“Baptism” is the first and it is the foremost of all the
Sacraments. It is the cornerstone and
the entrance into the Life of Faith, for it is the gateway to our encounters
with Christ. Through this Sacrament
of Baptism, Jesus gathers to Himself new disciples. Thus, Baptism is our reception into the
Family of God, the body of Christ, Church.
In Baptism we are reborn as children of the Father. We are made into the image of Jesus. Jesus becomes our Lord and Brother, and we
become sisters and brothers to one another with God as our Father. And, we become heirs to heaven and
eternal life with the Most Blessed Trinity.
Just as through the power of the Holy Spirit overshadowing the
Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary, when the Holy Spirit intimately united the Son of
God with the body offered by Mary, so through the overshadowing power of the
Holy Spirit in Baptism we are united intimately to Jesus. Baptism makes us become “other Christs” whereby we become God’s Holy People, His Royal
Priesthood, His Church, the Mystical Body of
Christ. We also become temples of
the Holy Spirit. We share in the
priesthood of Jesus Christ. We commit
ourselves to make the mission of Jesus our own mission. And, we become heirs of heaven with
Christ Jesus whose life we share.
However, Baptism is also a stumbling block, for
this Sacrament requires we surrender ourselves over to a new life in the
footsteps of Jesus Christ which includes walking with Him as He carried the
cross. To become baptized takes
much, much longer than the few seconds that the water is being poured over
us. Rather, to become baptized takes
a lifetime. It takes a lifetime of
hard work. It takes a lifetime of
effort. It takes a lifetime of an
awful lot of perseverance, commitment and starting over when we fail. It is not easy! Baptism does not require, rather it
demands, “dying to self” to “live for Christ.” It demands putting aside my wishes, my
wants, for Christ’s wishes and Christ’s wants. It means dying daily again and again to myself and all that I want, so that I can live for Christ
and He can live in me.
It is for this reason that modern liturgical directives ask that “the
Baptismal Font” be located near the main entrance into the nave of the
church, or even part way down the main
aisle of the church. This is done so
that those entering the church almost trip over the font as they walk around
it as a reminder that Baptism requires us daily to walk around our own wants
and desires and die to self so that we may live only for Christ. In the early Church, in fact until well
after the beginning of this second millennium, all being baptized removed all
their clothing before entering the font for Baptism. They then walked down three (3) steps into
the baptismal font, symbolizing the Three Persons of the Trinity into Whose
Life they were wishing to enter. Next
they were immersed three (3) times under the water in honor of each person of
the Trinity, and reminded during each immersion that they must die to self to
live for God the Father, for God the Son, and for God the Holy Spirit. Finally, they walked up three (3) steps
and were clothed in a white garment as a symbol of new life in Christ, and as
a reminder of their marriage to Christ.
It is for this reason that a white baptismal garment is placed over us
in our coffin at the beginning of our funeral liturgy.
For someone to marry another and then walk away from that person
would be considered to have performed a most fraudulent action. Such an action would not only greatly
hurt and dishonor the other person, such action
could bring serious civil charges and penalties. It is the same for Baptism. Baptism had always been referred to as “a
marriage to Christ.” To seek Baptism
for one’s self or for another without making a life-long commitment,
is a serious sacrilegious dishonor to God.
Thus, Baptism, above all, requires a firm commitment from the older
child or youth or adult whenever they seek to be baptized. And, Baptism requires that same firm
commitment from parents when they seek to have their child baptized. The parents solemnly promise God to do all
in their power to raise their child as a Catholic Christian beginning with
their daily example and encouragement in the ways of the Faith. It also includes doing all possible to have
their child educated in that same Faith by faithful attendance at religious
education classes and by faithful participation in the Sunday Eucharist.
Every one who is born comes into life touched by
original sin. While original sin is
not a personal sin, it is an inherent weakness all people are born with,
which gives them a propensity to sin.
Baptism helps us struggle against that inherent weakness and overcome our
propensity to sin personally.
Baptism does not take that propensity to sin away, but it sure does
give us graces and blessings from God to avoid sin if we cooperate with those
gifts offered by God through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Once baptized, always baptized. Baptism can never be repeated for any
reason whatsoever, provided it has been validly conferred. Never!
Ever! [To be validly conferred, means that water was flowing over us while we
were baptized in the name of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.] The reason Baptism cannot be
repeated, is that Baptism imprints an indelible sign, which consecrates us
for Christian worship and life.
Baptism does this by giving us a sharing in the Priesthood of Christ
Jesus. In fact, Baptism is one of
three (3) such Sacraments that imprint a sign consecrating us to Christian
worship and life. The three such
Sacraments are: Baptism which
consecrates us to personal worship and personally living our life in witness
to our commitment to God, Confirmation which consecrates us to communal
worship and service, and Holy Orders which consecrates us to confecting
Christian worship.
Since Baptism is the Initiation Rite by which we
become members of God’s Family, the Church, Baptism is by its very nature a
communal celebration. By Baptism we
become sisters and brothers to one another with God as our Father, and the
Lord Jesus as our Brother and Savior.
Thus, this Sacrament, like all other Sacraments, is celebrated
communally with as many of the community present and participating as
possible. It is an action of the
whole parish community, celebrating and welcoming a new member into its
midst. Because it is a Sacrament of
communal worship and life, it should be done primarily on the Lord’s Day.
Baptism of Adults: Adults are baptized after completing a
pilgrimage of faith discovery, development, discernment and spiritual
growth. For some it may take years
before they even begin any class; for others the desire to become baptized
comes quite suddenly as with St Paul. Adults wishing to become Catholic
Christians join a parish Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or “RCIA”
as it is usually called. During
this program our faith is presented during sessions of prayer, discussion,
study and discernment. Also, there
are rites and ceremonies along the way, and special retreats and
get-togethers, even purely social community building activities. Some may discern with the help of the
RCIA Team to complete the program in one or two years, others may take
longer; generally two years. Soon
after completing an understanding of the Basic Mysteries of Faith and finding
it is for them, these adults are admitted into the Church as “Catechumens.” As “Catechumens” they have certain
privileges and rights in the Church.
As “Catechumens” they are dismissed each Sunday after the homily
before the Profession of Faith, so they discuss and apply the Sacred Readings
to their lives and prepare to join the community of the faithful for
Celebrating the Sunday Eucharist.
When they are discerned ready for full membership, the local Bishop
“elects” them in the name of Christ Jesus.
Finally, during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday these “Elect”
receive all the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy
Communion.
Adults wishing to become Catholic Christians who
belong to a non-Catholic ecclesial community (such as Episcopalian,
Methodist, Lutheran, etc.) and who are baptized in that ecclesial community
enter into a different form of the RCIA Process, for these persons are
validly baptized. These persons
follow many of the same steps as non-baptized persons. However, since they are already validly
baptized, that Baptism must be respected.
Like the “Catechumens” they enter into a special period of preparation
and are known as “Candidates.” During
their time as “Candidates,” they are dismissed with the “Catechumens” to
discuss and apply the Sacred Readings to their lives and so prepare to join
the community of the faithful for Celebrating the Sunday Eucharist. They go forth with those to be “elected”
by the local Bishop, to themselves be “elected” for Full Communion. They receive the Sacrament of Penance
usually during the Communal Lenten Penance Service. And, during the Easter Vigil on Holy
Saturday, after making a Profession of Faith are admitted as Catholic
Christians. They then receive the
Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion.
Baptism of 14 to 18 year olds: These young people,
like adults, come to the Sacraments of Initiation after completing a
pilgrimage of faith discovery, development, discernment and spiritual
growth. They enter into the Rite of
Christian Initiation for Youth, usually referred to as “RCIY.” This program takes two years at a
minimum, and follows the same format and process as does the “RCIA.” Such teens are also encouraged and urged
to enter into their parish Confirmation Program. However, during the Mass at which the
Bishop administers the Sacrament of Confirmation, since these youth already
received that Sacrament at the Easter Vigil, they come before the Bishop to
receive a special blessing and formal welcome into the Community of Faith.
Baptism of 6 to 13 year olds: These children enter
into the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children, or as it usually is
called “RCIC,” which follows the same pilgrimage of faith as do the adults
and youth except that it is geared for their age. The ceremonies, prayer times, etc., have
been specially written for their age level, so that they can fully take
part. As with adults and youth this
program takes a minimum of two years.
Children who receive the Sacraments of Initiation are strongly urged
to join their parish Confirmation Program once they enter high school, even
though they are already confirmed.
As with youth, during Confirmation they come before the Bishop to
receive a special blessing and formal welcome into the Catholic Community.
Baptism of Infants (5 and under): Infants can only
be baptized in virtue of their parent’s lived out faith. Infants are baptized because their
parents are living- out their own Baptismal Vows on a daily basis and they
want to share that Faith Life with their children. Committed parents baptize children so that
their children may grow-up living what Jesus asks. Some times parents are not living out
their Baptismal Vows, and other family members want to sneak the infants off
to be baptized secretly. As St.
Thomas Aquinas notes, such would be a “most serious sin of sacrilege”
for Baptism involves commitment and if there is no commitment it is a lie
unto the Lord and makes a mockery of this Sacred Sacrament.
Godparents:
To help us live-out our life-long task of becoming other Christ’s, there has grown-up the practice of having
Godparents/Sponsors to help us along the way. We should turn to our Godparents as
shining examples of Christian living, to study their example and seek their
assistance in becoming better disciples.
Godparents, on their part, should never forget their responsibilities
to help their Godchild live a Christian Life, no matter how old their
Godchild may be. Godparents are very
special people with a unique and important role. Godparents are like having a second set of
parents.
The Church has established certain qualifications which must be met
to be a Godparent/Sponsor (Canon 872, Canon 874:1):
1) must be at least 16 years of age;
2) must have received all the Sacraments of Initiation;
3) must be living the Catholic Faith well in harmony with
the Church including receiving the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion
regularly;
4) if married, must be married in the Catholic Church;
5) must have a close relationship with their Godchild;
6) must not be the father or mother of the candidate;
7) must be designated by a parent
or guardian and accept that responsibility.
The new Code of Canon Law allows two
Godparents/Sponsors (Canon 873), previously only one was allowed by Canon
Law.
The new Code of Canon Law allows “a baptized
person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community to be a Christian
Witness, but never to be a sponsor; and only together with a Catholic
Sponsor.” (Canon 874:2). Such a
person must be a strong witness of Christian living out their Christian
faith.
N.B. # 1: If a person is only a nominal member of
some ecclesial community, i.e., in name only but is not practicing that
faith, he/she may NOT serve a “Christian Witness.”
N.B. # 2: An “ex-Catholic” may never
serve as a Christian Witness.
Preparation Classes for Baptism:
1). For
adults, youth and children six and over, these classes take place during
their Rite of Christian Initiation.
2). For
infants, classes are required for the parents. Ideally, these classes should be taken
during pregnancy. If the couple is
married in the Church and is trying their best to live-out their faith, they
often can be dispensed by their proper Pastor if they attended within three
(3) years; and after attending twice can be dispensed by their proper
Pastor from any further attendance.
If the parents are not married in the Catholic Church, or if they do
not attend Sunday Mass too regularly,
or 3) if they are not registered members of the parish and are not
known to the priests, they cannot be dispensed from these classes.
