In our Gospel we were presented with the issue of being present at the marriage feast without wearing the wedding garment which is proper.
In the Sacrament of Baptism the one to be baptized receives a white garment. In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite the priest says: “Receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have life everlasting.”
In the words of the Psalmist we are made aware of the effects of baptism by the receiver. And so we are told: “Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Thus it is through the Sacrament of Baptism that the receiver is made whiter then snow.
The traditional garment of the baptized then becomes the “alb.” This is the white garment that the priest wears at every Mass which is celebrated. The word “alb” comes from the Latin word “albus” which in English means “white.” Thus this garment calls to mind the reality that is set forth through the reception of this sacrament.
Upon every baptism preparation class that I give I always ask why the parents why they want their child to be baptized. There are many answers to this question, but one answer that I expect is the fact that it cleanses the receiver of all sin which includes original sin. It is very serious that original sin be washed away because orignal sin keeps us from the orignal innocence which was intended from the very beginning. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God.”
Despite the importance of baptism and thus too the reception of this white garment I more and more hear about those who refrain from baptizing their child. Some see no urgency in its importance while others desire to wait for their child to choose their faith for themself. It is a very serious sin if a parent decides to withhold baptism from their child and this should be confessed in the Sacrament of Confession with the resolve to baptize their child if it has already not been carried out.
Our Gospel gets the point across concerning this sacrament and may we thus propelrly provide it to the children who have been entrusted to our care. Likewise, may we come to see the importance of this white garment and thus come to protect it as best we can.
The smallest of sins stains this garment which has been entrusted to our care, but our Lord in His infinite mercy lifts us out of it. May we thus continue to entrust ourself to the infinite mercy of the Lord. Through the Sacrament of Confession we purify ourself and the stains that we have made in our baptismal garment which should be found to be whiter then snow.
