The
birth rituals of religions and ancient humans were and are of vital
importance to the family and the community. They were the group recognition
of the presence of a new member of the family and the community. Even
though the child is unaware of this ceremony and its meaning, it was
and is in the long run a very important ceremony for the infant and
the family. It is a recognition that the child is now a member of a
family and a community. The family and the community rejoice in the
birth of this new entrant to the world and specifically its place in
the life of the family and the community. The family and the community
are reminded that the raising of this infant into adulthood is the responsibility
of all who come in contact with him/her. It evokes a sense of responsibility
and commitment to the mental and physical health of the infant on the
part of the parents, siblings, close relatives and the community in
which the family lives. In religious ceremonies it involved the baptizing
of the infants with water (a thoroughly fitting symbol since the infant
was surrounded by water in its mother's womb; composes a large percent
of the infant's cell composition; will be used for bathing, recreation,
and as a source of life in its diet) in the Christian and pre-Christian
religions. The birth rituals emphasize the holding and nurturing of
the infant in this new and strange world as it has left the safety and
comfort of the womb.
CEREMONYFORTHENAMINGOF:
SON/DAUGHTER OF
DATE:
Grandparents:Blessed is he/she who comes in the name of God.
God
and Creator, happy parents have come into Your presence to voice the
longings of their hearts in prayer. Give them the wisdom to teach their
child to be faithful to the goodness of humanity, that he/she may grow
up with the knowledge that You are always near him/her, guiding and
sustaining him/her. Keep open the eyes of his/her spirit, that he/she
may ever be conscious of the beauty and wonder of Your world. And let
him/her learn to love the goodness that is in man and woman, that he/she
may ever nourish the goodness that has been implanted within him/her.
Though none can escape sorrow and pain, we humbly ask for him/her the
courage to face evil, the faith to transcend it, and the strength to
subdue it. Grant him/her health of mind and strength of body, that he/she
may enjoy fullness of years and live to do Your will in faithfulness.
Amen.
Blessed
is the Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, whose love and kindness
extend to all the world.
Mother:We have been blessed with the gift of new life.
We have shared love and pain and joy in bringing our son/daughter into
life and have been privileged to participate in the marvel and beauty
of creation.
Father:By the way in which we live, we aspire to teach
our son/daughter to become a caring and loving person. We hope that
in seeking to fulfill him/herself, he/she will also accept his/her responsibilities
to others and to his/her heritage. We dedicate ourselves to the creation
of a nourishing home and to a life of compassion for others, hoping
that our son/daughter will grow to cherish and emulate these ideals.
Father
& Mother:Praised are You,
O Lord our God, Source of Life, who causes parents to rejoice with their
children.
All
Assembled:
Praised
are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the Mystery of
creation.
Praised
are you, O Lord, Our God, King of the Universe, Creator of Everything for your
Glory.
Praised
are you, O Lord, Our God, King of the Universe, Creator of Humanity.
Praised
are you, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who created human beings in
your image after your likeness, and out of their very selves You prepared for
them a perpetual spiritual being. Praised are You, Lord, Creator of Humanity.
Praised
are you, O Lord, our God King of the Universe, who has such as these, your
creatures in your world.
Grandfather:Our God and God of all generations, we are
grateful for new beginnings; for the bond of new life that links one generation
to another. Thankful for the blessings of family, for the love and care that
brings meaning and happiness to our lives, we rejoice with our children at the
birth of their child, our grandchild.
Grandmother:May they grow together as a family in health
and in strength, in harmony, wisdom and love, their home filled with words of
compassion and acts of kindness.
May
we be enabled to share in the joy of seeing this child grow into adulthood, a
blessing to his/her family, his/her people and all humanity.
Mother:Joyful, I bring my son/daughter into humanity=s covenant: with God, with
knowledge, and with life:
Blessed
is the Lord, our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us through the
creation of life, and asked us to bring up our son/daughter with a sensitivity
to the needs of other humans.
Father:Blessed is the Lord, whose presence gives
light to all the world.
Gives
thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose love is everlasting.
This
is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Unison:Blessed is the Lord, Ruler of the Universe, Creator
of the fruit of the vine.
Blessed
is the Lord, Ruler of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining
us, and for enabling us to reach this hour of joy.
Grandfather
#2:O Lord, blessed be this hour
when we again open our hearts to glorify Your name for Your divine
wisdom and kindness. Today we celebrate the coming into humanity of
a new son/daughter. You have given to our grandson/granddaughter,
the potential for greatness upon the earth. May you bless this house
with health, happiness, and contentment so that all the members of
our families be able to serve You. May he/she grow in vigor of mind
to become an intelligent and informed human being; and may he/she
happily attain a life a of good deeds. Amen.
Grandmother
#2:Every person born into this world
represents something new, something that never existed before, something original
and unique. It is the duty of every person in Israel to know and consider
that he/she is unique in the world in his/her particular character... for
if there had been someone like him/her there would have been no need for him/her
to be in this world. Thus, he/she is called upon to fulfill his/her particularity
in this world.
Aunt:Psalm 8:
O
Lord, Our Lord, How majestic is Your name throughout the earth, You who have
covered the heavens with Your splendor! From the mouths of infants and
sucklings You have founded strength on account of Your foes, to put an end to
enemy and avenger. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the
moon and stars that You set in place. what is man that You have taken note of
him, that You have made him little less than divine, and adorned him with glory
and majesty; You have made him master over Your handiwork, laying the world at
his feet. The sheep and oxen, all of them, and wild beasts, too; the birds of
the heavens, the fish of the sea, whatever travels the paths of the seas. O
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name throughout the earth!
Mother:When we encircle him/her with love, he/she will
learn to be loving.
Father:When we are thankful for life=s blessings, he/she
will learn to be thankful.
Mother:When we express friendliness, he/she will learn
to be friendly.
Father:When we speak words of praise, he/she will
learn to praise others.
Mother:When we set an example of honesty, our son/daughter
will learn to be honest.
Father:When we practice patience, he/she will learn
to be patient.
Mother:When we confront misfortune with courage, he/she
will gain the strength to face adversity.
Father:When we live with faith and hope, our son/daughter
will grow to welcome each new dawn without fear.
Grandmother
#2:A human artist draws a figure on a
wall. Can he possibly draw the same figure on water? But the Holy One, Blessed
be He, creates a fetus in the womb of its mother C
in water itself! Thus it is said, AThere
is no artist like our God!@
A human artist paints the human form and must use many colors ...But the Holy
One, Blessed be He, creates a human being from a single drop!
Thus
it is said, AThere is
no artist like our God!.@
A
human artist fashions the human form, his creation cannot create others; but
the Holy One, Blessed be He, fashions human beings who in turn bring others
into the world!
Thus
it is said, AThere is
no artist like our God!@
In
contemplating such artistry, we contemplate a miracle. He/she is a miracle
of renewal, a new start, a new opportunity. The cycle of life continues: therefore,
we, a community in the gathering of the peoples, give this child the name
__________________________________________________________.
.
Unison:God of all life, sustain this child and let
him/her be known in among us as son/daughter of ________________________ & ________________________.
May
the father rejoice in his offspring and the mother be glad with her
son/daughter. May they teach him/her through word and deed the meaning of the a
successful life.Praise to the Lord for
He is good; His mercy endures forever.
May
this child, , grow
into adulthood as a blessing to his/her family and humanity.
Father:May God bless us and keep us.
May
God be with us and be gracious unto us. May God show you kindness and give us
peace.
Mother:Source of all life, our hearts are filled with
joy for the life which has been entrusted to us. Not with words alone shall we
voice our thanks, but with our striving to rear our child with love and
understanding and tender care.
Father:Bestow Your blessing on our child, that
he/she may grow in strength of body, mind and spirit. May he/she learn to love
all that is good and beautiful and true, to be a blessing to society and a joy
to him/herself. May our child find his/her way in the paths of life and by
learning how to do good deeds. Give us, O God, the wisdom, courage, and faith
that we as parents shall need to raise our child to be human and humane being,
a strong and happy person. Amen.
For other birth (naming) rituals, go to the following web sites:
