Lesson 13
Sacrament of Baptism
In the Week Ahead...
Our Questions
Why such a fuss about being baptized? Do I really need to be baptized to be saved? What if I was baptized in another religion?
What if I lose my faith after I am baptized - would I have to repeat it before I die?
What to read
In UNITED STATES CATECHISM Chapter 15 : Baptism: Becoming a Christian
In your Bible:
Matthew 3:13-17;
John 3:5;
Romans 6:1-11
Catholic Practice
The taking of holy water when we enter the church is a “re-baptism” in a sense. We renew our baptismal vows, we wish to be cleansed of any conscious sin or failing on our part so that we can receive communion at that Mass.
Going Deeper
Getting personal about religion: heart to heart talks with your sponsor or small group.
1. What attracts you to Catholicism?
2. What makes you hesitate? Do the demands of the Church frighten you away? The culture of foreignness? The people?
3. How can baptism have any effect on an infant who can not even express a desire to be baptized?
4. If you were baptized as an infant, do you feel that you were trapped into something that you would have preferred having a say in? If you were not baptized as an infant, do you wish you had been?
Checking My Understanding
There is a set of fun and stimulating quizzes that will confirm what you know and challenge what you do not yet know. Go to St. Edward Church website < www.saintedwardshelton.org> and click on “Becoming Catholic”. Choose this lesson and do do the self-correcting on-line Quiz 15
Branching Out
Additional Reading
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH #1211-1284
Catholic Updates
KCs (Hart) Baptism
Videos
Blackrobe (ending scene when Huron tribe accepts baptism)
A River Flows Through it (1992) the water symbolism is powerful
Music
Rain Down
Wade In the Water
Supplementary
Baptism is the door that opens us to life in God’s Spirit. It does this by linking us to Jesus Christ in faith, freeing us from sin, making us adopted children of God the Father, and incorporating us into Christ’s church. (#1213)
The name “baptism” comes from the word which means “plunge” in Greek, and describes the action of a bath in which the plunge into water symbolizes a dying with Christ, and the emerging from the bath symbolizes a rising to a new life in Christ. (#1214)
Baptism in the Old Testament
The blessing of the baptismal water in the rite recalls the events of the Old Testament that prefigures this sacrament:
1. God’s Spirit hovering over the primeval waters (Gen 1:2)
2. the water bearing Noah’s ark is an instrument of salvation for the 8 people who were saved but brought death to the sinners.
3. the crossing of the Reed Sea liberated God’s people from slavery
4. miraculous crossing of the Jordan River brought the people into the promised land. (1217-1222)
Jesus himself was baptized by John in the Jordan. John’s baptism was intended for sinners and Jesus being God’s Son was sinless, so his submission to baptism becomes a manifestation of his self-emptying. (Phil 2:7) Because of his humility and obedience on this occasion, the Father revealed him as his “beloved Son” (Mt 3:16-17)
Jesus made baptism the sign of belief in him, and commanded that his followers initiate new believers through baptism (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38)
How Is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?
From the time of the apostles becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey in several stages: (1229-1233)
1. A hearing of the message of the Good News
2. Accepting the word entailing conversion
3. Professing the faith
4. Water baptism
5. Inpouring of the Holy Spirit (confirmation)
5. Admission to eucharistic communion
For a child, certain of these stages occur after baptism itself and is commonly called catechesis.
The Ceremony
Signing with the Cross (1235)
Proclamation of the Word of God (1236)
Exorcisms (1237)
Blessing of the Water (1238)
Cleansing with the water (1239-1240)
Anointing with chrism (confirmation) 1241-1242)
Clothing with white garment
Ceremony of light & recitation of the Our Father (1243)
Communion
Who Can Receive Baptism?
An adult needs to be a catechumen, that is someone who has professed faith in Christ and his church.
An infant should be baptized shortly after birth. The pastor will ascertain that the catechumenal steps in which the child can grow in faith will be carried out by the family. (1253-1254)
The Minister of Baptism
The ordinary minister would be a bishop, priest or deacon. In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized can baptized, can baptize if that person has the right intention. The rationale for this practice is the universal saving will of God and the necessity of baptism for salvation. (1256)
The Necessity of Baptism
Read John 3:5 to see how important baptism was to Jesus. To baptize is the mission of the church that she received from Christ. (1257)
The explicit desire to be baptized assures heaven to those who die before they can be baptized (baptism of blood or baptism of desire).
For children who are not capable of expressing this desire, the great mercy of God and the tenderness of Jesus towards children allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who die without baptism. (1261)
The Effects of Baptism
As in all the sacraments the effects are signified by the outward sign that is used in its celebration. (1262) In baptism this is the immersion in water, which signifies:
1. the cleansing from sin, all original and personal sin as well as the punishment for sin. Some of the temporal consequences remain such as suffering, illness, death and frailities in life as weaknesses of character.
2. “A new creature”, adopted child of God, a partaker of the divine nature, a member of Christ, an heir of heaven, a temple of the Holy Spirit. The grace of justification enables us to turn to God with the virtues of faith, hope and charity, and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
3. Incorporated into the Mystical Body of Christ. We are born into the new Chosen People of God of the New Covenant. (1267-1270)
4. An indelible spiritual mark called “character”. The Holy Spirit seals us for the day of redemption. (1271-1274) No sin can erase this mark. Given once for all, baptism cannot be repeated.
