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BAPTISM
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Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation. It is one of the most important sacraments because it opens the gates of heaven to us. Without it we could not enter heaven. One of the major signs of this sacrament is water. Water symbolizes life because water is necessary for all life to exist. Water also symbolizes purity because it washes things clean. Without baptism we cannot survive, just as we cannot survive without water.
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTIONS
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The story of baptism starts when God created the world. In the beginning God the Father created the whole world, including people. The first people, Adam and Eve, brought sin into the world when they ate the apple from the tree after God had told them not to. When sin entered the world there was a barrier between God and people. It was as if Adam and Eve had hung a big "CLOSED" sign on the gates of heaven that read "Closed, until the Messiah dies on the cross for humanity."
Even before Jesus came we see signs of the sacrament of baptism in the story of Noah's Ark and the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River. In the story of Noah, God cleansed and purified the world with the waters of the great flood. In the story of Moses, God led his people to freedom and life through the waters of the Red Sea. Joshua led the people to the new life in the Promised Land through the waters of the Jordan River. In the New Testament Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Through his baptism, as in all things, Jesus showed us the way to life.
Even before Jesus came we see signs of the sacrament of baptism in the story of Noah's Ark and the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River. In the story of Noah, God cleansed and purified the world with the waters of the great flood. In the story of Moses, God led his people to freedom and life through the waters of the Red Sea. Joshua led the people to the new life in the Promised Land through the waters of the Jordan River. In the New Testament Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Through his baptism, as in all things, Jesus showed us the way to life.
CEREMONY
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For a formal ceremony you will need:
Candidate
Officiant
Water
Words
Chrism
Shell
White Garment
Candle
The first thing baptism requires is a willing candidate. A person cannot be baptized against his will. When we are baptized the officiant uses water. We are immersed three times in water. As we go down in the water we die with our sins and when we rise up out of the water we rise with Christ to new life. Just as we cannot live without water, we cannot live without baptism. The ceremony of baptism starts with the sign of the cross to invoke the presence of God and an exorcism to signify liberation from sin. Next, the officiant anoints the candidate, the person being baptized, with chrism. The candidate, if he or she is not a baby, recites promises of baptism, which renounce Satan and profess the faith of the Church. Then the candidate is immersed three times in water (or water is poured over his or her head three times.) The officiant says "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The newly baptized person is again anointed with chrism to show the anointing of the Holy Spirit and blessed by a bishop, if a bishop is present at the ceremony. The baptized person is given a white garment to symbolize purity and presented with a candle lit from the Easter candle to symbolize the light of Christ.
Candidate
Officiant
Water
Words
Chrism
Shell
White Garment
Candle
The first thing baptism requires is a willing candidate. A person cannot be baptized against his will. When we are baptized the officiant uses water. We are immersed three times in water. As we go down in the water we die with our sins and when we rise up out of the water we rise with Christ to new life. Just as we cannot live without water, we cannot live without baptism. The ceremony of baptism starts with the sign of the cross to invoke the presence of God and an exorcism to signify liberation from sin. Next, the officiant anoints the candidate, the person being baptized, with chrism. The candidate, if he or she is not a baby, recites promises of baptism, which renounce Satan and profess the faith of the Church. Then the candidate is immersed three times in water (or water is poured over his or her head three times.) The officiant says "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The newly baptized person is again anointed with chrism to show the anointing of the Holy Spirit and blessed by a bishop, if a bishop is present at the ceremony. The baptized person is given a white garment to symbolize purity and presented with a candle lit from the Easter candle to symbolize the light of Christ.
CATHOLIC SPONSORS (GODPARENTS)
CHRISTIAN WITNESSES
http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com
A person seeking baptism must have at least two sponsors or one sponsor and one Christian Witness. The role of the sponsor (also known as godparent) is to help the baptized person live a good Catholic life.
A godparent must:
Be Catholic
Be at least 15 years old
Have been baptized, confirmed and have received communion
Be serious about living a Catholic life and following his or her own baptismal vows
A non-Catholic person may be at the ceremony. The role of this person is only to be able to testify that the person who was baptized actually did get baptized. His only role is as a witness to the baptism. The Christian witness cannot help the baptized person live a Catholic life because he or she is not Catholic.
A Christian witness must:
Not be a baptized Catholic
Be baptized into a Christian faith
Be at least 15 years old
Be living an upright life
A godparent must:
Be Catholic
Be at least 15 years old
Have been baptized, confirmed and have received communion
Be serious about living a Catholic life and following his or her own baptismal vows
A non-Catholic person may be at the ceremony. The role of this person is only to be able to testify that the person who was baptized actually did get baptized. His only role is as a witness to the baptism. The Christian witness cannot help the baptized person live a Catholic life because he or she is not Catholic.
A Christian witness must:
Not be a baptized Catholic
Be baptized into a Christian faith
Be at least 15 years old
Be living an upright life
TYPES OF BAPTISM
http://www.roman-colosseum.info
Baptism by Water
This type of baptism is the kind we usually think about when we hear the word "baptism." It takes place when an officiant uses water to baptize.
Baptism by Blood
This type of baptism happens when a person dies for the Catholic faith before he or she has been able to be baptized by water.
Baptism by Desire
This type of baptism occurs when a person wants to be baptized by water (but for some reason is unable to be) so much that he or she is considered to be baptized. The desire takes the place of water.
This type of baptism is the kind we usually think about when we hear the word "baptism." It takes place when an officiant uses water to baptize.
Baptism by Blood
This type of baptism happens when a person dies for the Catholic faith before he or she has been able to be baptized by water.
Baptism by Desire
This type of baptism occurs when a person wants to be baptized by water (but for some reason is unable to be) so much that he or she is considered to be baptized. The desire takes the place of water.
WHO CAN BAPTIZE
http://douglawrence.wordpress.com/2010/11/27/baptism/
Normally, a priest or deacon is the officiant at a baptism.
However, in an emergency, any baptized Catholic can administer the sacrament of baptism. Al that is required for a valid baptism is water and the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
However, in an emergency, any baptized Catholic can administer the sacrament of baptism. Al that is required for a valid baptism is water and the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
THE GRACES OF BAPTISM
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Once a person is baptized in the Catholic Church, he or she is always baptized. You cannot "un-baptize" or "re-baptize" yourself. If a person leaves the Church he or she cannot come back. By baptism, a person gets his or her foundation of faith. Without this sacrament we could not receive any of other sacraments which are the basis of our Catholic life. Baptism teaches us to listen to God's voice through other people since we are all members of one Church and opens the gates of heaven to us.
VOCABULARY
Initiation: A ceremony with which a new member is admitted to the Church
Sin: Disobedience to the will of God
Officiant: A person who officiates at a ceremony
Immersed: Covered completely by water
Exorcism: Ceremony to expel evil
Candidate: The person being baptized
Chrism: Oil blessed by the bishop and used in administration of sacraments
Satan: The devil
Sin: Disobedience to the will of God
Officiant: A person who officiates at a ceremony
Immersed: Covered completely by water
Exorcism: Ceremony to expel evil
Candidate: The person being baptized
Chrism: Oil blessed by the bishop and used in administration of sacraments
Satan: The devil
REVIEW QUESTIONS
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What kind of sacrament is baptism?
What is a story of the Old Testament that signifies baptism?
What is the first thing you need for a ceremony of baptism?
What is the role of a sponsor/godparent?
What is "baptism by desire?"
Who can baptize?
What are two graces of baptism?
What is a story of the Old Testament that signifies baptism?
What is the first thing you need for a ceremony of baptism?
What is the role of a sponsor/godparent?
What is "baptism by desire?"
Who can baptize?
What are two graces of baptism?