It turns the person into a newly adopted son of God and a member of Christ. The answer to this question, however, involves more than a simple difference of tradition. This also explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses the word, Jesus’ baptism not only is deeply intertwined. He is, as it were, the true Jonah who said to the crew of the ship, ”Take me and throw me into the sea” (Jon. Saint Paul, looking back at this event, refers to it as a prefigurement of Christian baptism (1 Cor. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION. We can remember the importance of baptizing infants specifically by remembering the importance of the sacrament as we understand it: baptism is not a mere symbol of gaining a new life in Christ, but rather is the actual conferral of grace by which mankind is able to be a part of the Body of Christ. When we are saved, we are “baptized” by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, which is the church. First Corinthians 12:13 says, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Turning to the Catholic understanding of baptism, however, we bear witness to several beautiful truths that are fundamental to the Catholic faith. The baptism of the Lord also reminds us, of course, of our own baptism. But the flowing waters of the river are above all a symbol of life (15-16). Christ chose to be baptized not out of personal necessity, but rather because He thought it fitting to be baptized on behalf of the humanity whose sins He was choosing to take on. And the origin of this sacrament is Jesus’ own baptism. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners. Second, this feast helps us consider the meaning of baptism itself in the Catholic Church, and the meaning of sacraments in general. Since Catholics believe that all mankind has been stained with original sin through the sin of Adam and Eve, it is necessary to remove this original sin through the grace of baptism even in the case of those who have not been able to commit actual sin. Jesus and Baptism. But Catholics care most of all about the letters we hope one day will come. Considering that baptism washes away original sin (as well as actual sin in the case of older children or adult baptisms), we are led to ponder the meaning of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan as that feast approaches, since although Christ took on our humanity He remained sinless. . This is also why we need to share our faith! Many other Christian denominations think that it is odd that the Church would require baptism of babies, the most innocent of God’s creatures. . Let us mindfully renew those baptismal promises so that we may love God and our neighbor, be a faithful witness to Christ and prepare ourselves to share in the glory of His resurrection. . What My Aborted Uncle or Aunt Has Taught Me, Living Your Baptismal Mission as Priest, Prophet, and King, How to Make the Most of the Christmas Octave (& Season! Each time we witness the baptism of a child, we can remember the truth of Christ’s saving power. Baptism, according to Mary Collins, OSB, is always about relationships. Opposition to infant baptism is not a new phenomenon. One is that the Bible says to be baptized once we have faith and repent of our sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15–17); no one should be baptized “in … After all, he is the sinless, divine Son of God, and the baptism that John the Baptist administered was “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). Sacraments 101: Baptism (why we baptize) By The Editors November 15, 2011. First, it is helpful to understand the unique nature of the Catholic understanding of the sacrament of baptism as opposed to the understanding of baptism by other Christian denominations. 3:14, John 3:30). John Chrysostom writes: “Going down into the water and emerging again are the image of the descent into hell and the Resurrection” (19). One of these feasts is the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which occurs in early January, and commemorates the baptism of Christ by St. John the Baptist. The feast of Christ’s baptism, then, is one we should commemorate with a great deal of reverence and contemplation since it is in part through His baptism on behalf of humanity that we have been given the grace to be able to join our God in heaven. Who are the saints? Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments, and so it prepares the child for later reception of confirmation and the Eucharist, among other sacraments. Why was Jesus baptized? The Catholic Church, it noted, believes that the minister of a baptism is not acting on behalf of only himself or the local community, but … Baptism is thus the necessary precursor to all other sacraments. The world tends to value the letters at the end of people’s names—M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. In baptism, we are made one. Despite this, the first objection often is that babies cannot personally make the commitment necessary for Baptism. Christian baptism is of course greater than John’s baptism, even as Jesus himself is far greater than John (Matt. This feast causes us to ruminate on numerous things. In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. Catholics believe we are born into "original sin," we inherit it. Following this understanding of baptism, it would make sense that Christian denominations, in general, would not baptize their babies. The Fundamentalist contention that baptizoalways means immersion is an oversimplification. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners. This created a means of escape for God’s people from the stampeding armies of Egypt and its Pharaoh, which are types of sin and Satan. “baptism” to refer to his death (18). 1:12) . One begins to wonder about the purpose of baptizing someone who cannot answer for himself or herself, especially since it is readily apparent that babies are incapable of choosing to act sinfully, and so do not need to be cleansed of sin in the same way that adults who have chosen to sin do. All four evangelists report Jesus’ baptism (Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:31-34) which means that it is extremely important. This also explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses the word. “The fruit of Baptism, … Rather, Pope Benedict XVI (writing as Joseph Ratzinger), in his, First, in antiquity water conjured up two distinct images, Looking at the events (of Christ’s baptism) in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. His inaugural gesture is an anticipation of the Cross. 10:2), which frees us from the rule of sin and death. These two ideas are, in a sense, two sides of the same coin. It makes the baptized a new creature. PD. In the … Christian baptism not only forgives sins, but infuses the life of God into the soul, making us God’s children. Since babies cannot speak for themselves, their parents and godparents play a vital role in their baptism. It seems odd that Jesus would be baptized. Since Catholics believe that all mankind has been stained with original sin through the sin of Adam and Eve, it is necessary to remove this original sin through the grace of baptism even in the case of those who have not been able to commit actual sin. In the gospel of Matthew, the public ministry of Jesus opens and ends with baptism. . We can understand, then, why it is that the Church insists that babies be baptized as soon as possible after birth—as soon as the infant can safely be carried to church. In the Easter Vigil liturgy of the Roman Rite, the paschal candle is plunged into the waters of the baptismal font, much as Moses stretched his staff over the waters of the Red Sea, which God parted (Ex. But, since the time of Abraham right to the present, Jews have circumcised infants and brought them into the Covenant on the eighth day after birth, based on the faith of the parents, just as we … In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with. He is, as it were, the true Jonah who said to the crew of the ship, ”Take me and throw me into the sea” (Jon. Baptism is the first holy sacrament followed by: Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage and Holy Order. Before the Christian usage, a “trinity” (triadin Greek) was simply any grou… 1:12) . 14:21-31). The baptism is an acceptance of death for the sins of humanity, and the voice that calls out “This is my beloved Son” over the baptismal waters is an anticipatory reference to the Resurrection. First, it helps us pause and reflect on the meaning of the Incarnation and of Christ taking on the burden of humanity since Christ chose to be baptized not because He had sinned but rather because He had chosen to offer Himself up to repent for the sins of humanity. Rather, he sanctified the waters by his descent into them. Catholics understand that Baptism is more than a symbol – instituted by Christ, it is a means by which God confers upon us his grace. Why we celebrate Christ's baptism close to the Epiphany. “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and … It turns the baptized into a newly adopted son or daughter of God and a member of the Church. We breath with the Lord Jesus and with every other baptized person. Baptism provides a common foundation among all Christians, including those not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church. ... is why our Catholic Tradition places the Baptism of the Lord alongside the visit of … And we can begin by affirming that indeed we have been created in God’s image and likeness. This is why the Church encourages baptism of even the smallest infants, for it is by being baptized into the Church that we are able to fully receive grace in the time afterward. Jesus had no need to be cleansed by the waters of baptism, for he had no sins to be washed away. Baptism is conferred upon infants to free them from original sin, to initiate them into the Church as Christians, and to give them the supernatural grace of God that will allow them to be formed in sanctity. 3:14, John 3:30). In the Easter Vigil liturgy of the Roman Rite, the paschal candle is plunged into the waters of the baptismal font, much as Moses stretched his staff over the waters of the Red Sea, which God parted (Ex. It brings someone into the flock of the faithful and brings them to share in the royal priesthood of Christ (1 Pet. Father Margevicius noted that Church Fathers, including St. Ignatius of Antioch, said that it’s not so much that Jesus goes in the water for himself to be sanctified, but to sanctify the water so that it can become the source of holiness for us. The first feast that springs to our minds is almost without a doubt Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord, but there are several others which are truly worthy of remembrance and celebration, and can aid us in recognizing the many truths woven into the fabric of Catholicism. It is an article of faith that anyone who dies in the state of original sin is excluded from heaven, from the vision of God. The Eastern traditions of iconography pick up on many of these themes, as the current pope emeritus elucidates: The icon of Jesus’ baptism depicts the water as a liquid tomb having the form of a dark cavern, which is in turn the iconographic sign of Hades, the underworld, or hell. There’s a whole chapter in the book on Jesus’ baptism, but here are a few of his key thoughts. Even the physical act of baptism, especially baptism by immersion, represents death and new life: the descent into the waters is a form of death and burial; the rising to a new life is an icon of resurrection. The ancient mind perceived the ocean as a permanent threat to the cosmos, to the earth; it was the primeval flood that might submerge all life . © 2013-2021 The Mystical Humanity of Christ. The easiest and perhaps best answer would simply be that this was the constant Tradition or teaching of the early Church, right from the time of the Apostles. 12:14, NIV). Monday’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marked the official end of the Christmas season. Jesus’ baptism not only is deeply intertwined with the salvific events of the Passion and of Easter, but it also reveals him to be a new and greater Moses. Christ Calls All to Baptism. Therefore, when someone is publicly baptized, he is proclaiming his allegiance to … of course, of our own baptism. Even within the Catholic Church herself we put the good catechumen ahead of the wicked baptized person” (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4:21:28 [A.D. 400]). As the feast of Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist approaches, and as we think about the importance of baptizing each newborn child, we may reflect on the promises our parents and godparents made on our behalf and consider their importance in our present lives. Why did Christ, then, place such great importance on His own baptism even though there was no sin to wash away? . 14:21-31). One of the questions that arise from this latter consideration is why Catholics baptize babies instead of waiting until children have reached the age of reason, as is common in many other Christian denominations. The answer involves the foundation of Catholicism, namely the reason that Christ became man, died and then rose from the dead. 2:9-10). . According to aboutcatholic.com baptism does five things : It forgives all sins that were committed before baptism including original, mortal, and venial sin. “I do not hesitate to put the Catholic catechumen, burning with divine love, before a baptized heretic. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". The word “saint” derives from the Greek term, The world tends to value the letters at the end of people’s names—M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. The Church recognizes the validity of Baptism in other Christian Churches as long as the rite involved the pouring of or immersion in water, a Trinitarian formula, and the intention to baptize. But Catholics care most of all about the letters we hope one day will come before our names: “St.” This was the ultimate reason the Lord was baptized, establishing the sacrament, and it’s why we are baptized, too. ), St. John of the Cross—Reflection on His Sayings of Light and Love. Why, exactly, do Catholics have the practice of baptizing infants? This can lead us into reflecting on the theological virtues of faith, hope and love as well: in faith we recognize the immensity of the sacrament of baptism, in hope we await the fullness of God’s grace, and in love we are struck by both the innocence of the newborn child and the magnitude of the Redemption. with the salvific events of the Passion and of Easter, but it also reveals him to be a new and greater Moses. On the one side, the innocence of a newborn child shows to us the goodness that is still present in the world despite the fall of Adam and Eve. Christian baptism not only forgives sins, but infuses the life of God into the soul, making us God’s children. Baptism is equated with dying with Christ ( Romans 6:8 ), and so the symbolism of being buried is a public declaration of our dying with Christ as well as our identification with him. Benedict notes: On the one hand, immersion into the waters is a symbol of death, which recalls the death symbolism of the annihilating, destructive power of the ocean flood. This has always been the practice of the Orthodox churches and of many Protestant denominations as well. The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. The Catholic Church's Clear Teaching About Infant Baptism. Prefigurations of Baptism in the Old Covenant. Do the godparents of our child need to be married to each other? Baptism is thus the necessary precursor to all other sacraments. If original sin is the source of our damnation then we are born with it. One week following our celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord, we celebrate His baptism. So, we have some key differences in the Catholic doctrine of baptism compared to Scripture. Already he is … To fully elaborate on all of these truths would require thousands of pages, but let’s consider them one by one in brief here. That was what happened when God decided to create man through the creation of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Acts 2:38,39 Peter in his first sermon makes it very clear that the promises of baptism are for adults and their children. It also states that baptism is what incorporates mankind into the life of the Church, and so it is through baptism that mankind is able to attain salvation at all. The Bible says, “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. When you boil it all down, this is the essence of how we fulfill our baptismal mandate to become saints. This is greatly different from the understanding of the sacrament of baptism that is held by many other Christians, which simply put is that baptism does not actually confer any of the grace it symbolizes, but rather is a manifestation of a person’s acceptance of Christ as their Savior. . This also explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses the word The Church teaches that baptism not only lets us participate in Jesus’ victory over sin and death, but calls us to our own personal holiness and apostolate (sharing our faith). Your child will receive the Baptismal grace and freed from original sin. The purpose of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection is to unite all things in Him and to redeem His people by taking on the burden of the sins of all mankind. 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