my second child. The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew they were coming, but time froze, and I was bowled over in my heart: “I claim you for Christ….”

Here is the text from the Reception of the Child:

79. N., the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Savior by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.

The conscious choice begins with the parents, but this choice is made manifest and is strengthened by the entire faith community. The priest, acting In persona Christi, is not alone claiming the child for Christ. Nor is the decision to do so merely the priest’s. It is in fact the entire Christian Community that claims the child as ministers of that child’s faith. (This is in part why parish communities are so important in our daily lives.) From the introduction to Baptism for Children:

4. “…it is clear that the faith in which the children are baptized is not the private profession of the individual family, but the common treasure of the whole Church of Christ.

It is nothing short of a fiercely passionate loving act to have one’s child clothed in Christ—to raise one’s child in the faith. And it isn’t easy. As a parent (and as a prolific sinner), I don’t know precisely how to do all the right things for my children. But my desire my for my children is for them to experience the love my wife and I have for our faith. As adults, I pray (as fervently as St. Monica) that they will continue their loving relationship with God through a life of faith and service in the Church.

IGHT NOW IT IS MY WIFE’S and my responsibility to nurture and develop that faith in our children. This formation begins with baptism: “The foundation of formation is the sacrament itself…” (Baptism for Children, Introduction §3)

In my own experience, while I had a very “strict” religious upbringing, it was the enthusiastic love for the Catholic faith my parents radiated that took deep root within my heart—roots that have stayed with me and my sisters throughout our lives. My wife has a similar story. There is no question we want to pass along the greatest jewel we have to offer our children: a loving relationship with God rooted in the faith of the Church. As parents, we could not possibly consider doing otherwise.

My wife and I are currently anticipating the birth of our fourth child. The sonogram above is that of our child. Did we make the decision to claim our child for Christ long before this image was taken?

You better believe it.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: baptism, RCIA Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Recent Posts

  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
  • Involving Women in the Communion?

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