unit three the sacrament of baptism · pdf file · 2015-09-18ӹ lesson 6: baptism...

© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS

UNIT THREE

The Sacrament of Baptism

Lessons in This Unit ӹ Lesson 1: The Sacraments of Initiation

ӹ Lesson 2: Exploring the Sacrament of Baptism with Sacred Art

ӹ Lesson 3: Baptism in Salvation History

ӹ Lesson 4: The Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism

ӹ Lesson 5: The Need for and the Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism

ӹ Lesson 6: Baptism Is the Sacrament of Faith

Scripture Studied in This Unit

ӹ Genesis 1:2

ӹ Matthew 3:13-17

ӹ Matthew 19:14

ӹ Matthew 28:19-20

ӹ Mark 16:16

ӹ Luke 3:21-22

ӹ John 3:5

ӹ John 10:10

ӹ John 12:24

ӹ John 19:33-35

ӹ Acts: 2:38

ӹ Acts 2:42-47

ӹ Romans 6:4

ӹ Galatians 3:27-28

Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Lesson 1 ӹ 849, 1212, 1535, 2013

Lesson 2 ӹ 1213, 1215

Lesson 3 ӹ 1215, 1217 - 1225

Lesson 4 ӹ 1234 - 1245,

1278 - 1279, 1284

Lesson 5 ӹ 1257 - 1274

Lesson 6 ӹ 1253 - 1254

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Introduction

Baptism is the Sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word. By this

first of Sacraments, we are made members of Christ’s Church and cleansed of all sin, receiving a portion of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Baptism is necessary for salvation and has been prefigured throughout salvation history to prepare for its institution by Christ’s Baptism and His command to His Apostles. By Baptism, we are made new creations, and with the support of the whole Christian community, we advance on the journey toward salvation.

The Sacrament of SalvationThe Sacrament of Baptism is perhaps the most easy to understand of the Sacraments. A Sacrament is defined as “an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ, and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (CCC 1131). Further, the visible rites of the Sacraments “make present the graces proper to each Sacrament” and “bear fruit in those who receive them” (CCC 1131). Given this definition, Baptism clearly and tangibly fulfills all the requirement of a Sacrament.

Matter and FormIn the sacrament’s most fundamental form, the minister of Baptism immerses the person being baptized three times in water (or pours water three times upon his head) while saying the words given to us by Jesus, “I baptize you in the name of

the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This bath in the most essential of elements for life spiritually cleanses the baptized, removing all sin from his soul, including the stain of Original Sin inherited from Adam and Eve, as well as the temporal punishment for those sins. The sins of the baptized are replaced with sanctifying grace, the free and undeserved gift of God’s very life, which is necessary for salvation. Baptism also initiates the baptized into the Church, literally serving as a communal rite of passage that bestows on the person all the rights and privileges — as well as all the responsibilities — that come with being a member of Christ’s Church.

Baptism Instituted and PrefiguredJesus Himself was baptized at the beginning of His public ministry, not because He needed to be, but because it was fitting that He be baptized, in order to serve as our model of holiness and to show us the way to salvation. At the end of His earthly dwelling, in Matthew 28, Jesus commanded His Apostles to go to all the nations and make disciples of them, “baptizing them” in the Trinitarian formula we use today, and “teaching them to observe all” that He taught them. Jesus’ Baptism and His commissioning of the Apostles to baptize are the culmination of thousands of years of preparation for the Sacrament, as God prefigured the Sacrament of initiation throughout His saving work in salvation history. From the very beginning, when the

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Spirit of God hovered over the primordial waters, to Noah and the Great Flood, to the crossing of the Red Sea and the River Jordan, we have always understood the signs that have pointed the way to Baptism. God’s people pass from chaos, death, slavery, and sin, through powerful and life-giving waters, to new life in grace and freedom as a new creation.

The Fruits of BaptismThe sins of the baptized are forgiven and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are infused into their souls. The baptized are made new creatures in the sight of God, partakers of the divine nature and members of Christ Himself, co-heirs with Him to all God’s

promises. The baptized are made members of the Church and allowed access to all the other Sacraments by right and are tasked with a share in the mission of the Church, to share the Good News of the Gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ. An indelible spiritual mark is also placed on the baptized person’s soul that no sin can remove, marking him forever as belonging to God, set apart for the day of redemption and eternal life with Him.

Baptism is a visible sign that effects what it signifies, as given to us directly by Christ. The graces of Baptism, nurtured by the whole Christian community, can bear much fruit and lead the baptized on the journey toward salvation.

God’s people pass from chaos, death, slavery, and sin, through powerful and life-giving waters, to new life in grace and freedom as a new creation.

Baptism of Christ, by Annibale Carracci

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Connections to New York Religion Guidelines

Core Content ӹ Baptism is the Sacrament by which we

begin our life in the Church. We are reborn of water and the Spirit and share in the life of the risen Lord. Baptism frees us from Original Sin and takes away all personal sins.

Christian Living ӹ Each day we are called to live our

Baptismal promises by expressing our love for God and each other through word and action.

ӹ By Baptism we become members of a Church community committed to:

• sharing the Good News of Jesus with those who do not yet believe in Him

• helping all to holiness in Christ

• fostering respect for the dignity of each and every person

• building a peaceful society

• providing a just share of the earth’s resources for all

ӹ We have an obligation to do what we can, at our age level, to further this commitment.

Prayer and Worship ӹ A bishop, priest, or deacon is the

ordinary minister of Baptism. In an emergency, anyone can and should baptize.

ӹ The essential rite of Baptism is:

The immersing in water or pouring water on the candidate’s head while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

ӹ Significant symbols in the Sacrament of Baptism are:

• anointing before Baptism (oil of Catechumens)

• immersing in or pouring of water

• clothing with a white garment

• giving a lighted candle

• anointing after Baptism (sacred chrism)

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UNIT 3, LESSON OVERVIEW

Pacing Guide NoteAim to begin presenting Unit 3 in October.

Vocabulary ӹ Baptism

ӹ Original Sin

ӹ Prefiguration

ӹ Oil of Catechumens

ӹ Sign of the Cross

ӹ Sacred Chrism

ӹ Profession of Faith

ӹ Baptism of Blood

ӹ Baptism of Desire

ӹ Indelible Mark

ӹ Sanctifying Grace

ӹ Abundance

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UNIT 3, LESSON 1

UNIT 3, LESSON 1


ӹ CCC 849

ӹ CCC 1212

ӹ CCC 1535

ӹ CCC 2013

Vocabulary ӹ Sacraments of Initiation

ӹ Vocation

ӹ Holiness

ӹ Evangelization

Learning Goals ӹ The Sacraments of Initiation are

Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.

ӹ The Sacraments of Initiation make us members of the Church and strengthen us for our life’s journey.

ӹ Because of the Sacraments of Initiation, we are given the same vocation as all of Christ’s disciples: holiness and evangelization.

ӹ Holiness is to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves, in other words, to be a Saint.

ӹ Evangelization is to share the Good News of the Gospel by word and the example of our lives, in response to Jesus’ command to His Apostles to make disciples of all the nations.

The Sacraments of Initiation

BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

MATTHEW 22:37-39

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

MATTHEW 28:18-20

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Materials ӹ Handout A: The

Sacraments of Initiation

ӹ Appendix A: Saint Cards

ӹ Handout B: The Call to Holiness

ӹ Handout C: The Road to Emmaus

ӹ Handout D: How to Evangelize

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-upA. With a partner, have students brainstorm a list of

communities that they belong to. For example: Family, friends, sports team, school club, video game party, and so forth.

B. Ask students to share with their partners:

ӹ How do you know that you belong to each of these communities? Answers will vary but may include hangout with family, holiday/birthday parties, wearing a uniform, have a logo, play the same video game at the same time online, and so forth.

ӹ What responsibilities do you have in each of the communities that you belong to? Answers will vary but may include doing chores, going to practices, playing in games, and so forth.

Activity

A. Explain that the Church has seven Sacraments. (Have students name the seven Sacraments and write them on the board — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony.) Of those seven Sacraments, we recognize three that are called the Sacraments of Initiation because they introduce us to and make us members of the Church, strengthen us for our life’s journey, and give to us our calling as Christians.

B. Ask students which three of the Sacraments are the Sacraments of Initiation? Why? Answer may vary. Students will likely easily guess Baptism and maybe Confirmation. Many will guess Reconciliation because of the order the Sacraments are usually received in

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(Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation). In fact, Reconciliation is Sacrament of Healing.

C. Explain that the Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. They lay the foundation for the Christian life.

D. Distribute Handout A: The Sacraments of Initiation. Have students read the two quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and complete the Focus Questions.

Formative Assessment A. Review and discuss the answers to the focus questions from Handout A.

B. Highlight the two-part vocation of a disciple of Jesus Christ: holiness and evangelization. Write each on the board and explain that the Sacraments of Initiation make us members of the Catholic Church, making us disciples of Jesus Christ. They give to us the two-part vocation of all Christians, and strengthen us along the way to be able to carry out God’s calling in our lives. In the next few lessons we will explore exactly what it means to be holy and to evangelize.

DAY TWO

Warm-upA. Have a student stand and read aloud Matthew 5:48: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly

Father is perfect.”

B. Have a second student stand and read aloud Matthew 22:37-39: “He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

C. Ask students how Jesus’ saying from the second passage (Matthew 22:37-39) helps us to understand His saying from the first passage (Matthew 5:48). Answers will vary, but help students begin to see that to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect means to love Him first above all else and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

D. Explain that we are all called to be holy. Because of the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, we are given the vocation of holiness that all of Jesus’ disciples share, and we are strengthened by the Sacraments of Initiation to be able to attain holiness. To be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect is to be holy. And

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Jesus then tells how to be holy, which is to obey the two greatest commandments, to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

ActivityA. Explain that the Catechism tells us “the holiness of the People of God will grow in

fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many Saints” (CCC 2013). The lives of the saints give us powerful examples of how to be holy. Today, we are going to look at some of these examples of the saints and consider what they tell us for our own call to holiness.

B. Arrange students into groups of 3 or 4. Distribute to each group two different Saint Cards from Appendix A: Saint Cards and a copy of Handout B: The Call to Holiness to each student. Have each group read their Saint Cards and complete Handout B.

C. Circulate the room and assist as needed.

Formative Assessment Have each group choose one of the saints they studied, stand, and briefly present their findings, specifically how the saint loved and served God and how the saint loved and served others.

DAY TWO

Warm-Up A. Review the main ideas of the previous lessons. (The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism,

Confirmation, and the Eucharist. The Sacraments of Initiation make us members of the Church and strengthen us for our life’s journey. Because of the Sacraments of Initiation, we are given the same vocation as all of Christ’s disciples: holiness and evangelization. Holiness is to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves, in other words, to be a Saint.)

B. Have a student stand and read aloud Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’ ”

Lesson Plan (continued)

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UNIT 3, LESSON 1

C. Ask your students:

ӹ What commands did Jesus give to His Apostles? Make disciples of all nations, Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teach them to observe all that He commanded them.

ӹ What help did Jesus give to His Apostles to carry out His command? He told them that He had all power in heaven and earth and He would be with them always.

Activity A. Explain that Pope Paul VI once wrote that the Church “exists to evangelize.”

Evangelization is doing exactly what Jesus commanded His Apostles to do in Matthew 28. The Sacraments of Initiation, as we’ve learned, give to us the same vocation as all of Christ’s disciples, which includes evangelization.

B. Write the word “evangelization” on the board. Define it as: “The sharing of the Gospel by word and example of life.” The word “evangelization” comes from the Latin word evangelion which means “gospel.” The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Good News of salvation. At its heart, evangelization, that which we are called to do is to share the Good News in our lives. How do we do that? Let’s look at how Jesus taught us.

C. Arrange students into pairs or trios. Distribute Handout C: The Road to Emmaus to each student. Have each group read the story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke 24:13-35 (or read it together as a class). Then, have each group match the descriptions of the parts of the story to the verses they describe.

AssessmentA. Distribute Handout D: How to Evangelize to each group. Ask students to use the Road

to Emmaus in order to create a step-by-step plan for how to evangelize.

B. Circulate the room and assist as needed. Collect each group’s Plan of Evangelization worksheet when complete.

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HANDOUT A

The Sacraments of Initiation

Directions: Read each quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and complete the focus questions.

“The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ [is similar to] the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these Sacraments of Initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure [each more than the one before] the treasures of the divine life an advance toward the perfection of charity.”

POPE PAUL VI QUOTED IN CCC 1212

1. What do we share in through the grace of Christ?

2. What does the answer to number 1 bear a likeness to?

3. How is the Sacrament of Baptism a Sacrament of Initiation?

4. How is the Sacrament of Confirmation a Sacrament of Initiation?

5. How is the Sacrament of the Eucharist a Sacrament of Initiation?

6. What do we receive “in increasing measure” from the Sacraments of Initiation?

“Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are sacraments of Christian initiation. They ground the common vocation of all Christ’s disciples, a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world. They confer the graces needed for the life according to the Spirit during this life as pilgrims on the march towards the homeland.”

CCC 1533

7. What are the Sacraments of Initiation?

8. A vocation is God’s calling or destiny for each person. What is the two-part vocation of a disciple of Jesus Christ?

9. What do the Sacraments of Initiation give to help us live according to the Spirit?

10. What is the “homeland”?

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HANDOUT B

The Call to Holiness

Directions: Read the Saint Cards given to you and complete the chart.

SaintHow Did She/He Love and Serve God?

How Did She/He Love and Serve Others?

What Example Did This Saint Give for Your Own Call to Holiness?

Choose one of the saints you studied and write a prayer asking for her/him to pray for you in a special way.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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HANDOUT C

The Road to Emmaus

Directions: First, read the story of the Road to Emmaus from Luke 24:13-35. Then, match the descriptions below to the verses they describe.

Luke 24:13-35 The Road to Emmaus Jesus’ Example of Evangelization

1. Verses 13-24

2. Verses 25-26

3. Verse 27

4. Verses 28-29

5. Verses 30-31

6. Verses 32-35

Jesus’ Example of EvangelizationA. Jesus teaches the Disciples.

B. Jesus drew close and asked questions to see where the Disciples are on their faith journeys.

C. The Disciples are inspired to tell others about Jesus.

D. The Disciples invite Jesus to stay with them.

E. Jesus is revealed in the Sacraments, the breaking of the Bread — A Holy Mass.

F. Jesus challenges the Disciples’ faith and makes them question.

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HANDOUT D

How to Evangelize

Directions: Using the story of the Road to Emmaus and how Jesus evangelized the two disciples in it, adapt what Jesus did in the story to create a step-by-step plan for how to evangelize.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

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Answer KeyHandout A: The Sacraments of Initiation

1. The divine nature

2. The origin, development, and nourishing of natural life

3. The faithful are born anew by Baptism.

4. The faithful are strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation.

5. The faithful receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life.

6. The treasures of the divine life an advance toward the perfection of charity.

7. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are sacraments of Christian initiation.

8. A vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world

9. Grace

10. Heaven

Handout B: The Call to HolinessAnswers will vary.

Handout C: The Road to Emmaus1. B

2. F

3. A

4. D

5. E

6. C

Handout D: How to EvangelizeAnswers will vary, but should resemble the 6 steps from Road to Emmaus story.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 2

UNIT 3, LESSON 2


ӹ CCC 1213

ӹ CCC 1215


Learning Goals ӹ The Baptism of Jesus is the model for

our Baptism.

ӹ Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word.

ӹ Jesus invites us all to come to Him.

ӹ Baptism is the first step in the Christian journey to be more Christlike.

Exploring the Sacrament of Baptism with Sacred Art


After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

LUKE 3:21-22

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

MATTHEW 19:14

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Materials ӹ Handout A: Baptism of

Christ by John

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-Up

A. Project an image of the photograph on Handout A: Baptism of Christ by John by Bl. Fra Angelico. Give students several minutes to quietly view the art before you say or ask anything. Allow them to come up and stand closer to the image to examine details.

B. Once several minutes have passed, ask students:

ӹ What do you first notice about this work of art?

ӹ What do you like about this work of art?

ӹ How does this painting make you feel?

ӹ What is happening in this picture? Jesus is being baptized by John the Baptist.

ӹ This work of art is called Baptism of Christ by John and was painted by Bl. Fra Angelico in the fifteenth century. It is a special kind of art called a fresco. Does anyone know what a fresco is? A fresco is a painting done on wet plaster so that the paint dries as the wet plaster dries.

ActivityPut students in small groups and give each group a laminated copy of Handout A: Baptism of Christ by John. Have them discuss the questions on the back of the handout with each other. During this time, focus on keeping students intent on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in unexpected ways.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 2

Formative Assessment A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussions, keeping them on task, and

offering insights or clarification where needed.

B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the artist about his painting and turn it in.

DAY TWO

Warm-UpProject once again an image of Baptism of Christ by John and read aloud a few of the most interesting questions offered by the student groups the previous day. Allow students to share their reactions and other personal responses to the art.

ActivityA. Give students copies of the art, and have them skim over the questions they discussed

the previous day. Then call on groups in turn to share their answers to each of the questions. Conclude the discussion with the question of how the artist probably wanted the people who viewed his painting to feel.

B. Project the Catechism of the Catholic Church definitions of Baptism on the board: “the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word” (CCC 1213) and “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1215).

Ask:

ӹ What does the prefix “re-” usually mean? To do something again.

ӹ What does it mean to generate something? To create or bring it into being.

ӹ How does this word relate to similar words, such as:

• Genesis

• Genetic

• Genealogy

• Gender

• Genuine

ӹ What other words can you add to this list?

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Formative AssessmentAsk:

ӹ How does the fresco illustrate the Catechism definitions of Baptism? Answers will vary.

ӹ How does the fresco help us better understand the definition of Baptism? Answers will vary.

DAY THREE

Warm-Up A. Have a student stand and read aloud Matthew 19:14:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

B. Ask students:

1. How should we treat people (children and adults) who are seeking God and His love? Answers will vary.

2. What is the first step for the typical person to begin to seek God in his or her life and to follow Christ? Be baptized and participate in the Church.

3. What are some ways we can imitate Christ’s love? Answers will vary. Some ideas to add:

ӹ Act as witnesses of Christ’s love, loving our neighbor and forgiving our enemies.

ӹ Practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy, including informing the ignorant and counseling the doubtful. Help the ignorant and the doubtful understand why they should be baptized.

ӹ Support steps others take toward faith, even if those steps are not as big or as mature as we might want for them.

ӹ Read and reflect on the Beatitudes as a basis for action.


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UNIT 3, LESSON 2

Activity and AssessmentHave students write out and commit to memory the following Bible verses, which complement all the lessons in this unit. Give students a few minutes each day to study them and practice recitation and writing. Before completing this unit, select one or two of these verses to have students write out from memory as a quiz at the end of the unit. Use the Blank Copywork Page at the beginning of the book for these memorization quizzes. Students should also be able to recite all of the memorized Scripture.

Students should also be able to identify the work of art in this lesson. You may wish to give extra points to students who can identify not only the title of the work but also the artist, time period, and location of the work.

ӹ “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

MATTHEW 28:19-20

ӹ Jesus answered, “Amen, amen I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

JOHN 3:5

ӹ “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

JOHN 10:10

ӹ “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

JOHN 12:24

ӹ Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

ACTS 2:38

ӹ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

GALATIANS 3:27-28

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Bl. Fra Angelico, The Baptism of Christ, c. 1437-1446, fresco. Courtesy Museo San Marco, Florence, Italy.

DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW .SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS .ORG

Baptism of Christ by JohnBY BL. FRA ANGELICO (C. 1437-1446)

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Baptism of Christ by John, by Bl. Fra Angelico (c. 1437-1446)

HANDOUT A

Baptism of Christ by John

Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates.

Conversation Questions

1. There are six people in this fresco. Try to identify them. What are they doing?

ӹ Who are the two figures kneeling on the left?

ӹ We see the Baptism of Christ. Who is baptizing Him?

ӹ Who are the two figures on the right?

2. Artists use placement and light to draw our eye to important things. When you look at this fresco, where does your eye naturally go? What or whom do you look at first? Next? What or whom are you drawn to focus on the longest?

3. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of this fresco. “After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ ” (Luke 3:21-22)

ӹ How did the artist portray the Holy Spirit?

ӹ How did he portray the voice of the Father?

4. Matthew’s Gospel also tells the story of this fresco, but in a different way. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ ” (Matthew 3:13-17).

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ӹ How are the two versions of Jesus’ Baptism different?

ӹ How are they the same?

ӹ Is there anything in the fresco that shows that John the Baptist did not feel worthy to baptize Jesus? How might you have changed the painting to include evidence of this conversation?

5. Why do you think Jesus didn’t just baptize Himself?

6. Why do you think Jesus’ halo is different from everyone else’s?

UNIT 3, LESSON 2

Answer KeyHandout A: Baptism of Christ by JohnDiscussion Questions

1. On the left are angels holding garments to clothe Christ. In the center are Christ and John the Baptist. On the right are Christ’s Blessed Mother and St. Dominic, who appears to be preparing to compose meditations on the scene.

2. Answers will vary.

3. The Holy Spirit appears as a dove at the top of the fresco. The Father’s voice is represented by the swirling clouds around the dove, or perhaps by the rays of light coming from the dove toward Jesus.

4. They are different because the conversation between Jesus and John does not appear in Luke’s Gospel. They are the same because John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove upon Jesus, and God speaks, saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” There is nothing obvious in the fresco that shows that John did not feel worthy; however, Jesus looks different from everyone else in the image. He is clearly set apart from the others and has a certain glow coming from Him. This suggests the divinity of Jesus that John recognized from the beginning.

5. Matthew’s Gospel gives us a clue as to why Jesus didn’t just baptize Himself. John the Baptist questions why Jesus was coming to him to be baptized, explaining that it was Jesus who should be baptizing John. John clearly understood Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus’ response to John provides the answer to both questions: “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Just as it was fitting for John to baptize Jesus, it was not fitting for Jesus to baptize Himself. Jesus’ Baptism served as a model for all of us for how to begin our journey of faith. Jesus, who was fully human, like us in all things but sin, had no need of Baptism but allowed Himself to be baptized in the same way that all of us need Baptism, in order to show us the way to the Father. He entrusts baptism — along with the other Sacraments — to His ministers.

6. It indicates that He is the Divine Son of God.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 3

UNIT 3, LESSON 3


ӹ CCC 1215

ӹ CCC 1217 - 1225


ӹ Indelible Mark

ӹ Original Sin

ӹ Prefiguration

Learning Goals ӹ Baptism is the Sacrament of

regeneration through water in the word.

ӹ Baptism is prefigured throughout salvation history.

ӹ Jesus Himself instituted Baptism as the Sacrament necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

ӹ Jesus commanded His Apostles to baptize all the nations.

Baptism in Salvation History


But the Israelites had walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water as a wall to their right and to their left.

EXODUS 14:29

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

JOHN 3:5

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Materials ӹ Handout A: Baptism

ӹ Handout B: Baptism Prefigured in the Old Testament

ӹ Handout C: Jesus’ Baptism

ӹ Handout D: Easter Vigil Blessing of the Baptismal Water

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-UpA. Arrange students in pairs or trios. Have each group

create a list of as many uses for water as they can think of. Answers will vary but might include: drinking, cooking, bathing, swimming, washing cars, watering plants, rain, and so forth.

B. Have groups share their lists with the class and keep a list on the board.

C. Wrap up by asking how important water is to our lives. Ask students to give some examples and explain.

ActivityDistribute Handout A: Baptism and have students read it and complete the focus and reflection questions.

Formative Assessment A. Review and discuss answers to Handout A.

B. Have a student stand and read aloud John 19:33-35:

“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe.”

C. Explain that the Church understands this moment as the birth of the Sacraments of the Church, and specifically, Baptism and the Eucharist. Help students understand that the blood that poured from Jesus’ side represents the Eucharist, and the water from Jesus’ side represents Baptism.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 3

DAY TWO

Warm-UpHave students turn to a neighbor and share one thing that they learned about Baptism from the previous lesson. Then, ask for a few volunteers to share with the whole class to recap the main ideas of the previous lesson.

ActivityA. Explain that all the Sacraments are prefigured in the Old Testament. That means

that certain events and people are signs and symbols of the later Sacrament. They foreshadow or foretell the Sacrament that would later be instituted by Jesus in the New Testament. This helps us see Scripture as a unified whole.

B. Arrange students in seven groups. Distribute Handout B: Baptism Prefigured in the Old Testament to each student. Assign each group one of the Scripture passages from the handout and have them complete the sections of the chart for their assigned passage.

Formative Assessment A. Arrange students in new groups that contain at least one student from each of the

original seven groups. Have students report their findings about their original assigned Scripture passage to the other students in their new group. The rest of the students in the group should fill in the rest of their charts. Circulate around the room and assist as needed.

B. When this task has been completed, review and discuss the correct answers.

DAY THREE

Warm-UpA. Review the main ideas of the previous lesson. (God prepared His people throughout

salvation history to receive the Sacrament of salvation. The sacred authors of the Old Testament used water imagery to convey the message of death, life, and rebirth.)

B. Have a student stand and read aloud Matthew 28:19-20:

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“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

C. Have a student stand and read aloud John 3:5: “Jesus answered, ‘Amen, amen I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.’ ”

D. Ask:

ӹ What command does Jesus give His disciples? To baptize all nations and teach them everything He taught them.

ӹ What does Jesus say is necessary in order to enter the kingdom of God? Being born of water and Spirit, or Baptism.

E. Explain that Jesus instituted, or originated, the Sacrament of Baptism during His public ministry. In fact, He began His public ministry with His own Baptism.

Activity A. Arrange students in pairs. Distribute Handout B: Jesus’ Baptism to each student and

have them answer the questions using the story of Jesus’ Baptism in Matthew 3:13-17.

B. When complete, review and discuss the answers to the questions from the handout.

AssessmentA. Project or distribute the prayer from the Roman Missal, Easter Vigil 42: Blessing of

Water, found on Handout C: Easter Vigil Blessing of the Baptismal Water.

B. Explain how the sacred authors of Scripture used water as a prefiguring of the Sacrament of Baptism. During the Easter Vigil, those who have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Baptism are publicaly baptized and welcomed into the Church by the entire Body of Christ. Before that happens, the priest leads the congregation in this prayer, recounting all the ways God prepared His people for Baptism throughout salvation history.

C. Read the prayer to your students as they follow along. Then ask:

ӹ Which of the Scripture passages we’ve been working with over the past few lessons are referenced in this prayer?

ӹ How does this prayer incorporate the themes of life and death?

ӹ What does this prayer tell us about the need for Baptism in our Christian life?


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BACKGROUND ESSAY

Baptism

Directions: Read the essay and answer the focus and reflection questions.

Water is essential to life on Earth. Over 70 percent of the planet is covered

with water, and almost 60 percent of the human body is water. Water is absolutely necessary for plants to grow and for animals to drink. In fact, a human being can survive only a few days without water. Water is also powerful and dangerous. Rainstorms can flood the land and destroy any buildings in the way. Water can take life just as easily as it gives it.

Not only is water important for our physical lives; it is equally important for our spiritual lives. We must receive the Sacrament of Baptism in order to receive salvation. Baptism washes away sin, gives us a new life in the Holy Spirit, and makes us members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Like all Sacraments, the rite of Baptism requires the speaking of words. You may have been to a Baptism or learned about what is done in a Baptism. The priest pours water on the head of the person being baptized (or immerses him or her in water) and calls on the name of the Holy Trinity: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

All sins are forgiven through Baptism, including Original Sin. Our broken relationship with God is restored, and we become the adopted children of the Father: We can now call Him Father just as Jesus does!

Baptism makes an indelible (or permanent) mark on our soul. Therefore, it can be received only once. The baptized person receives sanctifying grace, which is God’s life in us.

Death and RebirthGraces comes from Jesus’s death on the Cross. But what does Baptism have to do with death? We often think of Baptism as going along with birth. It is a rebirth in the Holy Spirit, and we typically baptize newborns. But it is about more than birth.

For there to be rebirth, there must first be death. We are all born into life, but that life is in a broken relationship with God because of Original Sin. That life must end

Baptism of Christ, by Annibale Carracci

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Focus and Reflection Questions1. How is water essential to life on earth?

2. How is water essential to our spiritual lives?

3. What are the words spoken at Baptism?

4. What is the result of having Original Sin forgiven in Baptism?

5. What is the purpose of the indelible mark Baptism places on our souls?

6. What is the “death” that happens in Baptism?

7. How does Baptism give us new life?

8. What is the definition of Baptism?

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever been to a Baptism? What was the celebration like?

2. Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation. In some ways, it is a rite of passage — an experience you have to go through to get to other, bigger, and better experiences. Some common rites of passage include: your first day of school, losing your baby teeth, and playing in your first sports event. How does Baptism go beyond these rites of passage? In other words, why is Baptism more than just a rite of passage?

before we can be born again to a new life. Sin is a sort of death, so we are reborn when we are freed from those sins. Baptism allows us to share in Christ’s death for us on the Cross and His rising to new life. Some of the symbols of that new life include white garments and a candle.

St. Paul said, “You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). Baptism is truly “the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word” (CCC 1213).

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HANDOUT B

Baptism Prefigured in the Old Testament

Directions: Read the given Scripture passages and respond to the questions in the boxes on the chart.

Describe How Water Appears in the Passage.

How is the Water Connected to Life or Death?

1. Genesis 1:1-3

2. Genesis 7:11-23

3. Exodus 2:1-10

4. Exodus 8:20-24

5. Exodus 14:23-30

6. Exodus 17:1-7

7. Joshua 3:14-17

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Reflection Questions1. Why do you think John did not want to baptize Jesus at first?

2. Do you think Jesus needed to be baptized? Explain why or why not.

3. If Jesus did not need to be baptized to remove sin, why did He have John baptize Him? What clues can you find in the text?

4. How do Jesus’ words from John 3:5, “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit,” help us to understand why Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized?

5. Look up Genesis 1:2. The Hebrew word for “wind” is ruah, which can also be translated as “spirit.” The sacred author is explaining how the Spirit of God swept over the waters of creation. How is the end of the story of Jesus’ Baptism similar to Genesis 1:2? How does this help us understand what happens at Baptism?

HANDOUT C

Jesus’ Baptism

Directions: Read the Scripture passage and discuss and record your answers to the reflection questions.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

MATTHEW 3:13-17

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HANDOUT D

Easter Vigil Blessing of the Baptismal Water

O God, who by invisible power accomplish a wondrous effect through sacramental signs and who in many ways have prepared water, your creation, to show forth the grace of Baptism;

O God, whose Spirit in the first moments of the world’s creation hovered over the waters, so that the very substance of water would even then take to itself the power to sanctify;

O God, who by the outpouring of the flood foreshadowed regeneration, so that from the mystery of one and the same element of water would come an end to vice and a beginning of virtue;

O God, who caused the children of Abraham to pass dry-shod through the Red Sea, so that the chosen people, set free from slavery to Pharaoh, would prefigure the people of the baptized;

O God, whose Son, baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan, was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and, as he hung upon the Cross, gave forth water from his side along with blood, and after his Resurrection,

commanded his disciples: “Go forth, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” look now, we pray, upon the face of your Church and graciously unseal for her the fountain of Baptism.

May this water receive by the Holy Spirit the grace of your Only Begotten Son, so that human nature, created in your image and washed clean through the Sacrament of Baptism from all the squalor of the life of old, may be found worthy to rise to the life of newborn children through water and the Holy Spirit.

Baptismal font at Saint Peter’s Basilica

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Answer KeyHandout A: Baptism1. Over 70 percent of the planet is covered with water, and almost 60 percent of the

human body is water. Water is absolutely necessary for plants to grow and for animals to drink. In fact, a human being can survive only a few days without water. Water is also powerful and dangerous. Rainstorms can flood the land and destroy any buildings in the way. Water can take life just as easily as it gives it.

2. We must receive the Sacrament of Baptism in order to receive salvation. Baptism washes away sin, gives us a new life in the Holy Spirit, and makes us members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

3. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

4. Our broken relationship with God is restored, and we become the adopted children of the Father: We can now call Him Father just as Jesus does.

5. It shows that we belong to God and gives us sanctifying grace.

6. The life of sin and our broken relationship with God must die before we are reborn into new life in Christ.

7. Baptism allows us to share in Christ’s death for us on the Cross and His rising to new life. Some of the symbols of that new life include white garments and a candle.

8. The Sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.

Reflection Questions: Answers will vary.

Handout B: Baptism Prefigured in the Old Testament1. A mighty wind (the spirit of God) hovers over the water./All of creation comes out of

this.

2. It rained for forty days and forty nights and flooded the earth./Everything but Noah and his family was killed or destroyed.

3. Baby Moses was placed in a basket in the Nile./Moses was spared from death and brought to new life with Pharaoh’s daughter.

4. The first plague: God turns the water of the Nile to blood./The Nile is the source of life in Egypt, and no one could use or drink its water.

5. The waters of the Red Sea part./The Israelites cross through the water from slavery on one side to new life on the other. The Egyptian soldiers perish when the waters of the sea crash down upon them.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 3

6. Moses brings water forth from a rock according to God’s command./The Israelites survive in the desert because of the water God provided for them.

7. The water of the Jordan River rose up to one side to let the Israelites cross on dry land./The Israelites cross into the life God promised to them in the Promised Land.

Handout C: Jesus’ Baptism1. Answers may vary. Lead students to understand that John understood that Jesus was

the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God and therefore John felt unworthy to baptize Jesus.

2. Some students may say yes, and some may say no. They should explain their reasoning. Ultimately, no, Jesus did not need to be baptized in the same way we do. Since Jesus is God, He was not born with Original Sin and did not have any sin. Therefore, Jesus did not need to be baptized like the rest of us for the removal of sin.

3. Jesus said, “[I]t is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” It was fitting and appropriate for Jesus, who was fully human, to show us as an example the path to holiness and salvation.

4. Although Jesus is God and did not need Baptism, He was showing us the necessity of it for our own spiritual lives. We all must be baptized in order to attain Heaven.

5. The Hebrew word for “wind” is ruah, which can also be translated as “spirit.” In other words, in Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God was present over the waters of creation; much like at Jesus’ Baptism, as well as our own, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, descends upon us, who are made new creations through Baptism. Our sinful selves are put to death, and a clean, sinless, new creation emerges from the water.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 4

UNIT 3, LESSON 4


ӹ CCC 1234 - 1245

ӹ CCC 1278 - 1279

ӹ CCC 1284

Vocabulary ӹ Oil of catechumens

ӹ Sign of the Cross

ӹ Sacred Chrism

ӹ Profession of Faith

Learning Goals ӹ The matter, form, minister, recipient,

effects, and symbols of the Sacrament of Baptism

The Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism


For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

GALATIANS 3:27-28

But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.

ROMANS 6:17

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Materials ӹ Handout A: Baptism Pre-

Assessment

ӹ Handout B: The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer

ӹ Handout C: Baptism Post-Assessment

ӹ Handout D: Symbols of Baptism

ӹ Handout E: Symbols of Baptism Worksheet

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-UpDistribute Handout A: Baptism Pre-Assessment to each student. Have students answer true or false for each statement. Collect completed handouts for comparison at the end of the lesson.

ActivityArrange students in pairs or trios. Distribute Handout B: The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer to each student. Have students complete the handout together (the sections “Matter” through “Recipient”). Circulate around the room to assist as needed.

Formative Assessment A. Review and discuss answers to Handout B.

B. Distribute Handout C: Baptism Post-Assessment to each student. Have students answer true or false for each statement. Collect completed handouts for comparison with the pre-assessment.

DAY TWO

Warm-UpA. Have a student stand and read aloud Galatians 3:27-28:

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

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UNIT 3, LESSON 4

B. Ask:

ӹ What does this passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians make you think of? Answers will vary but might include ideas about putting on clothing. Some students might be confused by the idea of putting on Christ.

ӹ What important idea do you think St. Paul is explaining about Baptism? In Baptism, when we “put on Christ” and become “Christ” (which means “anointed”) ourselves, we then become one Body, one People of God. We are all equal in the eyes of God by virtue of our Baptism.

C. Tell students that you will now explore some of the important symbols of Baptism. As St. Paul explained, we “put on Christ” in Baptism, which has significant meaning. There are symbols of this action that help us understand what St. Paul was talking about.

ActivityA. Distribute Handout D: Symbols of Baptism and Handout E: Symbols of Baptism

Worksheet to each student. Have students read Handout D and complete the fill-in-the-blank activity on Handout E.

Formative Assessment A. Review and discuss answers to Handout E.

B. Add the key symbols of the Sacrament of Baptism to the “Symbols” section of Handout B: The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer from the first lesson.

Lesson ExtensionIf you are able, bring to class real examples of some of the symbols of Baptism, such as a baptismal candle, a white garment, and the sacred oils.

DAY THREE

Warm-UpReview the main ideas of the previous lessons by adding the information from the past two days’ lessons to the Baptism section of the large classroom Sacraments Chart. Use Handout B: The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer as a reference.

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Activity and AssessmentA. Have students create a foldable pamphlet that creatively explains the Sacrament of

Baptism to someone who might not know what Baptism is. Pamphlets should include the following:

ӹ a basic description of the rite of Baptism (matter, form, minister, recipients)

ӹ the symbols of Baptism and what they represent

ӹ the key effects of Baptism (although these will be further addressed in the next lesson)

ӹ key Scripture passages and Catechism quotes


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HANDOUT A

Baptism

Directions: Write “T” if the statement is true and “F” if the statement is false.

True or False?

____________________1. Anyone can baptize another unbaptized person in an

emergency.

____________________2. Baptism places a temporary mark on our souls that can be

removed by sin.

____________________

3. The person being baptized is immersed or sprinkled with water four times, once each of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin Mary.

____________________ 4. We receive sanctifying grace from the Sacrament of Baptism.

____________________ 5. All sins, including Original Sin, are forgiven at Baptism.

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HANDOUT B

The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer

Directions: Complete the graphic organizer by matching the Catechism quotes on the next page to what they are describing in the left column. Either place the letter of the matching Catechism quote in the space provided or write your own summary.

Baptism Catechism Quotes

Matter

Form

Effects

Minister

Recipient

Symbols

Scripture

CCC

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Baptism Quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:A. “The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church,

also the deacon.” (1256)

B. “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.” (1246)

C. “Baptism incorporates us into the Church.” (1267)

D. “This triple infusion is accompanied by the minister’s words: ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’” (1240)

E. “Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn.” (1271)

F. “Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ.” (1272)

G. “Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new.” (1247)

H. “The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification.” (1266)

I. “Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate’s head.” (1239)

J. “By Baptism, all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” (1263)

K. “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 freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called.” (1250)

L. “Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte ‘a new creature,’ an adopted son of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1265)

M. “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (1240)

N. “In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.” (1256)

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HANDOUT C

Baptism Post-Assessment

Directions: Write “T” if the statement is true and “F” if the statement is false.

True or False?

____________________1. Anyone can baptize another unbaptized person in an

emergency.

____________________2. Baptism places a temporary mark on our souls that can be

removed by sin.

____________________

3. The person being baptized is immersed or sprinkled with water four times, once each of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin Mary.

____________________ 4. We receive sanctifying grace from the Sacrament of Baptism.

____________________ 5. All sins, including Original Sin, are forgiven at Baptism.

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HANDOUT D

Symbols of Baptism

There are many symbols in the Sacrament of Baptism. Each represents

a different invisible truth happening within the celebration of the Sacrament. By recognizing these symbols and participating in the words and actions of the Sacrament, the newly baptized person is introduced to the many blessings of the Sacrament of Baptism.

The Sign of the Cross is made on the person to be baptized. This begins the celebration of the Sacrament and signifies the grace of redemption won for us by Christ on the Cross.

The person is anointed with the oil of catechumens as a renunciation, or denial, of Satan and sin.

The person to be baptized must make a profession of faith, or in the case of infant Baptism, the parents make a profession of faith for their child. The words spoken in this profession of faith confess belief in the most important teachings of the Catholic Faith that will be entrusted to the person in Baptism.

The baptismal water is blessed by a priest, who asks the Holy Spirit to come upon the water so that the baptized may be “born of water and the spirit” as Jesus commanded.

At the moment of Baptism, the person is immersed in or sprinkled with water three times while the minister says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.” The immersion in water signifies the death of sin. The triple immersion or sprinkling represents the newly baptized person’s entry in the life of the Trinity.

After the Baptism, the person is anointed with sacred chrism or holy oil. This anointing incorporates the person into Christ, who is Priest, Prophet, and King. In other words, the baptized becomes Christ, and shares in Jesus’ priestly, prophetic, and kingly roles. This is the same oil that will be used to anoint the person in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The baptized person is given a white garment that signifies that he has “put on Christ” and has been washed clean of the stain of sin.

The baptized person is also given a candle lit from the Easter candle. This symbolizes that Christ has enlightened his life so that he might be “the light of the world.”

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HANDOUT E

Symbols of Baptism Worksheet

Directions: Fill in the blanks with terms from the boxes. Each blank tells you which box to choose a term from.

Box Box

White Garment

Sacred Chrism (Holy Oil)

Candle

Baptismal Water

Immersion in or Sprinkling with

Profession of Faith

Sign of the Cross

Oil of Catechumens

Grace of Redemption

Renunciation of Satan

Entrusted at Baptism

Born of Water and Spirit

Death to Sin

The Life of the Trinity

Priest, Prophet, and King

Put on Christ

The Light of the World

1. The ____________________ is made upon the person at the beginning of the celebration.

It symbolizes the ____________________ Jesus won for us on the Cross.

1. The minister anoints the person with ____________________ as a sign of her

____________________.

1. The person (or his parents) makes a ____________________ as a public sign of his

acceptance of the Faith of the Church that will be ____________________.

1. In order for the person to be ____________________, the Church blesses the

____________________ with a special prayer that asks God through His Son, to send the

Holy Spirit upon it.

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1. The Sacrament is performed by ____________________ the baptismal water three times

to signify ____________________ and entry into ____________________.

1. The post-Baptism anointing with ____________________ incorporates the person into

Christ, giving her a share in His roles of ____________________.

1. The ____________________ symbolizes that the baptized has ____________________

and is now cleansed of the stain of sin.

1. Lit from the Easter Candle, the ____________________ symbolizes that Christ has

enlightened the person and she has become ____________________.

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Answer KeyHandout A and C: Baptism Pre- and Post-Assessment 1. True

2. False

3. False

4. True

5. True

Handout B: The Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer


Matter “Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate’s head.” (1239)

Form “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (1240)

Effects Baptism incorporates us into the Church. (1267)

“I baptize you in the name of the Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn.” (1271)

“Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ.” (1272)

“The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification.” (1266)

“By Baptism, all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” (1263)

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Effects (cont.)

“Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte “a new creature,” an adopted son of God, who has become a “partaker of the divine nature,” member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1265)

“The baptized have “put on Christ.” Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies.” (1227)

Minister “The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon.” (1256)

“In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.” (1256)

Recipient “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.” (1246)

“Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new.” (1247)

“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 freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called.” (1250)

Symbols “If water springing up from the earth symbolizes life, the water of the sea is a symbol of death and so can represent the mystery of the cross. By this symbolism Baptism signifies communion with Christ’s death.” (1220)

“But above all, the crossing of the Red Sea, literally the liberation of Israel from the slavery of Egypt, announces the liberation wrought by Baptism.” (1221)

“Baptism signifies liberation from sin.” (1237)

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Scripture Matthew 28:19-20 Mark 16:15-16 Romans 6:3-4 Colossians 2:12 John 35 John 4:1-2 Acts 2:38 Acts 22:16 Romans 6:3-4 Titus 3:5 Ephesians 5:26 1 Peter 3:21

CCC 1212-1284

Handout E: Symbols of Baptism Worksheet1. Sign of the Cross/grace of redemption

2. Sacred Chrism (holy oil)/renunciation of Satan

3. Profession of faith/entrusted at Baptism

4. Born of water and spirit/Baptismal water

5. Immersion in or sprinkling with/death to sin/the life of the Trinity

6. Oil of Catechumens/Priest, Prophet, and King

7. White garment/put on Christ

8. Candle/The light of the world

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UNIT 3, LESSON 5

UNIT 3, LESSON 5


ӹ CCC 1257 - 1274

Vocabulary ӹ Baptism of Blood

ӹ Baptism of Desire

ӹ Original Sin

ӹ Indelible Mark

ӹ Sanctifying Grace

Learning Goals ӹ The Sacrament of Baptism is essential

for salvation and is the ordinary means of salvation.

ӹ God can operate outside of the ordinary means of salvation in extraordinary ways.

ӹ The effects of Baptism are the forgiveness of sins, becoming a new creature, becoming a member of the Church, forming bonds of Christian unity, and imprinting an indelible mark on the soul.

The Need for and the Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism


Jesus answered, “Amen, amen I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

JOHN 3:5

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

ACTS 2:38

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Materials ӹ Handout A: The Need

for Baptism Assumption Guide

ӹ Handout B: The Need for Baptism

ӹ Handout C: Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism Cards

ӹ Handout D: The Importance of Baptism

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-UpA. Distribute Handout A: The Need for Baptism

Assumption Guide and have students respond to each statement with either “agree” or “disagree.”

B. When this task has been completed, review each statement and ask by a show of hands who agreed or disagreed. Ask for a volunteer or two to explain why they agreed or disagreed, but do not correct their assumptions. Allow the students to direct the conversation without giving them definitive answers.

ActivityDistribute Handout B: The Need for Baptism. Have students read it and complete the column on Handout A: The Need for Baptism Assumption Guide explaining whether the statement is confirmed by the text. Students will be reading to see if their previous assumptions about the need for Baptism are confirmed by the text. Students should also explain why each assumption was confirmed or why it was not.

Formative Assessment Review and discuss the statements from Handout A: The Need for Baptism Assumption Guide. Be sure to clarify the correct answers for each statement.

DAY TWO

Warm-UpA. Have a student stand and read aloud Acts: 2:38:

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UNIT 3, LESSON 5

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ”

B. Ask students what two effects of Baptism St. Peter proclaims to the people. Forgiveness of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

C. Explain that these are the two main effects of Baptism. There are others that we recognize. The effects of Baptism are the forgiveness of sins, becoming a new creature, becoming a member of the Church, forming bonds of Christian unity, and the imprint of an indelible mark on the soul.

ActivityA. Arrange students into five groups and assign each group one of the effects of the

Sacrament of Baptism (the forgiveness of sins, becoming a new creature, becoming a member of the Church, forming bonds of Christian unity, and imprinting an indelible mark on the soul). Note: If there are too many students in each group, you can arrange them into more groups and assign the same effect of Baptism to two groups.

B. Distribute to each group a copy of the Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism Card from Handout C: Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism Cards that matches the effect they were assigned. Cut out and laminate each card ahead of time.

C. Have each group creatively write a TV commercial for the Sacrament of Baptism that focuses on the need for the Sacrament and the effect that was assigned to each group. The commercial will be acted out in the next class. The commercial should be no longer than two minutes and must include the following:

ӹ Why is Baptism necessary?

ӹ What is the effect of Baptism assigned to your group?

ӹ What are the main benefits of your assigned effect of Baptism?

ӹ Why should the viewing audience be baptized? (Remember, this is a commercial!)

D. Encourage students to be creative with their commercials but also to present all the necessary information correctly.

Formative Assessment Circulate around the room and assist each group as needed.

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DAY THREE

Warm-UpA. Write on the board the four questions that need to be answered by the students’

commercials and remind the students of them:

ӹ Why is Baptism necessary?

ӹ What is the effect of Baptism assigned to your group?

ӹ What are the main benefits of your assigned effect of Baptism?

ӹ Why should the audience be baptized? (Remember, this is a commercial!)

B. Give students five to ten minutes to get into their groups from the previous day and review and practice their commercial for the Sacrament of Baptism.

ActivityHave each group act out or present their commercials in front of the class. Tell the groups that they will have two minutes to present their commercials and that you will keep time.

AssessmentDistribute Handout D: The Importance of Baptism to each student. Give students five minutes at the end of class to write in response to the prompt on the handout. Collect the completed handouts.


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HANDOUT A

The Need for Baptism Assumption Guide

Directions: Read each statement and determine if you agree or disagree. After reading Handout B: The Need for Baptism, determine whether your opinion on each statement was confirmed by the text or not. Explain your findings.

StatementAgree or

Disagree?Is the Statement Confirmed

by the Text? Explain.

1. Baptism is required in order for a person to be saved from sin.

2. The main mission of the Church is to invite everyone to be baptized.

3. A person who dies for his belief in God will go to heaven, even if he has not been baptized.

4. A person can be saved from sin by being a good person.

5. A person who has never heard of God or of Baptism but seeks truth and does God’s will can be saved from sin without Baptism.

6. Children who die without having been baptized do not go to heaven.

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HANDOUT B

The Need for Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for salvation. Jesus tells us this very clearly:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Also, at His Ascension into heaven, Jesus gave His Apostles the command to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus even clearly gave us the words to baptize with.

The Church takes her mission of the salvation of all souls very seriously. The Church’s main mission is to invite all people everywhere to hear the Good News of the Gospel and be baptized. God established Baptism as the normal means of salvation from sin. For those who have been introduced to God and His Church and know what His will is for our lives, there is no other sure path to heaven.

God, however, is not limited by what He has made. He is all good, all powerful, ad all knowing. He can achieve salvation outside of the normal means if He chooses. There are four ways the Church understands this could happen.

First, a person who dies for his belief in God and His Church without having been baptized receives the graces of Baptism because of his death for Christ. This is called baptism of blood. It brings about the same effects of Baptism without being a Sacrament.

Second, a person who is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Baptism but dies before doing so will be assured of salvation, as long as she was truly sorry for her sins. This is called baptism of desire.

Third, a person who does not know of God, Jesus, and the Church but seeks truth in his life and does the will of God even without knowing Him may be saved in the end. The Church supposes that this person would have desired Baptism if he knew of it.

Last, even though there is no definite teaching, we have hope that children who die without having been baptized will somehow be saved. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,” which allows us to have this hope.

The Church knows of no other path to salvation aside from these exceptions. Baptism, prepared for us from the beginning of salvation history by God, and directly given to us by Jesus, is the necessary and sole means of salvation for all people.

The Baptism by Pietro Longhi (1755)

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HANDOUT C

Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism Cards

Forgiveness of SinsThe Sacrament of Baptism forgives all sin. This includes Original Sin, all personal sins, and any punishment for sin. Original Sin is the sin of Adam and Eve that is passed on to all of humanity. Personal sins are those sins that we commit. All sins have spiritual consequences, most especially mortal sin, which separates us from God. Baptism forgives all of these sins and removes all spiritual consequences. At the moment of Baptism, there is nothing that would prevent the baptized from entering heaven.

Some earthly consequences for sin remain after Baptism. This includes suffering, sickness, and death during our earthly lives. Also, all of humanity experiences a tendency to sin called concupiscence. This is a kind of human weakness that can be resisted with the help of God’s grace.

A New CreatureThe Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a new creation in the eyes of God. We are made adopted sons and daughters of God and sharers in His divine life. As God’s children, through Baptism, we also receive the benefit of all God’s promises, and our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit.

This is all possible because Baptism gives us sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is the undeserved gift of God’s life within us. It makes us able to believe in God, hope in His promises of salvation, and love Him and all that He has made. Sanctifying grace also gives us the power to live a holy life with the help of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the foundation of the Christian life.

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Member of the ChurchThe Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a member of the Church, the Body of Christ. We become united to everyone who has also been baptized. Together we become one people of God. Scripture explains that Baptism makes us “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” This means that the baptized are made into a common priesthood of all believers, who are called to serve one another in love and sacrifice.

As members of Christ’s Church, we are given all the rights and privileges that come with membership. This means that the baptized may receive all the other Sacraments, to worship fully at Mass, and to receive all the other spiritual help of the Church. The baptized also are given the mission of the Church, which is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all who will hear it. The baptized who profess the Faith of the Church must also be obedient to the teachings and leaders of the Church who were appointed by Jesus Himself.

Indelible MarkThe Sacrament of Baptism gives the baptized an indelible, or permanent, spiritual mark on his or her soul. This spiritual mark is not removable, even if the baptized person sins and gives up his Faith. Therefore, the Sacrament of Baptism can be received only once.

The Holy Spirit places this mark upon our souls to set us apart for the day of redemption. Over the course of our lives, this indelible mark enables us to participate fully in the Mass. It also allows us to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us at our Baptism to live a life of holiness. The Christian who remains faithful to the demands of his or her Baptism will leave this life “marked with the sign of faith” and expect to enter the Kingdom of God and be saved.

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Bond of UnityThe Sacrament of Baptism goes beyond any barriers made by race, nationality, culture, or sex and makes us one Body of Christ. Other Christian faiths also celebrate Baptism. We recognize the truth of Baptism that occurs outside of the Catholic Church as long as it is done “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, Baptism makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ and rightly called Christians. Baptism forms a sacramental bond of unity among everyone who is reborn through it.

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NAME: ____________________________________________________________________

HANDOUT D

The Importance of Baptism

Directions: Respond to the writing prompt in the space provided. Use the entire time given to you to write.

How would you assess the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism? Support your answer.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 6

UNIT 3, LESSON 6


ӹ CCC 1253 - 1254

Vocabulary ӹ Abundance

Learning Goals ӹ Baptism is the Sacrament of faith.

ӹ In order for us to be reborn through Baptism, our sinful way of life must die.

ӹ The glory of God is man fully alive.

ӹ Faith needs the community of believers to be supported and to grow.

Baptism Is the Sacrament of Faith

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

MARK 16:16

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

ACTS 2:38


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Materials ӹ Handout A: Man Fully

Alive

ӹ Handout B: Baptism Cube Template

My Notes______________________

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Lesson Plan

DAY ONE

Warm-UpA. Play the song “Meant to Live” by Switchfoot. If

possible, play a video with the lyrics or project the lyrics for students to follow along.

B. After the song, ask students how it made them feel or what stood out to them.

C. Point out that the lyrics to the chorus of the song are: “We were meant to live for so much more.” What do you think the band meant by these words? Help students connect the song to the Sacrament of Baptism.

D. Later, they sing, “Maybe we’ve been living with our eyes half open. Maybe we’re bent and broken.” In what ways do you think we live with our eyes “half open”? How are we “bent and broken”? Help students connect this lyric to the fact that we are all sinners and are all born into sin (Original Sin). Baptism is the solution that God gave to us, to free us from sin, to open our eyes and mend our brokenness.

E. Tell the class that today you will explore how Baptism fits into God’s plan for our lives and how we can live out God’s plan as His people.

ActivityA. Have a student stand and read aloud John 12:24:

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

B. Invite students to connect this quotation to Baptism. Ask what it has to do with Baptism. Allow them time to think, but they will most likely not be able to make the connection yet.

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UNIT 3, LESSON 6

C. Have another student stand and read aloud Romans 6:4:

“We were indeed buried with him through Baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”

D. Ask students how this passage from Romans helps us to understand better the connection between Baptism and death. When we are baptized, we are reborn into the Holy Spirit and become members of Christ’s Body, the Church. Baptismal grace wipes away sin, including the stain of Original Sin, and we are given new life. Our old self dies, and we are a new creation.

E. Revisit John 12:24. If you have wheat available, it makes a great model for this lesson, although you can substitute any seed and plant and keep the essence of the lesson.

F. Hold up a grain of wheat or any seed. Then ask:

ӹ What happens if I just leave this seed in a jar or a package? Nothing — it just stays a seed.

ӹ What happens if I bury this seed in the soil? It will grow into a new plant.

G. Project an image of a stalk of wheat with a full head of grain, and connect it to Jesus’ words. Explain to students that by dying and being buried through Baptism, God gives us new life that is even more full and fruitful.

H. Have a student stand and read aloud John 10:10:

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Then ask:

I. Ask your students:

ӹ What does it mean to have an abundance of something? To have a large amount or more than you need.

ӹ Why did Jesus say that He had come? To give us more, greater life.

J. Explain in a mini-lecture:

God’s grace gives us that abundant life, that full life, that life so much bigger and so much fuller than we could even imagine. That is the grace and the life that we receive in Baptism. In Baptism, we have water poured over us, or we are immersed in water. This symbolizes our death. But when we come out of the water, we show that we share in Jesus’ Resurrection. Baptism leaves an indelible mark on our soul. Indelible means that it can never be erased, it never goes away, even with mortal sin. In Baptism, God has given us His life while the life of sin has passed away.

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Formative Assessment A. Project on the board the following quote:

“The glory of God is man fully alive.” —St. Irenaeus

(St. Irenaeus lived in the second century and is well known for his writings against early Church heresy, specifically Gnosticism.)

B. Explain that St. Irenaeus understood what Jesus was talking about in John 10:10, and God’s plan for Baptism in our lives, and even what the band Switchfoot was singing about. We glorify God, when we live our lives to the fullest according to God’s plan!

C. Distribute Handout A: Man Fully Alive to each student. Give students five minutes at the end of class to write in response to the prompt on the handout.

DAY TWO

Warm-UpReview the key facts about Baptism from the Celebration of Baptism Graphic Organizer from Lesson 3. Add any new information that you have not already added to the large classroom Sacraments chart, specifically key Scripture passages and key CCC references. Ask for student input regarding the key Scripture and CCC references to add to the chart.

ӹ Scripture: Genesis 1:2, Genesis 7:11-23, Exodus 14:23-30, Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 28:19-20, John 3:5, John 19:33-35, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:17, Galatians 3:27-28.

ӹ CCC: 1213, 1215, 1224, 1225, 1227, 1239-1240, 1246, 1256, 1257, 1262-1274.

Activity and Formative Assessment A. Have students create a cube using the template found on Handout B: Baptism Cube

Template. Either have the students cut out the template, or cut out enough for each student in advance.

B. Make markers and/or colored pencils available. Have students list/describe key information about Baptism on each side of the cube and creatively decorate it.

ӹ Side 1: Write “Baptism” and draw a symbol of the Sacrament.

ӹ Side 2: List and describe the matter and form of the Sacrament.

ӹ Side 3: Choose and list three important Scripture passages related to the Sacrament.


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UNIT 3, LESSON 6

ӹ Side 4: List and describe the minister and recipient of the Sacrament.

ӹ Side 5: Choose and list two effects of the Sacrament.

ӹ Side 6: Answer the questions: How can we live our baptismal faith?

C. When students have completed listing information and decorating the cubes, have students fold the cubes along the edges and glue or tape them together using the tabs. Note: You can use this same template later as you study the other Sacraments.

DAY THREE

Warm-UpA. Read paragraph 1253 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to the class:

“Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop.”

B. Explain that as a community of believers, as the Body of Christ, His Church, we have to support each other in faith and help each other remember the graces of Baptism and how to use them to love and serve God and each other.

C. Read paragraph 1254 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to the class:

“For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.”

D. Explain that we renew our baptismal promises during the Easter season every year to help our faith continue to grow.

Activity and AssessmentA. Have students play a quiz game with the cubes they created last time. Arrange students

into groups of three or four and take turns tossing their cubes to each other. The person who catches the cube must then ask a question about the information on the cube to the person who tossed it.


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B. After the game, attach pieces of string to the cubes and hang them from the ceiling in the classroom.

UNIT 3 ASSESSMENTS

ӹ All students should recite the Scripture they have memorized for this unit.

ӹ Students should return to the vocabulary cards for words covered in this unit and note any new understandings.

ӹ Project once again an image of the Baptism of Christ by John by Fra Angelico from Unit 3 Lesson 2 and ask students to identify the work of art. You may wish to give extra points to students who can identify not only the title of the work but also the time period and location of the work. Ask students to share any new ideas they have about the artwork based on their learning in this unit, and/or other life experiences.

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NAME: ____________________________________________________________________

HANDOUT A

Man Fully Alive

Directions: Respond to the writing prompt in the space provided. Use the entire time given to you to write.

What information about the Sacrament of Baptism can you use to support the quotation from St. Irenaeus: “The glory of God is man fully alive”? Support your answer.

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HANDOUT B

Baptism Cube Template

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unit three the sacrament of baptism · pdf file · 2015-09-18ӹ lesson 6: baptism...

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