Baptism Flashcards
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a ritual of sprinkling water onto a person’s forehead or immersing them in water, symbolising purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. It is one of the three sacraments of initiation to celebrate the beginning of a person’s membership in God’s family.
What are the four elements of a baptism ceremony?
Reception of the Child, Celebration of God’s Word, Celebration of the Sacrament and Conclusion of the Rite.
Elements - What is Reception of the Child?
Reception of the Child is when the parents of the child are greeted by the Priest where he reminds them that children are a gift from God and that it is their duty to bring the child up to love God and neighbour.
The priest, parents and godparents then claim the child for Christ and trace the cross on the child’s forehead.
Elements - What is Celebration of God’s Word?
After the priest gives homily, the people pray for God to gives the child the new life of Baptism. the priest prays for God to free the child from original sin and send the Holy Spirit to dwell within him or her.
Any of the following passages can be read during:
John 3;1-5 (Jesus and Nicodemus talking about God’s Kingdom)
Matthew 28;18-20 (Jesus sends the Apostles to preach and baptise)
Mark 1;0-11 (the baptism of Jesus)
Mark 10;13-16 (let the children come to me).
Any of these passages are read.
Elements - What is Celebration of the Sacrament?
The priest blesses the water for Baptism. The parents and godparents make known their faith by saying the Apostle’s Creed. Then, the priest baptises the child saying, “I baptise you in the Father (the priest pours water on the child’s head), and of the son (he pours water a third time)”. The child is anointed with oil as a sign of membership in the church, clothes with a white garment as a sign of new life, and given a candle as a sign that Jesus, the Light of the World, is present.
Elements - What is the Conclusion of the Rite?
The people pray the Lord’s Prayer and the priest blesses the parents, godparents and the children. Everyone responds with ‘Amen.’
What are the symbols of Baptism?
Water, White Garment, Oil of Chrism and Words and Gestures.
Symbols - What does Water symbolise?
Water reflects the belief in rebirth and in cleansing from sin, which are at the heart of the Christian gospel.
Water is a symbol of purification, life and survival.
The use of water as the central symbol of baptism reflects the belief in God as creator and human kind’s dependence on God.
When the person emerges from the water this is symbolic of the Resurrection.
Symbols - What does the White Garment symbolise?
The White Garment symbolises ‘putting on Christ;’ copying his words and deeds. It is white because in the Bible the colour for the clothing of the Messiah is white.
White: purity/fresh start of the baptised person.
Expresses the idea that in baptism the individual is cleansed from original sin meaning that baptism is a new beginning for Christians.
Symbols - What does the Oil of Chrism symbolise?
Oil is traditionally a symbol of healing and strength.
In the time of Jesus and the ancient Hebrews anyone who was considered a priest, prophet or king was anointed with oil - the anointing of Saul (1 Samuel 10;1-3).
Christians are anointed with oil to affirm their calling to be:
Priests - (mediators between God and humanity)
Prophets - (speakers of wisdom and truth)
Kings - (heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of God)
Symbols - What does Words and Gestures symbolise?
The sign of the cross is used in a number of places in the Rite.
This simple symbol and ritual action expresses the Christian belief in the Triune God which is at the heart of the Christian faith.
The important words of the sacrament are ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ in this action the Holy Trinity is expressed.
What are the principal beliefs of Christianity?
Death and resurrection of Jesus, Salvation, The Blessed Trinity and Repentance.
Principal belief - Death and Resurrection of Jesus?
The word ‘Resurrection’ means passing from death to life.
Christ was the sacrificial lamb and was put to death on the cross, rose 3 days later and resurrected to heaven.
Death and Resurrection links to the ceremony symbol of water.
Christians believe that an adherent is Baptised into the death of Jesus.
When they are immersed in water their old self dies and when they arise from the water they are resurrected anew and become whole in Christ.
Principal belief - Salvation?
By entering into the death of Jesus and sharing in his Resurrection, Christians believe that Salvation is attained by the grace of God.
Christ sacrificed himself for Christians so that they could have access to eternal life.
Salvation links to the ceremony symbol of the White Garment.
New Christians were given a white garment to wear as a sign of newlife and rejection of sin.
Principal belief - The Blessed Trinity?
It holds that God is one God, but three coeternal consubstantial persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - as one God in three Divine Persons.
The Blessed Trinity links to the ceremony symbol of Words and Gestures.
Baptism is not only in immersion in water but in the Holy Spirit.
