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Dear friends,

through the paschal mystery

we have been buried with Christ in baptism,

so that we may rise with him to a new life.

Now that we have completed our lenten observance,

let us renew the promises we made at baptism

when we rejected Satan and his works.

And so:

Do you reject sin,

so as to live in the freedom of God's children?

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

Do you reject the glamor of evil,

and refuse to be mastered by sin?

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.

Do you reject Satan,

father of sin and prince of darkness?

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.

Do 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.

Do you 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?

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.

Do 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.

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

has given us a new birth

by water and the Holy Spirit,

and forgiven our sins.

May God also keep us faithful

to our Lord Jesus Christ

for ever and ever.

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.