Sacrament of Baptism

St Teresa of Avila

Deacon Kerry Diver

Baptism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to the other sacraments.

Sacraments are outward (visible) signs of an inward (invisible) grace instituted by Christ for our sanctification.

“Grace is the living and loving presence of God in us.”

This grace sanctifies us, transforms us to a life in Christ and unites us more perfectly to Jesus.

Sacraments

Seven sacraments are categorized into three groups:

Initiation Baptism Confirmation Eucharist

Healing Reconciliation Anointing of the Sick

Service Holy Orders Matrimony

Baptism – the Sacrament

Example of Baptism as a Visible sign

Water is the sign.

We can see it, feel it, touch it, taste it, smell it

We all are familiar with the physical actions of water: It washes, cleanses, purifies It is also nourishing and life giving

Baptismal Grace

The spiritual action or grace that the water of Baptism accomplishes in us (that is invisible)

We are cleansed of all sin; purified and made holy

We are said to die with Jesus as we are submerged in the water but share in the resurrection of Jesus as we emerge from the water and are given a New Life as Children of God

We become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission

Baptism

Through Baptism:

We are considered heirs to the Kingdom of God

We are initiated into the Church, the People of God

We become part of a royal priesthood and sharers in the prophetic, priestly and kingly dignity of Christ.

Infant Baptism

The practice of infant Baptism is a tradition that dates back to the earliest days of the Church.

There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.

Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the children of God

Original Sin

Newer thoughts in the Church

Not as much the sin we are born with but the sin we are born into (The Sin of the World)

Hard to deny that we are born with a propensity to sin

Never a doctrine of Limbo in the Church

At one point in Church history it was taught that unbaptized children/infants who died went to Limbo. The existence of Limbo was never a formal teaching of the Church. We now believe that all salvation is a free gift of a loving and merciful God and feel that these infants, without sin, are at rest with their heavenly Father

Baptism and Faith

Baptism is the sacrament of faith.

In infant baptism the child is not able to come to baptism by his/her own faith and therefore relies on that faith that comes from the parents, godparents and the Church

The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop.

For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism.

Baptism and Salvation

The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.

John 3:5 “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

Matthew 28: 19-20 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Grace of Baptism

The Grace of Baptism

The two principal effects:

1. Purification from sins

2. New birth in the Holy Spirit

Sacramental Character

Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ.

Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ.

No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation.

Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

Rite of Baptism

A priest or deacon is the normal celebrant of baptism.

For a baptism to be considered valid:

Water

Trinitarian formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

In the case of an emergency anyone can baptize.

Symbols of Baptism

The symbols are used to tell the meaning behind the sacrament

Water

Oil

White Garment

Light/Candle

Symbols of Baptism

Water:

Life giving; Purifying

Cleansed of all sin

We receive a new life in Christ

Symbols of Baptism

Oil: Healing; Strengthening Bestowing of an office/responsibility

We are strengthened to resist the temptation of sin

We become part of a Royal Priesthood and share in the Kingly, Priestly and Prophetic dignity of Christ

Symbols of Baptism

White Garment:

New creation; Purity

New life in Christ

Symbols of Baptism

Candle: Christ present in the world through us

Christ is the Light of the World. Through baptism we share in Christ’s light and have to walk in the darkness of sin no more