9.1: Baptism

In the Roman Catholic church baptism is sometimes performed during Sunday mass, but more often it takes place in a separate liturgy, usually on a Sunday. In many churches there is a separate font, a stone or wooden basin, at the rear of the church where baptisms take place. If you go into a church you may see it at the rear, although many churches now prefer a small portable font.

The Ceremony of Baptism is given here in outline form.

1. The presentation of the candidate. The candidate or their parents announce that they have come for baptism. The sign of the cross is made on the candidates forehead by the priest, then the parents and godparents. Then the candidate is brought to the baptismal font or the baptistery.
2. Liturgy of the Word, as at Mass, but much briefer. Readings from Scripture and possibly a homily, short talk, by the priest or minister.
3. The candidate is exorcised. This is the anointing on the breast with the oil of catechumens. A catechumen is a trainee Christian. Anointing with oil is a traditional sign of being given strength. The ceremony symbolises the driving out of evil from the candidate.
4. The parents and godparents, or the candidate if old enough, make promises which include affirming that they reject Satan and all his works, and that they believe in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Parents and godparents renew their own baptismal promises at this time.
5. There is the actual baptism when the candidate is either immersed or has water poured three times on their head while the words of baptism, "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," are said. Some churches practice smearing with water rather than the other two methods.
6. The candidate is anointed with Oil of Chrism on the crown of the head. This is the royal oil used in the past to anoint kings, and it signifies that the baptised person is special and now shares in Jesus role as priest, prophet and king.
7. The candidate is clothed in a white robe or shawl, a symbol of purity.
8. A candle is lit from the paschal candle. This is the great Easter candle which is lit at the Easter Vigil as a sign of the resurrection of Christ. Light is a sign of life and truth.
9. The Our Father and other prayers are said. A final blessing is given.

Identify and explain the symbols used in baptism.

Give an account of a baptism as if you were there. If you have been to a baptism write about it.

For Catholics baptism enters the child into the community of the church. This is a community composed of believers centred around the living Lord Jesus Christ. When you enter the church community you enter into union with Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, which is God’s power working in your soul. God’s influence is only ever for good.

It has the following benefits:

• It rids the soul of original sin, the defect which is inherent in human nature.
• It provides you with God’s strength to do good.
• It gives the gift of eternal life.

Roman Catholics believe that once baptised we have God’s grace working in us to help us live Christian lives.

Yet baptism is seen by Catholics as a responsibility for the parents and godparents. It is a sign that the parents will raise the child in the Roman Catholic faith. This involves their doing the following things:

• Teaching the child its faith and morals.
• Actively encouraging him/her to live as a Christian.
• Disciplining the child when he/she does wrong.
• Setting an example of Christian behaviour.
• Ensuring that the child attends a school where he/she
• Receives a suitable Roman Catholic religious education.
• Taking part with the child in shared worship at church and at home.

In your own words explain the importance of baptism in a Roman Catholic life.

In the list above you have a number of ways in which parents can fulfil the promises they made at their child’s baptism. Select three of those ways and give examples of how parents can put them into practice, e.g. if you are doing the one on shared worship you might mention saying grace before meals or night-time prayers with the children.

Some Christians practice baptism only when a person is old enough to give an adult commitment. Roman Catholics baptise infants, as they believe that baptism is a sign that you are a member of Christ’s community, and this community is open to even the youngest children. For instance Jesus says in Mark 10, 13-16, "Let the children come to me." That Jesus says the Kingdom of God belongs to children is a good reason to believe in infant baptism. Roman Catholics believe that the grace of God, his power to save and make holy (sanctify) can be operative in the souls of infants, and that it is in our interest to allow the grace of God to begin working as soon as possible. It is never too early to receive the grace of God or join his community. The rituals which we call sacraments are channels through which this grace is given. Therefore, an infant baptism is a moment of grace for the child.

Ridding the soul of original sin cannot be done too early in the Roman Catholic view. In the past it was thought that children who died unbaptised could not go to heaven but went instead to Limbo, an intermediate state. People now reject this view as it denies the love and mercy of God. Nevertheless, Catholics believe that they would rather be rid of original sin sooner than later.

Why do Roman Catholics practise infant baptism? What are your views on the right age for baptism?

In the R.C. church baptism is performed by the priest pouring water on the head. Some churches practise baptism by total immersion, where the person to be baptised is completely submerged in water for a second or two. This method is allowed by the R.C. church, but is rarely used because it requires a great deal of space to build a pool big enough.

Some people claim that baptism must be by total immersion and that pouring water on the head is not enough. They think this because this was the way it was done in the Bible by John the Baptist. Roman Catholics feel that as baptism is a symbol it is sufficient to pour water on the head. What do you think?

Task RC 7

Godparents promise to help raise the child in the faith. Give examples of how they might fulfil their promises.

Signposts is a Painsley Small World
Return to Signposts Homepage