Baptism- It is the first sacrament all Christians receive, it’s the first step towards full membership in the
body of Christ.
There are other steps:
Baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Together these three are known as Sacrament of Initiation.
Hazing Rituals here but rather the building blocks for every Christian life.
- Why does catholic church baptize infants instead of waiting until they’re old enough to
understand the faith?
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 Christian initiation, they
thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life. (Pope Paul VI, Divinae Consurtium
naturae)
Baptism frees us from sin.
Not only in baptism an initiation into the faith community it also frees us from sin.
All of us are born with what we call the stain of original sin and baptism cleanses us of that stain sort
of like a windex for the soul so baptism isn’t just kind of a big deal it’s a very big deal because all of
us no matter our age is in need of salvation and God offers us this completely free gift in the grace of
baptism
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 people are called.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church (1250)
It’s also important to know that infant baptism is not a new phenomenon it’s been around since the
time of early Christian communities when entire families are baptized together both adults and
children. But even before that baptism makes its debut at the hands of the guy who’s got it in his
name John the Baptist and he was a little humbled by one of the guys he happened to baptized
indeed it was Jesus who really emphasized the importance of baptism when before he ascended
into heaven He instructed his apostles
“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)
We are all called to disciples as members of an enormous Christian community so when an infant is
baptized it’s not their decision obviously a baby is baptized into the faith of the community which
it’s up to us to pass on our faith to that child.
Who exactly can be baptized?
Anyone? Well, that’s not exactly true, there’s no double dipping in baptism once you’ve been
baptized you can’t go back for seconds even f you were baptized initially in another faith tradition.
Key ingredients needed:
Water- no such thing as a dry baptism
Oil- for anointing which symbolized the gift of the holy spirit
Candle- signifying that the newly baptized has been enlightened by Christ and will now be a light for
the world
A white garment- represents being newly washed of sin and putting on Christ
Priest or Deacon-
Parents
Godparents
Baby
In emergency anyone can baptize anywhere don’t nee any of those props the bare minimum is just
plain old water and the words I baptized you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and f the
Holy Spirit use only in danger of death
Confirmation
Why we’re confirmed?
Faithful are born anew by Baptism strengthened by the sacrament of confirmation and receive in
the Eucharist the food of eternal life.
Without confirmation you won’t have the support you’ll need to sustain you on your journey of faith
and in some ways confirmation can be seen as the beginning of that journey think of the apostles.
Tools means are the gifts of the Holy Spirit
