A Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Dear brothers and sisters, 
through the paschal mystery 
we have been buried with Christ in baptism, 
so that we may walk with him in newness of life. 
And so, now that our lenten observance is concluded, 
let us renew the promises of Holy Baptism, 
by which we once renounced Satan and his works
and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church.

And so I ask you:

D

o you renounce sin, 
so as to live in the freedom of the children of God?

I do.

Lord, all I want to is live in the freedom you offer me.

I want to reject the unloving choices I have made,

and the sinful failures to love anywhere in my life.

I reject all injustice,

all violence,

all that disrespects the dignity of all human life

D

o you reject the lure of evil, 
so that sin my have no mastery over you?

I do.

Lord, I admit that some evil has a hold on me:

it is attractive, it has such powerful rewards,

it has become a habitual way for me to be myself.

Lord, I renew my commitment this day

to turn from that evil

and from letting any disordered attachment,

any empty promises master me,

and try to separate me from you.

By this promise, I commit myself

to greater courage in acting justly

and refusing to let unjust systems and structures

numb my conscience or dull my heart.

D

o you reject Satan, 
the author and prince of sin?

I do.

Lord, as I renew my the promises

that accompany my becoming one with you

in the baptism of dying to sin and rising to life,

I know that an Enemy tries to

tempt me to sin and to many dark patterns,

I now promise to you,

and to my sisters and brothers

who depend upon my fidelity,

that I renew my commitment

to reject that Enemy,

and all his ways of subverting

your reign and the coming of your kingdom.

D

o you believe in God, the Father almighty, 
creator of heaven and earth?

I do.

Lord, you made me and give me life every day.

I believe in you, I turn to you,

and I place my life,

and the graces I need each day,

in your loving hands.

D

o you believe in Jesus Christ, 
his only Son, our Lord, 
who was born of the Virgin Mary, 
suffered death and was buried, 
rose again from the dead, 
and is seated at the right hand of the Father?

I do.

Jesus, my Lord and Savior,

my life is in your hands.

I believe in you, I turn to you,

I commit myself to growing closer to you,

placing myself with you,

in love – compassionate, self-sacrificing love –

for others.

D

o you 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?

I do.

Holy Spirit of Jesus,

Jesus promised not to leave us orphans.

I so desire to be enkindled with

the fire of your love,

that I might be renewed in courage.

I believe in and renew my commitment to

your work among us.

I want to contribute to the unity that you desire for us.

I promise to be as merciful,

for I have known your mercy.

And I pledge to live my life each day on this earth,

full of faith in the resurrection Jesus gained for me.

A

nd may almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 
who has given us new birth 
by water and the Holy Spirit, 
and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins,
keep us by his grace,
in Christ Jesus our Lord, 
for eternal life.

Amen.

Lord, Our God,

this year’s journey to the waters of baptism

has renewed me.

I have come to know more intimately

the complexity of my weakness

and the depths of your love for me.

By your grace, I have come to experience

the mystery of the gift of life you offer.

Please help me to remain free and faithful

that I might grow as a servant of

Jesus’ own mission.

I ask this with growing faith in

the name of Jesus, my Lord.

Text of the Renewal of Baptismal Promises from the New Roman Missal, 3rd Edition.