Christening of Countess Zaria - Page 4

**Empress** · #61 02-03-2007, 08:19 PM

Well, it's a bit over the top for my taste, as christening gowns go.

**JessRulz** · #62 02-03-2007, 08:53 PM

Zaria is absolutely adorable!!!

And Luana too. I agree with Sister Morphine, Mabel needed to run a brush through her hair before leaving home. Then her ensemble would have looked near perfect!

And one last thing....the bows!! Why Mabel? WHY?!?!

rominet09 · #63 02-03-2007, 09:16 PM

Good looking children, so cute !

MoonlightRhapsody · #64 02-03-2007, 10:12 PM

The christening gown isn't so bad with the bow prints. Now, if it were actual bows..well...

Anyway, I like Mabel's hair. It looks soft and full of volume. I wish my hair would come out looking like that!

Lady Bluffton · #65 02-03-2007, 11:24 PM

Hopefully this comment is still on topic, keeping in mind our good administrator's wishes.

How do you get baptized without being affiliated with a particular denomination? I'm sorry, but that's a new one for me.

Who will perform the baptism; shouldn't that determine "what kind" of baptism it is???

**Empress** · #66 02-04-2007, 12:51 AM

Unfortunately I do not know that I can offer you an answer, but perhaps I can offer an idea, and someone else might know for sure.

I would imagine that one can be christened, but not affiliated with a particular denomination. Christenings are generally about being blessed as a child of God, Buddha, Mohammed, Allah, or whichever deity/God is the "head" of a particular belief system. So, having said that, I would imagine that these children, with their parents being protestant, are being blessed as a child of God, and will then be free to choose their affiliation as they grow older.

Lostriver · #67 02-04-2007, 02:47 AM

Luana and Zaria are very cute!

Henri M. · #68 02-04-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Bluffton

Hopefully this comment is still on topic, keeping in mind our good administrator's wishes.

How do you get baptized without being affiliated with a particular denomination? I'm sorry, but that's a new one for me.

Who will perform the baptism; shouldn't that determine "what kind" of baptism it is???

Anyone can perform a baptism. Any baptism in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is acknowledged by the major Christian Faiths.

What Prince Friso & Princess Mabel did, (and Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène) is that they gave their children a christian baptism but do not make them member of a certain denomination. Countess Luana and Countess Zaria will be raised and be learned the common Christian principles and morale and their parents hope that they will make their very own personal choice: for the Protestant Church, for the Roman-Catholic Church, for an Evangelical Church, whatever.

The Orange-Nassaus are flexible in that. During the Wedding of the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima, Padre Rafael Braun, the roman-catholic family-priest of the Zorreguietas did the Readings in Spanish. On request of the bride the Ave Maria was sung by a soprano, and all that during a Protestant service.

The children of Prince Friso and Princess Mabel were baptized by Huub Oosterhuis, a former Catholic priest, a poet, a writer, a theologist and the pastor of the Amsterdam Students Ecclesia, which is a religious center for all students from all Christian denominations.

Huub Oosterhuis is very close to the Queen and her family: he guided Prince Claus in his last phase of life and he emotioned the Netherlands with a sublime tribute during the State Funeral.

**Her_Majesty** · #69 02-04-2007, 06:32 AM

The photos are really nice. The girls are so adorable! They turned into cute kids!
Zaria's Christening-dress is really beautiful!

Henri M. · #70 02-04-2007, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empress

Well, it's a bit over the top for my taste, as christening gowns go.

At least the Orange-Nassaus make use of presentation gowns and christening gowns. And they used the centuries old silver broche of a dove (representing the Holy Spirit). Especially that last, with the knowledge that 300 years ago also a princely baby wore that jewel, is a very beautiful symbolism.

I have seen royal families doing baptisms without even a christening gown at all (Belgium, for an example). Or present them to the world, with simply a woollen suit (most other royal families) while at least in the Netherlands they use a presentation gown from 1880 and a presentation cushion from 1909.

Danielane · #71 02-04-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henri M.

At least the Orange-Nassaus make use of presentation gowns and christening gowns. And they used the centuries old silver broche of a dove (representing the Holy Spirit). Especially that last, with the knowledge that 300 years ago also a princely baby wore that jewel, is a very beautiful symbolism.

I have seen royal families doing baptisms without even a christening gown at all (Belgium, for an example). Or present them to the world, with simply a woollen suit (most other royal families) while at least in the Netherlands they use a presentation gown from 1880 and a presentation cushion from 1909.

The purists would say the christening gown (at least for the Catholics) is to be used only once the baby has been baptised: the parents enter in the church with the baby dressed in white but not the gown, and they dress the baby with the christening gown just after the baptism.
That is what has been done for my whole family.

**JessRulz** · #72 02-04-2007, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielane

The purists would say the christening gown (at least for the Catholics) is to be used only once the baby has been baptised: the parents enter in the church with the baby dressed in white but not the gown, and they dress the baby with the christening gown just after the baptism.
That is what has been done for my whole family.

That is what is done in my family too. I'm not Catholic, but Macedonian Orthodox

I think that it was very thoughtful of Friso & Mabel not to baptise their girls in one set religion, that way the girls won't have to feel pressured into the way the ways of that religion and can choose one they feel is best suiting to their beliefs and personality.

BeatrixFan · #73 02-04-2007, 07:17 AM

Can I ask a question? How can Zaria have been baptised if she doesn't belong to any church? I assume she's been baptised but just won't follow the protestant faith? AFAIK most major christian denominations have the doctrine of "one baptism for the forgiveness of sins" so is this what Friso and Mabel had her baptised for? The one baptism and then let her choose her own faith later on?

Henri M. · #74 02-04-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

The one baptism and then let her choose her own faith later on?

Exactly. This was done to Countess Luana and Countess Zaria, as well to Anastasia, Lucas and Felicia van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven. Their parents will raise them in the best christian tradition but hope they will make their own personal and conscious choice for a christian denomination (or not).

BeatrixFan · #75 02-04-2007, 08:21 AM

Ah I see. Thankyou Henri M. It seems a very wise choice to me. My parents let me make my own decision for a faith because there were two big faith divisions in the family. I think I benefitted from finding my own way and I'm sure that little Zaria will too.

Henri M. · #76 02-04-2007, 08:32 AM

HRH The Prince of Orange (Protestant) & HRH Princess Máxima of the Netherlands (Roman Catholic):
Princess Catharina-Amalia and Princess Alexia are baptized and raised into the Protestant Church. They will have an upbringing "in the protestant tradition". There will be "Catholic elements" in their upbringing.

HRH Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau (Protestant) and HRH Princess Mabel (Protestant):
Countess Luana and Countess Zaria have received a christian baptism but do not belong to a specific christian denomination. Their children will be raised in the christian tradition and the parents hope that they will make their own personal and conscious choice for a certain denomination.

HRH Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands (Protestant) and HRH Princess Laurentien (Protestant):
Countess Eloise, Count Claus-Casimir and Countess Leonore are (will be) baptized and raised into the Protestant Church.

HH Prince Maurits van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven (Protestant) and HH Princess Marilène (Roman Catholic):
Anastasia, Lucas and Felicia have received a christian baptism but do not belong to a specific christian denomination. Their children will be raised in the christian tradition and the parents hope that they will make their own personal and conscious choice for a certain denomination.

nokklav · #77 02-04-2007, 09:10 AM

that bow dress is a bit too much. that lady needs BOW HELP

BeatrixFan · #78 02-04-2007, 09:14 AM

I wonder if there's a Bows Anonymous, "Hello, my name is Mabel. I'm a Princess and I have a bow problem".

Henri M. · #79 02-04-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nokklav

that bow dress is a bit too much. that lady needs BOW HELP

It is an unique dress. Like Princess Mabel's wedding gown was unique.
And it is haute couture as well, by Viktor & Rolf.

Seen in that light, it is a very unique, very expensive and very royal christening gown.

And taste is in the eye of the beholder, of course. Some babies are dressed for their baptism with só much lace and organza that they almost are invisible under it.