The Sacraments of

Baptism & Confirmation

St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church2015 RCIA Class - Presentation

January 15, 2015

Deacon Bob Kepshire

SACRAMENTS

What are Sacraments?

• From the Latin ‘sacramentum,’ a word which refers to the oath of loyalty sworn by soldiers to the emperor

• In Christianity it means the mysteries and signs by which man expressed loyalty to God

• Rites celebrated that use visible signs to symbolize invisible grace given to man by God

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church…

…A Sacrament is an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit (774, 1131).

Sacraments

• Signs - tangible & visible• Symbols - has meaning; real events that make

present the spiritual reality they express• Sacred Gift - freely given when we are not worthy• Grace - make us holy; inspires us to selflessly

conform to God’s will

The Seven Sacraments of the Church

• Baptism• Confirmation• Eucharist• Reconciliation

• Matrimony• Holy Orders• Anointing of the

Sick

Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism• Confirmation• Eucharist

BAPTISM

Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of

sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification

Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizein which means to “plunge” or “immerse.”

The “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”

The sacrament is also called “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings about birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.”

“This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this instruction are enlightened in their understanding….” Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he/she becomes a “son/daughter of light,” indeed, he/she becomes “light” himself/herself.

Baptism in the Church

• From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated & administered holy Baptism

• According to St. Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ’s death, is buried with him, and rises with him (Rom 6:2-4, Col 2:12)

• St. Peter declared, “Repent, and be baptized…in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

The believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the

Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church……the Body of Christ.

The individual becomes an adopted son/daughter of God. The individual also

shares in the Kingly, Priestly and Prophetic Mission of Jesus Christ.

Who Can Receive Baptism?

“Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.” (CIC, can. 864; cf. CCEO, can. 679)

Who Can Baptize?

• The ordinary ministers of Baptism are• Bishops• Priests• Deacons (in the Latin Rite)

• In case of emergency, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes.

Baptism Symbols & Meanings• Water – forgiveness, cleansing,

dying with Christ• Oil (Chrism) – symbol of “being

sent” or “anointed.” Share is the three-fold Mission of Christ; to sanctify (priestly), to proclaim (prophetic), and to give Christian leadership & example to the world (kingly)

• Candles – symbolic of being the light to the world

How is Baptism Celebrated?

• The sign of the cross• The proclamation of the Word of God• Prayer of exorcism• Anointing with the oil of catechumens• Consecration of the baptismal water• Essential rite, pouring of water and the Trinitarian

formula• Anointing with sacred chrism• Presentation of candle lit from the Easter candle

The Effects of Baptism• All sins are forgiven…original sin and all personal

sin, as well as all punishment for sin• The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying

grace, the grace of justification:• Enabling us to believe in God, to hope in him, & to love

him through the theological virtues• The power to live & act under the prompting of the Holy

Spirit, through the gifts of the Holy Spirit• Allows us to grow in goodness through the moral virtues

• Becomes configured to Christ and seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of belonging to Christ

CONFIRMATION

• ‘Confirma’ means “to strengthen”• In the Bible it is referred to as “laying of hands”

• Accepting responsibility for the faith• Actively living our vocation, not as bystanders but doers

• Become a ‘Soldier of Christ’• Fight the battle between good & evil

• Strengthen unity• With the Church & Christ

• Exercise apostolic zeal• Making Christ known to all the world

“…the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.”(Cf. Roman Ritual, Rite of Confirmation (OC) , Introduction 1)

For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”(Lumen Gentium 11; cf. OC, Introduction 2).

The Catholic (Latin Rite) Tradition of Confirmation

• In the first centuries, took place at the time of Baptism…forming with it a “double sacrament”

• Growth of dioceses prevented the bishop from being present at all baptismal celebrations

• In the West (Latin Rite) the desire to reserve the completion of Baptism to the bishop caused the temporal separation of the two sacraments

• Expresses the communion of the new Christian with the bishop as guarantor and servant of the unity, catholicity and apostolicity of his Church…and hence the connection with the apostolic origins of Christ’s Church

Who Can Receive Confirmation?

“Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of

Confirmation.” (cf. CIC, can. 889 § 1)

Who is the Minister of Confirmation?• In the Latin Rite, the

ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop

• The bishop may grant the faculty of administering the sacrament to priests

• If any Christian is in danger of death, any priest can give them Confirmation

How is Confirmation Celebrated?

• Bishops consecrates the sacred chrism at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week

• Renewal of baptismal promises• Bishop extends his hands over the confirmands

and invokes the outpouring of the Spirit• The forehead of the confirmand is anointed with

chrism and the bishops states, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”

• The bishop and newly confirmed exchange the sign of peace

The Effects of Confirmation

• Brings an increase & deepening of baptismal grace• Unites us more firmly to Christ• Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us• Renders our bond with the Church more perfect• Imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the

‘character’ which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the deal of his Spirit

• Receives the power to spread and defend the faith by word & action; to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit• Wisdom• Understanding• Counsel• Fortitude• Knowledge• Piety• Fear of the Lord

WISDOM

• A spiritual gift which enables one to know the purpose and plan of God

• Not only enlightens the mind, but inflames the heart with love for God, gives us a taste for Divine things and an ardent desire for heavenly treasures

UNDERSTANDING

• Enables us to understand the mysteries & doctrines of the Church

• Reveals the hidden meaning of Scared Scripture

• Allows us to view these mysteries & truths in different angles

COUNSEL• Moves the soul to choose

what gives glory to God• We learn how to best

please God by following the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

• We ask ourselves…”What Would Jesus Do?” in a given situation

FORTITUDE• Gives us the courage to be Christians• Strengthens the soul to hate sin• Empowers us to fight the enemies of our

salvation• It is the virtue of the martyrs…willing to give

their lives rather than renounce their faith

KNOWLEDGE• Helps us to apply the

teachings of our faith to the living of daily life

• The human intellect, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, judges rightly concerning all created things by a kind of superior gift that gives an intuitive impulse

PIETY

• Leads one to the devotion to God

• Gives us joy and pleasure in conversing with God through prayer

• Moves us to love God, the Heavenly Hosts, the Saints and one another

FEAR OF THE LORD

• Ensures our awe and reverence before God

• Child-like fear of the Lord…it urges the soul to avoid the least sin in order not to displease God

12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit*

‘The perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory’

• Charity• Joy• Peace• Patience• Kindness• Goodness

• Generosity• Gentleness• Faithfulness• Modesty• Self-control• Chastity