What is Baptism?

Derived from the Greek word

bapto or baptizo which means
to wash or to immerse.
Sacrament by regeneration in the
word of Christ. (Per aquam in
verbo)
St. Thomas Aquinas: External
ablution of the body, performed
with the prescribed form of
words.

What is Baptism?

Sacrament of initiation
Christening:
We
immerse
ourselves with Christianity and it
makes one Christian/Catholic
The door of the Church: because
it is the first of 7 sacraments
received by a Catholic not only in
time but also in priority since the
receiving of the other Sacraments
depends upon this.

What is Baptism?

Baptism is one of the two most important sacraments in Christianity.

It grants or symbolizes salvation, commemorates the death and resurrection

of Jesus Christ.
Fulfills the command of Christ to baptize, cleanses away sins, confers grace,
and publicly expresses one's faith.

Why do we practice Baptism?

To follow Jesus example

To state our faith and obedience to Jesus publicly to say we are

Christians

Because when we are baptised its a visible sign that we share in Jesus life
and death and resurrection. We are marked by it

Brief History

Baptism in the Old Testament

Reference of Baptism in the Old Testament

Noah and his family

Israelites' passage through the Red Sea

Mosaic Law

Ezekiel 16: 9

Brief History

Baptism in the New Testament

Baptism in the New Testament

St. John The Baptist

Call for religious purity and repentance

Jordan River
Jesus was Baptised by St. John
Called to preach by God, armed only with the Word of God

Elements

First element - Sign of the Cross

Tracing of the Sign of the Cross on

the forehead of the person being
baptized
Significance: Christs saving death
and redemption
Baptism is a sacrament of salvation

Second element - Readings from Scripture

A reading of the Word of God from

the Bible is done
Significance: To strengthen the faith
of the believers of the community in
the celebration.
Baptism is for illumination, as the
truth of Gods saving love is
declared in the Word. In turn, the
community will be able to respond
to the call of faith.

Third element - Exorcism and Anointing

A prayer of exorcism, as preparation

of the person being baptised to
renounce sin and be released from
evil, is recited.
Oil of Catechumens or Imposition of
Hands
Significance: To call the person to
renounce sin and evil.
Baptism liberates the believers from
sin

Fourth element - Blessing of the Baptismal Water

A prayer of blessing is recited that

That through his Son the power of the Holy

Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that

those who will be baptized may be born of
water and the Spirit

Baptismal water: blessed at Easter

Vigil/blessed during the celebration

Fifth element - Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith

The person being baptised is asked

to reject sin and Satan, and to
profess their faith in the Triune God.
Representatives of those who
cannot speak: Parents, Godparents,
Community present in the liturgy

Sixth element - Essential Rite of the Sacrament

Pouring of water or Immersion in

Water three times on the persons
head, with the invocation of each of
the Divine Persons
Significance: Our sins are buried and
washed away as with Jesus death.
In rising from immersion or pouring,
we are in divine light and life of
Jesus

Sixth element - Essential Rite of the Sacrament

The invocation is stated as The

servant of God, [Name], is baptized
in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Adults: Mystagogy - continued
learning and formation in Christian
life
Infants: Sacrament of Confirmation

Seventh element - Anointing with the Sacred

Chrism

Anointing of the person with the

sacred Chrism after baptism
Significance: The person may remain
forever united in Gods people, a
member of Christ.

Eight element - Reception of White Garment and Candle

Presentation of the baptised with

the white garment and the candle
Significance: The baptised had put
on Christ and have risen with him
To be clothed in Christs protective
love
To keep the garment unstained by
sin

Eight element - Reception of White Garment and Candle

Candle is lit from the Paschal

Candle, representing the light to the
world of the Risen Christ

Baptism in Adulthood
According to the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Manila

Children with ages 7 years old and

above shall be considered under
adult baptism.
Children below 7 years old shall be
considered under regular baptism.

Baptism in Adulthood
According to the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Manila

Adults who desire to be baptized

may be baptized after undergoing
Catechism about the faith.
In addition, all baptized Catholics,
who live as husband and wife
without the benefit of a Catholic
marriage are encouraged to receive
the sacrament of Marriage as well.

Baptism in Adulthood

Unlike infants, when adults are

baptized they also receive two other
church sacraments -- confirmation
and the Eucharist meal of bread and
wine.
The baptism ceremony is public and
is usually held during the Easter Vigil
service on the day before Easter. (As
per the Right of Christian Initiation
of Adults in the USA)

Effects of Baptism
The Remission of All Sins, Original and Actual

This is clearly stated in the Bible. As stated in Acts 2:38, Be baptized, everyone for the remission
of your sins; and you shall receive the Holy Ghost. For the promise to you and your children and to
all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.
St. Paul in the fifth chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians beautifully represents the whole
Church as being baptized and purified (5:25sq): Christ loved the Church, and delivered himself up
for it: that he may sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of water in the word of life: that he might
present to himself a glorious Church, and not having a spot or a wrinkle, or any such thing; but it
should be holy and without blemish.
The prophecy of Ezechiel (36:25) has also been understood of baptism: I will pour upon you clean
water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness (inquinamentis), where the prophet is
unquestionably speaking of moral defilements.

In the profession of faith prescribed by Pope Innocent III for the Waldensians in 1210, we read: We
believe that all sins are remitted in baptism, both original sin and those sins which have been
voluntarily committed. The Council of Trent (Sess. V., can. v) anathematizes whomsoever denies
that the grace of Christ which is conferred in baptism does not remit the guilt of original sin; or
asserts that everything which can truly and properly be called sin is not thereby taken away.

Necessity of Baptism
There are two necessity of baptism
-

Means (medii)
Precept (prcepti)

Recipients of Baptism
-

Adults
Infants
Unborn Infants
Insane persons
Foundlings
Children of Jewish and Infidel parents
Children of Protestant parents
With the Consent of non-Catholic parents
Dead

Adjuncts of Baptism
(1) Baptisery - The space set aside for baptism. It is a separate building constructed for the purpose of
administering baptism.
(2) Baptismal Water - The water prescribed by the Church. Consecrated on Holy Saturday or on the eve
of Pentecost.
(3) Holy Oils - In baptism, the priest uses the oil of catachumens, which is olive oil and chrism, the latter
being a mixture of balsam and oil. The oils consecrated by the bishop on Maundy Thursday.
(4) Sponsors - When infants are solemnly baptized, persons assist at the ceremony to make profession
of the faith in the childs name. This practice comes from antiquity and is witnessed to by Tertuliian, St.
Basil, St. Augustine and others. Such persons are designated, sponsores, offerentes, susceptores,
fidejussores, and patrini. The English term is godfather and godmother.

(5) Baptismal Name - The priest is directed to see that obscene, fabulous, and ridiculous names, or those
of heathen gods or of infidel men be not imposed. On the contrary the priest is to recommend the
names of saints. This rubric is not a rigorous precept, but it is an instruction to the priest to do what he
can in the matter. If parents are unreasonably obstinate, the priest may add a saints name to the one
insisted upon.
(6) Baptismal Robe - In the primitive Church, a white robe was worn by the newly baptized for a certain
period after the ceremony (St. Ambrose, De Myst., c. vii). In our present ritual, a white veil is placed
momentarily on the head of the catechumen as a substitute for the baptismal robe.

Emergency Baptism
-

Also known as conditional baptism

Only done when the one who will be receiving the rights is in articulo mortis
Can be done by non-catholic provided that certain requisites are present:
-

The one who will administer the Sacrament of Baptism has the INTENT and CONSENT of the
parents or guardian of the person in the state of articulo mortis

The person who will administer the Sacrament was the EXACT WORDS that are required to
make the baptism valid
The water be sprinkled in intervals in the head of the person being baptized

If the person in the state of articulo mortis survives there can be a proper
baptismal rights to be administered in the church

Sources
http://bedfordcatholic.org/documents/2015/5/8-major-elements-of-baptism.pdf
org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/

http://www.usccb.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm
http://www.nak.org/catechism/8-the-sacraments/81-holy-baptism-with-water/812-the-biblical-basis-for-holy-baptismwith-water/8121-old-testament-references-to-holy-baptism-with-water/
http://www.religionfacts.com/baptism/christianity
http://www.equip.org/article/new-testament-baptism/
http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-baptism-a-prechristian-history.htm