I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRAMENTS

Transcription

1 I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRAMENTS A. Why the Sacraments? Sin and its Cnsequences Adam and Eve were created in perfectin within themselves and their relatinship with Gd. They had self-mastery, in which their intellect and will (spiritual faculties) cntrlled the passins and desires f the bdy. (Read CCC 377) Hwever, Adam and Eve said n t Gd. They placed themselves abve Gd and tried t be the creatr instead f the creature. This desire t be ur wn masters, t decide gd and evil fr urselves, is the rt f the first sin and every ne after it. As well, their n t Gd was fueled by a distrust in Gd s gdness. St. Jhn Paul II said that the rt f every sin is a distrust in the Fatherhd f Gd. When Satan tempts Adam and Eve, he is essentially saying, Gd is nt wh yu think He is. He is a tyrant, lking t hld things back frm yu s He can be in cntrl. Adam and Eve believed his lie and ate frm the tree. Hwever, in Genesis 3:15, the prtevangelium, Gd prmises a Redeemer in Christ. Jesus In the sending f his Sn Jesus, Gd seeks us t free us frm the slavery f sin; He seeks t make pssible again ur eternal salvatin which was lst t us because f sin. His Life, Death, and Resurrectin accmplish this missin (ur salvatin). The Sacraments When Jesus ascended int heaven, He did nt leave us alne r withut help t get t heaven and be with Him. He did nt leave us brken and wunded sinners withut hpe. Instead He left his Church, and gave his Church the Sacraments, which are the great trrents f grace that give us life, aid, hliness, healing and everything else we are in need f. When Jesus was here n earth, he did nt write a Bible. In fact, He did nt write anything. S what did He leave us with? He left us with his living Church. Hw? He made 12 men its leaders and sent them int the wrld t gather his children. He gave his Church surces f grace graces that bring us salvatin, heal us, and make us whle. These are the Sacraments. The Church s life is based n the Sacraments. B. What are the Sacraments? Sacrament cmes frm the Latin wrd sacramentum. In ancient Rme, this was a sacred ath t emperr, prmising t devte ne s whle life t the empire and fellw sldiers. They were transfrmed int smething greater with a missin vital t the Rman Empire. Cathlics als believe that the sacraments transfrm us int smething greater. We are made int imag Christi, anther Christ. We becme part f the Church, and we are given a missin t save suls and transfrm the wrld. Definitin frm CCC 1131 An efficacius sign f grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted t the Church, by which divine life is dispensed t us thrugh the wrk f the Hly Spirit. Signs 1

2 As human beings, we are material beings wh get infrmatin thrugh ur senses. We tuch things, see them, hear them, taste them, etc. This is hw we get all the infrmatin frm the wrld. Therefre, Gd reveals himself thrugh the material wrld, thrugh visible and tangible signs. He reveals himself t humans in a human way (Nah and the rainbw, Mses and tablets, etc). He even becmes ne f us. This is why Christ himself is a Sacrament f the Father. Christ makes visible (as a human being) the invisible Father. The Church is a Sacrament f Christ because the Church (present as a visible rganizatin and visible peple) makes visible the invisible Christ (wh is nw in heaven). All the sacraments have a material sign (water, bread, wine, etc.) The sacraments have als been described as the visible sign f Gd s invisible grace. The visible part f the sacrament hides the invisible reality behind it. In baptism, we see the water, but d nt see the sul being cleansed f sin. In the Eucharist, we see the bread, but we d nt see the Bdy f Christ. Christ is the same way we see the visible man, but d nt see the invisible Gd. They are bth human (visible) and divine (invisible) just like Christ. They act ex pere perat ( by the very fact f the actins being perfrmed ) this means that they wrk n matter what. The persn giving them des nt have t be hly, nr the persn receiving them. (CCC 1128) This means that n matter what if they are dne crrectly they give the graces they are intended t give. Hwever, we can blck the receptin f grace: by ur lack f faith by ur lack f repentance by a cntrary will in ther wrds, we d nt want t receive them. The fruits f the sacraments in ur wn hearts depend n ur wn dispsitins in receiving them. Signs f Grace Grace - the pwer and lve f Gd acting in ur lives. It is Gd s gift t us the gift f his very self that allws us t be healed, t be hly, and t be sharers in his divine life. Grace is given t all peple at all times. It leads us t the questin hw des grace get in the sul? Actual Grace Given t us anytime, all the time. They help us d gd wrks, make gd chices, vercme temptatins, etc. They prmpt us tward gdness. It des nt frce us t make gd chices, but gives us the grace t actually d s. The grace is always available t us, but we must chse t accept it and respnd. Sanctifying Grace Definitin: A stable and supernatural dispsitin that perfects the sul itself t enable t lives with Gd, t act by his lve. Sanctifying graces make it pssible t share in Gd s wn divine life. It makes unin with Gd and heaven pssible. Withut sanctifying grace, we cannt partake (share in) his divine life. An example that might help us understand: Our natural r bilgical life is given t us by ur parents. With this life, we are able t live here n 2

3 earth. Imagine, hwever, that we wanted t fly. On ur wn, we are nt capable f flying. We need sme srt f help r aid t d s. Sanctifying grace is like wings r an airplane f srts, that gives us the capacity t fly r have the supernatural/divine f Gd. It is impssible with ur wn natural capacities we need a gift that nly Gd can give. This supernatural life allws us t accmplish things beynd ur nrmal capabilities. The Saints demnstrate this t us by their lives f heric lve and genersity and sacrifice. The graces given t us in the Sacraments. Sacramental Graces This is the sanctifying grace received in the Sacraments. This is why the Sacraments are necessary fr salvatin because they impart sanctifying grace t us. CCC 1129 states, The Church affirms that fr believers the sacraments f the New Cvenant are necessary fr salvatin. It is a habitual grace. This means that this grace abides in us always. Sanctifying grace des nt prevent us frm sinning. It gives us the grace t avid sin and chse Gd, but we still must freely use ur free wills t chse the gd. Sanctifying Grace and Sin The pwer f sanctifying grace in ur lives is weakened thrugh venial sin. Sanctifying grace is lst thrugh mrtal sin. It is regained in the Sacrament f Cnfessin. It is Jesus himself wh instituted the sacraments while he was n earth. As well, it is Jesus himself wh is giving the grace thrugh the ministers f his Sacraments. It is Jesus frgiving, Jesus giving us his Bdy and Bld, etc. He uses his ministers t give this grace t his peple. Just like in the miracle f the multiplicatin f the laves Jesus des the miracle, but He gives the bread t the Apstles t distribute t the peple. Read CCC 1084 They are the channels f Divine Life that Jesus established fr ur sanctificatin They are necessary fr ur salvatin They give sacramental grace which is the grace prper t that sacrament. The Hly Spirit heals, transfrms and sanctifies us with them. Read CCC 1129 C. Metaphysics f the Sacraments Each Sacrament has 3 requisite elements: Matter: It is the material physical sign itself that is actually used in the sacrament. Ex: bread and wine, water, il, etc. The signs r matter are rdinary things f daily life. The Lrd transfrms them and gives us supernatural life thrugh them. Frm: the wrds and actins f the rite that actually make the matter a channel f grace. Ex: the wrds f the priest make the bread and the wine becme the Bdy and Bld f Christ. 3

4 Withut the wrds (frm) the matter remains simply its rdinary substance. The sign is nt present, and the matter is nt sacramental. Minister: the persn wh perfrms the Sacrament. The ultimate minister is Christ himself, wh gives the grace f the Sacrament. Hwever, he needs a human persn wh acts as a channel f this grace. This persn is the minister. In general, Jesus gave his Apstles his authrity t minister the Sacraments. Hwever, the minister des vary smewhat frm Sacrament t Sacrament. Substance: when yu have the right matter and frm yu actually the Sacrament (substance) itself, which becmes a surce f grace fr us. Ex: the Eucharist End/Purpse: The purpse f the sacraments is threefld (CCC 1123): T give t wrship Gd Our wn sanctificatin (t make us hly). T build up the Church Aspect Matter Frm Substance End/Purpse Sacrament Bread, Wine, Water, Oil Wrds and Actins f the Rite A Sacrament Wrship, Sanctificatin, Build 4

5 II. BAPTISM IN SCRIPTURE (see CCC ) A. Intrductin t Baptism The first f the seven sacraments, and the dr which gives access t the ther sacraments. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament f frgiveness f sins because it unites us with Christ, wh died fr ur sins and rse fr ur justificatin. It is ne f the three sacraments f initiatin (Baptism, Eucharist, Cnfirmatin). (Taken frm the CCC Definitins) Jesus makes it clear that baptism is necessary fr salvatin and eternal life. Jesus answered and said t him, Amen, amen, I say t yu, n ne can see the kingdm f Gd withut being brn frm abve. Nicdemus said t him, Hw can a persn nce grwn ld be brn again? Surely he cannt reenter his mther s wmb and be brn again, can he? Jesus answered, Amen, amen, I say t yu, n ne can enter the kingdm f Gd withut being brn f water and Spirit. What is brn f flesh is flesh and what is brn f spirit is spirit. D nt be amazed that I tld yu, Yu must be brn frm abve. (Jhn 3:3-7) Baptism then becmes the dr thrugh which we must enter int eternal life. B. Old Testament Backgrund f Baptism Genesis 1:2 Creatin (CCC 1218) and the earth was withut frm r shape, with darkness ver the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping ver the waters. (Gen 1:2) The Spirit is hvering ver the water, which brings abut a new creatin. In baptism, the Spirit hvers ver the water and us, bring abut a new creatin in ur suls. Genesis 7-9 Nah and the Ark (CCC 1219) Typlgy f Baptism and Nah s Ark Nah s Ark Baptism Tday Sin had undne and ruined Gd s creatin Sin ruins us (Gd s creatin) The fld waters wash away wickedness and The water f baptism washes away all the sin in us. sin - all thse wh had sinned and abandned Wickedness is washed away in the fld, just as it is in Gd us thrugh the waters f baptism. The waters recede and there is a new We are a new creatin a child f Gd. creatin, a new beginning. Gd then restres his blessing upn his creatin and man, and there is a new beginning The Ark is a placed where peple are saved frm the destructin f the fld We have a new beginning life in Christ, instead f a life enslaved t sin. The Ark is a type f the Church. When we are within the Church, we are saved frm the fld arund us. St. Peter als describes this in 1 Peter 3:20-21 Wh had nce been disbedient while Gd patiently waited in the days f Nah during the building f the ark, in which a few persns, eight in all, were saved thrugh water. This prefigured baptism, which saves yu nw. It is nt a remval f dirt frm the bdy but an appeal t Gd fr a clear cnscience, thrugh the resurrectin f Jesus Christ. 5

6 Exdus 14:10-31 The Crssing f the Red Sea (CCC 1221) Typlgy f Baptism and Crssing the Red Sea Crssing f the Red Sea Israelites were freed frm bndage t Pharah and the Egyptians crssing thrugh waters brings a new life, a freedm frm slavery In the Red Sea, the wicked (Egyptians) are again destryed. After the Crssing f the Red Sea, they enter the Prmised Land Baptism Tday Christians freed frm the bndage t sin and Satan. we t g thrugh the waters (f baptism) and are freed frm the slavery f sin. The wickedness is destryed in us. After baptism, we can enter the Prmised Land f Heaven 1 Crinthians 10:1-4 St. Paul makes the same cnnectin. Jshua 4 (CCC 1222) Jshua leads the Israelites acrss the Jrdan River int the Prmised Land. The waters part and they all pass ver the Jrdan river nt dry land. With this, Exdus frm Egypt is cmplete. Jewish Purificatin Rites Baptism cmes frm the Greek wrd baptizein, which means t plunge, t immerse r t dip (CCC 1214) Often when there was sme srt f purificatin needed due t sin r ritual uncleanliness, Jewish law required sme srt f cleansing with water r bld by dipping, immersin, etc. See p.29 fr cncrete examples Jhn the Baptist At the time f Jesus, there existed within Judaism the practice f ritual baptism fr purificatin an cnversin. One f the grups that practiced this was the Essenes. They did these daily purificatins, wuld then dress in white, and share a cmmn meal (ntice the similarities with the baptism tday and the celebratin f the Eucharist). Jhn the Baptist culd have been part f this grup r assciated with it. Hwever, we d nt knw this fr sure. Jhn the Baptist practiced this type f baptism. Hwever, he knew that there was anther baptism with the Spirit that was t cme (and he knew he was nt giving it). Read Matt 3:11. As well, he knew he was baptizing t prepare the way fr the cming f the Messiah. Read Jhn 1: C. The New Testament and Baptism The Baptism f Jesus With the Baptism f Jesus, smething new begins. Jesus is baptized in the waters f the Jrdan by Jhn the Baptist, the Hly Spirit rests upn Him Just as Spirit f Gd hvered ver the waters at the utset f creatin, s t Gd s spirit nw hvers ver the waters f the Jrdan and anints Jesus, thereby ushering in the start f the new creatin in Christ (Read CCC 1224) 2 Cr 5:17 Therefre, if anyne is in Christ, he is a new creatin; the ld has passed away, behld, the new has cme. Jesus Institutes the Sacrament f Baptism The final instructins f Jesus t his Apstles is t g ut int the wrld, teaching peple what He had taught them, and baptizing them. G, therefre, and make disciples f all natins, baptizing them in the name f the Father, and f the Sn, and f the hly Spirit, teaching them t bserve all that I have cmmanded yu. And behld, I am with yu always, until the end f the age. (Matt 28:19-20) 6

7 This is a summary f the ministry f the Apstles and their successrs (the bishps and priests): teach and sanctify. The Crucifixin f Jesus The Church has always seen that the bld and water that flwed ut f the pierced Heart f Jesus n the crss, was a type f the sacraments f baptism (water) and the Eucharist (bld). These 2 sacraments, which bring us salvatin, flw frm the Heart f Christ that lves us deeply and t the extreme, t the last drp. What is the cnnectin then between Jesus Baptism and Crucifixin in the Gspel f Mark? Heavens are trn pen when Jesus cmes up frm the waters f the Jrdan and the Spirit cmes dwn upn Him (Mk 1:10) The Greek wrd schidz means t tear asunder heaven is dramatically pened up and the Spirit set lse at Jesus Baptism The nly ther time this wrd schidz used is at end f the Gspel f Mark, at the Crucifixin, as Jesus utters a lud cry and breaths His last: the curtain f the Temple is trn (schidz) frm tp t bttm (Mk 15:37-38). The Temple curtain was in the inner sanctum; it blcked ff entry int the Hly f Hlies where the Spirit f Gd dwelt in the Temple This shws a parallel between the heavens and the Temple curtain being trn pen. Why Baptism and Crucifixin linked tgether by tearing f the heavens and the Temple curtain? Baptism is inherently cnnected with the Crss f Christ James and Jhn ask if they can sit at the right and left f Jesus. He says are yu able t drink the cup that I drink, r t be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? (Mk 10:38) Baptism and the Crss Read Rmans 6:1-11. What is the relatinship, accrding t Saint Paul, between Baptism and the Crss? Paul explains that Baptism is an incrpratin int the death f Christ: d yu nt knw that all f us wh have been baptized int Christ Jesus were baptized int his death? (Rm 6:3) Hw des Baptism signify ur incrpratin int Jesus death n the Crss? By the fact that immersin signifies death, just as the immersin in the fld in the time f Nah r the immersin f Pharah s army in the Red Sea; bth are types f the death that water can bring. Baptism then, is a sign f death, and f Jesus death in particular (Rm 6:4). The baptism with which I am baptized, yu will be baptized (Mk 10:39) Baptism and ur Death Hw des Baptism signify ur burial with Jesus? When we are baptized we are buried by the water (death t sin) and rise t new life Read Clssians 1:21-23, 2:12-14; 3:1-4. Hw shuld ur lives be mdeled n the twfld structure f Baptism? That is, n the death and Resurrectin f Christ? Saint Paul exhrts the Clssians t live ut the dying and rising with Christ, which they experienced in Baptism, in their daily lives, saying, If with Christ yu died why d yu live as if yu still belnged t the wrld? (Cl 2:20) They shuld have a supernatural utlk n life nw because f baptism they have put n the new nature, which is being renewed in knwledge after the image f its creatr (Cl 3:10) Summary In Baptism we nt nly die t the ld nature, but we put n the new nature, adrned with the graces f Christ and with the Hly Spirit, which empwers us t live as sns and daughters f Gd the Father, in imitatin f the eternal Sn, Jesus Christ. Spirit cmes upn us and we are given, as Saint Paul says, the new nature (Eph 4:24, CCC 1262, 1265) See CCC Shws the prayer f Easter Vigil ver the baptismal waters summarizes all we have been ging thrugh. 7

8 III. THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM A. Names f Baptism and the Effects f Baptism Knw the lists n pages 32 and 33 in yur bks (names f baptism, effects f baptism) Sme imprtant effects in mre depth We becme a new creature Christ and the Hly Spirit We becme a child f Gd, his adpted sns and daughters Galatians 3:27 Fr as many f yu as were baptized int Christ have put n Christ. Given the graces f justificatin which: Gives us the thelgical virtues f faith, hpe, and lve Gives us the gifts f the Hly Spirit, which allws us t live and act under the prmptings f the Hly Spirit Gives us the mral virtues f prudence, temperance, justice, and frtitude. Incrprated int the Bdy f Christ, the Church 1 Cr 12:13 by ne Spirit we were all baptized int ne Bdy. This means we have a rle t fulfill, a part t play. It means that all baptized peple are ur brthers and sisters. We share in the 3-fld missin f Christ: Priestly missin: t ffer sacrifice (ur lives) t Gd Prphetic missin: t prclaim the Gd News Kingly missin: t serve is t reign We share in the rights and duties f being a members f the Church: Rights: T receive the sacraments T be nurished by the Wrd f Gd T be sustained by ther spiritual helps in the Church Duties: Baptized persn n lnger lives fr himself, but fr Christ. We are his pssessin. T live a life in service f the Church T bey and submit t Church leaders, with respect and affectin Gives us an indelible spiritual mark We are marked with Christ, and nthing can ever take it away. Even sin cannt remve this mark, thugh it can prevent baptism frm bearing the fruits that lead t salvatin. In ther wrds, the mark will never leave us, but it des nt guarantee us heaven. We still have t chse it. B. Baptism and Original Sin Definitin f Sin: CCC 1849 Sin is an ffense against reasn, truth, and right cnscience; it is failure in genuine lve fr Gd and neighbr caused by a perverse attachment t certain gds. It wunds the nature f man and injures human slidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, r a desire cntrary t the eternal law." Other definitins f sin: A free chice t chse ur will abve Gd s will. 8

9 Vilatin f Great Cmmandment: Lve the Lrd yur Gd with all yur heart, and all yur sul, and all yur strength and yur neighbr as yurself. Original Sin: Adam and Eve were given many gifts t pass t their descendants. With sin, they lst these gifts and passed alng instead the cnsequences f their sin against Gd. Sin brught the fllwing cnsequences (a fallen state): lss f friendship with Gd. Human nature is weakened in its pwers Subject t suffering and death Weak and wunded intellect (ignrance, cnfusin, darkened) Will is inclined and attracted t sin (cncupiscence) Baptism gets rid f riginal sin, but nt all the cnsequences (like cncupiscence) T battle the effects f sin, we must receive graces frm the sacraments, prayer, and a life f discipline, penance and mrtificatin. Persnal sin: Baptism als remits (gets rid f) all persnal sin: sin we have persnally cmmitted by ur wn free chice. Hwever, as we knw frm experience, we cntinue t sin after baptism, and therefre, we need a way t abslve us f persnal sin. Hence, the Lrd gives us the sacrament f Cnfessin, in rder t remit (get rid f) any persnal sin we have cmmitted after baptism. C. The Sacrament and its Celebratin Matter and Frm Matter: Water The natural sign f water: Water is used naturally fr cleaning things, purifying things, etc. it is natural that the matter, r visible sign, f this sacrament, which means we are cleansed f ur sin, is water. As well, n a mre negative nte, water culd als be the cause f death by drwning. Therefre, it is als an apprpriate sign fr the death t sin that als ccurs in this sacrament. Sin is drwned and put t death in baptism. In the Sacrament: The water must have cntact with the bdy. Baptism by immersin: persn is cmpletely submerged under the water. Symbl f ttal cleansing and the drwning f sin and the ld man. Baptism by affusin: puring water ver the candidate 3 times. In the early Church, this was dne nly when immersin was nt pssible. In the Latin Church (west), this has becme the nrm tday. Frm: Name, I baptize yu in the name f the Father, and f the Sn, and f the Hly Spirit. These wrds cme directly frm the muth f Christ as seen in the Gspels. Minister: Anyne The rdinary minister is a bishp, priest, r deacn. In the case f necessity, anyne can baptize (with the crrect matter and frm) The Rite f Baptism (the liturgical celebratin f baptism) The Questins f the Church: What name have yu given yur child? Usually shuld be a Christian name the name f a Saint, a biblical figure, etc. It reminds us that we are being drawn int the cmmunin f Saints, and gives us a special figure t imitate and a special patrn in heaven praying fr us. The meaning f a name: Always in histry, names mean smething. When we read Scripture, we see that the name f every place and persn always has a meaning assciated t the persn, the place, and the circumstances surrunding the birth r an 9

10 event that has recently ccurred. Culturally, we have lst sme f this understanding regarding the imprtance f a name. What d yu ask f Gd s Church? By asking fr baptism, the parents are assuming the respnsibility fr 2 things: T accept the respnsibility t educate and train the child in the practice f the Faith. T teach the child t keep Gd s cmmandments, by lving Gd and neighbr. Accrding t St. Jhn Paul II, the hme is the dmestic Church. It is the first and mst imprtant place where children are frmed, educated, made hly, and taught. It is where they first learn f Gd and his lve fr us, virtue, service, and hw t lve. It is the mst imprtant schl. If there n real hpe that a child is ging t be taught the Faith, baptism shuld be put ff. Gdparents and Spnsrs Nt just an hnrary title. At a baptism, there must be ne spnsr and ne witness. Spnsr (Gdparent) Perfrms duties f Gdparent Must be at least 16 years ld. Must be a cnfirmed Cathlic, wh has received Hly Cmmunin and lives a life in accrdance t the rle they will undertake. Witness Des nt have t be Cathlic. Can act as a witness, but cannt be a gdparent. The Ceremny Celebrant, parents and gdparents make sign f Crss n frehead. Reading f the Wrd f Gd If during a Mass, the Mass readings fr that day are used. If utside f Mass, reading is selected frm amng pre-chsen ptins. Hmily Petitins Litany f the Saints Invking the intercessin f the Saints. Aninting with the il f catechumens (live il blessed n Hly Thursday) Blessing f the baptismal water. Prfessinal r renewal f baptismal prmises All present renew their baptismal prmises. The baptism f the child Anints the child with Hly Chrism (mix f blessed live il and balsam il blessed n Hly Thursday) Clthed with a white garment (symblized that we have been washed clean f sin) Candle is lit frm the Easter candle (symblizing that the persn has been given the light f Christ) Wh can receive baptism? Anyne wh believes Jesus is the Messiah. D. Baptism thrugh Histry In the Early Church (first centuries) Baptism was preceded by years f catechumenal preparatin. After these years f catechesis, the persn received all 3 Sacraments f Initiatin at ne time Baptism, Cnfirmatin, Eucharist. The perid f catechumenate was s lng fr 2 main reasns: The culture f the time was nt Christian at all. Therefre, peple needed significant time t understand what Christianity was, hw t live it, and what it meant fr their lives. 10

11 As well, t be a Christian ften meant martyrdm. One had t be truly prepared fr that reality and ready t accept it. As infant baptism became the nrm, the perid f the catechumenate came after baptism. As well, the Sacraments f Cnfirmatin and the Eucharist began t be given at a later age fllwing baptism and lnger perids f catechetical instructin. E. Differences in Baptism in the East and West In the Western Church (Latin r Rman) Baptism is nrmally given t infants. The ther 2 sacraments f Initiatin are given later n, after perids f catechetical instructin. Baptism is usually dne by affusin (thught immersin wuld als be cmpletely acceptable). Eastern Rite Churches In the Eastern Rite Churches, all 3 Sacraments f Initiatin are usually still given at the same time usually when the child is a baby. Baptism is usually dne by immersin. The child usually faces the East (the directin f the resurrectin) Hair is ften cut in tnsure F. Baptism and Catechesis (r the Catechumenate) Catechumenate a perid f frmal instructin r catechesis n the Faith f Jesus Christ and his Church, usually given t a persn t prepare them fr baptism. Infant Baptism In infant baptism, the perid f catechesis/catechumenate (learning the faith) cmes after baptism. The child s parents, first and fremst, shuld give the catechesis. Hwever, the Church als assists and cntributes t this educatin (thrugh Cathlic schls, CCD prgrams, etc.) Adult baptism tday (CCC ) Thse wh are nt baptized as children can receive baptism as adults. Usually adults will g thrugh mnths f catechesis/catechumenate (educatin in the faith) befre receiving baptism. This prcess is called the Rite f Christian Initiatin fr Adults (RCIA). The prcess is similar t the early Church. Thse wh g thrugh RCIA receive all 3 sacraments f initiatin at the same time. G. Living ur Baptismal Prmises At ur baptism we prmise (r ur parents prmise n ur behalf): T renunce Satan, his wrks, and all his empty prmises. This is key, because in baptism we are changing frm a child f satan t a child f Gd. Therefre, we have t reject freely what we are leaving. That we believe in: Gd, the Father Almighty, creatr f heaven and earth Jesus Christ, his nly Sn, ur Lrd, wh was brn f the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rse frm the dead, and is nw seated at the right hand f the Father The Hly Spirit, the hly Cathlic church, the cmmunin f saints, the frgiveness f sins, the resurrectin f the bdy, and life everlasting. All that the hly Cathlic Church believes, prfesses, teaches, and prclaims t be revealed by Gd. Hwever, we are nt usually faithful t these prmises With each sin, we break ur prmise t renunce Satan, and we reject the Faith and all it entails. This is why the sacrament f recnciliatin becmes necessary. We must have a means f recnciling urselves with Gd again after having ffended him and brken the prmises we made at baptism. Our whle life is an effrt t fulfill ur baptismal prmises. At ur baptism, the faith is planted like a seed in ur hearts. This seed shuld be nurished and cntinue t grw ur whle lives. If we d nt nurish ur faith, then eventually it can die. 11

12 We shuld always be grwing and living ur baptismal prmises mre fully. We d nt live what we believe ften times. Every sin is a denial f what we said we wuld d and what we believe at baptism. Therefre, we must spend ur whle lives perfecting hw we live and adhere t ur baptismal prmises which means rting ut sin frm ur lives. What is the fulfillment f Baptism? Hliness is the fulfillment f baptism Hliness is simply when we finally becme what we have prmised t be a true child f Gd the Father, in unin with Him, and in ttal renuncement f Satan and his wrks. We are his children when we are ding his wrks. If Gd were yur Father, yu wuld lve me, fr I came frm Gd Why d yu nt understand what I am saying? Because yu cannt bear t hear my wrd. Yu belng t yur father the devil and yu willingly carry ut yur father s designs.there is n truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father f lies. But because I speak the truth, yu d nt believe in me.whever belngs t Gd hears the wrds f Gd If yu lve me, yu will keep my cmmandments. (Jhn 8:42-47; 14:15) We have nly fulfilled ur baptism when we are hly, when we are carrying ut ur heavenly Father s wrks and nt the wrks f Satan. T ask D yu wish t receive Baptism? means at the same time t ask D yu wish t becme hly? (Jhn Paul II, Nv Millenni Ineunte, 31). It is pssible t say that this call t hliness is precisely the basic charge entrusted t all the sns and daughters f the Church This charge is nt a simple mral exhrtatin but an undeniable requirement. (JPII, Christifideles laici, 16) 12

13 IV. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS REGARDING BAPTISM A. Is Baptism Necessary fr Salvatin? The simple answer is yes. First, Jesus is very clear that we must be brn f water and Spirit t enter the Kingdm f Gd. (Jn 3:5) As well, the early Church Fathers wrte in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), "We believe in ne baptism fr the frgiveness f sins." As well, Tertullian in 203 AD states, Withut baptism, salvatin is attainable by nne. The Catechism f the Cathlic Church states: "The Lrd himself affirms that baptism is necessary fr salvatin [Jhn 3:5].... Baptism is necessary fr salvatin fr thse t whm the Gspel has been prclaimed and wh have had the pssibility f asking fr this sacrament [Mark 16:16]" (CCC 1257). Therefre, baptism is necessary fr salvatin. Hwever, Gd is als nt bund by the Sacraments. In ther wrds He can chse t bestw graces f salvatin utside the channels f grace He himself established (the Sacraments). (CCC 1257) Traditin f the Church has recgnized the pssibility f salvatin fr sme wh have died withut receiving the actual sacrament f baptism: Baptism f Desire (CCC ) Thse wh are preparing t receive the sacrament f baptism, but die befre receiving it (assuming cnversin and resentence f sin.) Thse wh, thrugh n fault f their wn, d nt knw Christ can be saved if they seek the truth and d the will f Gd in accrdance f his understanding f it. They did nt knw Jesus r his Gspel, but wuld have explicitly desired baptism had they knwn f it (CCC 1281). Baptism f Bld (CCC 1258) When an unbaptized persn suffers death fr Christ (martyrdm). This was cmmn in the early Church when many were martyred befre baptism (since the perid f preparatin was s lng). Children/Babies wh have died withut baptism (CCC 1261) Infants and unbrn children wh die befre baptism are entrusted t the mercy f Gd wh desires that all t be saved. We can reasnably hpe fr their salvatin. B. The Necessity and Effects f Baptism Differences Amng Christians Nt all Christians believe that baptism has the same effects. Cathlics (and sme ther Christian denminatins) believe: that baptism itself brings salvatin. that baptism is necessary fr salvatin (see abve sectin) that baptism washes away riginal sin. As well, the salvatin cmes precisely because baptism washes away riginal sin, which separates us frm Gd. Other Nn-Cathlic Christians believe: that baptism des nt have any real effect it is nly a symbl. Faith is what actually saves. Baptism is merely a symblic public prfessin f that faith. Differences in belief lead t differences in practice. 13

14 Christians d nt agree n the effects and therefre, the necessity, f baptism. This leads t difference in practice, mainly whether r nt t baptize infants r wait until a persn is lder. Therefre, we will cnsider the fllwing questins. C. Des Faith r Baptism Save a Persn? The Church has always taught that Baptism saves a persn fr the fllwing reasns: First, baptism requires faith. It is nt an either/r questin. Baptism implies and necessitates faith. One cannt receive baptism withut prfessing faith. It is a necessary and essential part f the sacrament. Part f the baptismal rite invlves asking the persn if they believe in Gd (Father, Sn and HS) and reject Satan. This means that faith precedes the sacrament f baptism in ther wrds, a persn must have faith befre they are baptized. Sme nn-cathlic Christians claim that this means that faith saves the persn because it cmes first. Hwever, if this were true if faith alne saves a persn why des Jesus and the Church cmmand baptism still? In ther wrds, if the persn was saved simply thrugh faith, why in every instance in Scripture d they still baptize peple? One example: Repent, and be baptized every ne f yu in the name f Jesus Christ fr the frgiveness f yur sins; and yu shall receive the gift f the Hly Spirit" (Acts 2:38) Nn-Cathlic Christians claim they still baptize peple (even thugh they are already saved thrugh faith) because they are being bedient t Christ (because Christ tld us t baptize peple). There is an element f truth t this we certainly want t be bedient t Christ in all things. Hwever, it begs a questin why des Jesus cmmand baptism if it is nt necessary fr salvatin? As well, it ignres Jesus wn teaching in Jhn 3 in which he says baptism is necessary fr salvatin. Secnd, Scripture makes it clear baptism itself is what saves. Acts 22:16 - "Rise and be baptized, and wash away yur sins, calling n his name" 1 Peter 3:20-21 Gd patiently waited in the days f Nah during the building f the ark, in which a few persns, eight in all, were saved thrugh water. 21This prefigured baptism, which saves yu nw. It is nt a remval f dirt frm the bdy but an appeal t Gd fr a clear cnscience, thrugh the resurrectin f Jesus Christ. It is the water f baptism that saves us. Rmans 6:3-5 - Or are yu unaware that we wh were baptized int Christ Jesus were baptized int his death? 4We were indeed buried with him thrugh baptism int death, s that, just as Christ was raised frm the dead by the glry f the Father, we t might live in newness f life. 5Fr if we have grwn int unin with him thrugh a death like his, we shall als be united with him in the resurrectin. Here is St. Paul makes that baptism is necessary because f its cnnectin with the Crss f Christ it is thrugh baptism that we die n the crss with Christ. This is precisely why it is necessary. Baptism is hw the ld man is put t death n the crss s that we may rise t new life. Clssians 2:11-12 In him yu were als circumcised with a circumcisin nt administered by hand, by stripping ff the carnal bdy, with the circumcisin f Christ. 12 Yu were buried with him in baptism, in which yu were als raised with him thrugh faith in the pwer f Gd, wh raised him frm the dead. Verse 12 makes the same pint that is made in Rmans 6 abve. As well, baptism is the new circumcisin f the New Cvenant. Every Israelite male had t be circumcised n the 8 th day after their birth. This is what brught them int the cvenant with Gd and make them part f his peple. (Genesis 17) 14

15 In the Old Testament, if a man wanted t becme a Jew, he had t believe in the Gd f Israel and be circumcised. In the New Testament, if ne wants t becme a Christian, ne must believe in Gd and Jesus and be baptized. In the Old Testament, thse brn int Jewish husehlds culd be circumcised in anticipatin f the Jewish faith in which they wuld be raised. Thus in the New Testament, thse brn in Christian husehlds can be baptized in anticipatin f the Christian faith in which they will be raised. (Cathlic Answers) Babies were nt circumcised by their wn persnal decisin but by their parent s decisin. Hwever, just as in baptism, each persn as they grew had t decide persnally whether he wuld be faithful t the cvenant. D. Shuld we Baptize Infants? Many nn-cathlic Christians answer, n we shuld nt baptize infants. They usually s fr the fllwing reasns: First (and primary), baptism shuld be a free chice by the persn themselves, since with baptism they are accepting Jesus as their Lrd and Savir. Peple shuld nly make this chice when they are ld enugh t understand what they are ding. Mixed in with this is the nce saved, always saved belief, which states that when a persn prfesses Jesus as their Lrd and Savir they will be saved n matter what. Therefre, if smene else baptizes an infant, it brings salvatin t the infant withut his/her actual cnsent. This argument we will deal with belw. Secnd, (as we already stated abve), baptism is nly symblic (and nt efficacius); it is faith in Jesus Christ that saves a persn, nt baptism. They argue that faith always precedes baptism (peple have faith and then are baptized). Therefre, it is faith in Jesus that brings salvatin, nt the act f baptism. One Christian pastr writes, There is n grace imparted in the physical act f baptism, apart frm the faith f the ne being baptized. This aspect f the argument we have already dealt with in sectin C Reasns we baptize Infants Jesus did nt restrict salvatin t nly adults "Nw they were bringing even infants t him that he might tuch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them t him, saying, Let the children cme t me, and d nt hinder them; fr t such belngs the kingdm f Gd " (Luke 18:15 16). The Greek wrd brepha means "infants" children wh are quite unable t apprach Christ n their wn and wh culd nt pssibly make a cnscius decisin t "accept Jesus as their persnal Lrd and Savir." Histrical Precedence - It has been dne all thrughut Church Histry, including the first centuries f the Church. In many instances in Acts f the Apstles, we read the whle husehlds were baptized. Thugh it des nt explicitly mentins infants being present, it wuld be fair t assume their were sme children in at least sme f these husehlds. Has been practiced since the early Church (2 nd century), and has grwn mre as the cmmn custm thrugh the years. CCC 1252 The practice f infant Baptism is an immemrial traditin f the Church. There is explicit testimny t this practice frm the secnd century n, and it is quite pssible that, frm the beginning f the apstlic preaching, when whle "husehlds" received baptism, infants may als have been baptized. Church Fathers: Origin: "accrding t the usage f the Church, baptism is given even t infants" (Hlilies n Leviticus, 8:3:11 [A.D. 244]). St. Augustine: "The custm f Mther Church in baptizing infants is certainly nt t be scrned... nr is it t be believed that its traditin is anything except apstlic" (Literal Interpretatin f Genesis 10:23:39 [A.D. 408]) Cuncil f Carthage in 253 A.D. cndemned the pinin that baptism shuld be withheld frm infants until the eighth day after birth 15

16 As well, See p. 41 in yur bk fr qutes frm St. Irenaeus in 180 A.D. and St. Hipplytus in 215 A.D. Since baptism brings salvatin (and is necessary fr it) and washes away riginal sin why wuld we pstpne it? CCC The Church and the parents wuld deny a child the priceless grace f becming a child f Gd were they nt t cnfer baptism shrtly after birth. As well, it brings up anther questin that nn-cathlic Christians have a difficult time answering what happens then t a child r baby wh des die befre baptism? Parents make many decisins fr their children why wuld they nt make the mst imprtant ne as well? CCC 1251 Christian parents will recgnize that this practice als accrds with their rle as nurturers f the life that Gd has entrusted t them. When we are yung, every decisin cncerning ur well-being is made by smene else. Parents make many imprtant decisins fr their children what and when t feed them; hw and where t educate them; where t live; medical care, etc. This must be even truer fr the giving f the faith the mst imprtant gift and treasure ne can have. Baptism brings salvatin, but it des nt take away the chice f the persn twards the faith nr guarantee their eventual salvatin. Just as in ther things f life, as we get lder, the respnsibility f making ur wn decisins falls mre and mre t us. Ex: Our parents teach us t eat healthy, but eventually we are the nes wh decide what we are ging t eat and if we are ging t d what ur parents taught us. The same is true with ur faith. Our parents teach it t us, but it becmes ur respnsibility t live it ut. N ne tells parents they shuld nt teach their children t eat healthy because ne day they may nt d s. The same is true with the faith. In baptism, the seed f faith in planted in the child. This seed needs water and sunlight t grw and flurish. This water and sunlight is the educatin f the faith and the lve f their parents as they grw. Parents are respnsible fr helping this seed planted at baptism t grw and mature as the years g n. Hwever, at sme pint, the care f that seed becmes the respnsibility f the ne in whm it is planted. Each persn will have the respnsibility fr persnally nurturing and cultivating the gift f the Faith they have received as an infant. This is true abut every decisin that a persn must make nutritin, educatin, etc. Each persn must persnally chse t be a fllwer f Christ. We d nt believe in nce saved, always saved. We d receive the gift f salvatin freely nt because we earned r deserve it. Hwever, at any pint and time we can reject and renunce that gift. 16