Sacraments Initiation

Rite of Christian Initiation

Church of St Francis Xavier

Recap of Last Week’s Session

We communicate through Signs / Symbols SACRAMENT – ‘outward sign of inner grace’ Jesus is the Primordial Sacrament Church is Sacrament of Christ 7 Sacraments Christ instituted the sacraments Ex opere operato (non-ponentibus obicem)

7 Sacraments

Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Holy Matrimony Holy Orders Penance Anointing of the Sick

Sacraments of Initiation

Sacraments of Church Order

Sacraments of Healing

Sacraments of InitiationBaptism & Confirmation

The Sacraments of Initiation

Sacrament of Initiation

Baptism Confirmation Eucharist

Baptism

Names of Sacrament

Baptism (Gk ‘Baptizein’) – plunge, immerse (CCC 1214)

Washing of Regeneration and Renewal by the Holy Spirit (CCC 1215)

Bath of Enlightenment (CCC 1216)

Foundations in OT -Prefigurations

Water at the beginning of creation .. Overshadowed by the Spirit Gen 1

Flood Waters – Noah’s Ark Crossing of the Red Sea Crossing of the River Jordan Ablutions & Initiation of Proselytes in

Judaism

Baptism in NT

Baptism by John the Baptist – Gospels Acts 10:47, 11:16 – Baptism – Water-Spirit Rom 6:1-11 – Paschal Event 1 Pet 3:19-21 – Noah’s ark, washing of

dirt, election Mat 28:19 – Trinitarian formula Jn 3:5, Tit 3:5 – reborn

Historical Development Apostolic/ early Church - 3 Sac – one rite – e.g. the

Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus 3 AD. Catechumenate – 3 years. Catechumens – adults and families. By end of 5th century, infant baptism became the

norm - Major Reason – St Augustine. By 14th century, the baptismal ceremony

disappeared from the Easter Vigil altogether. Effects – link between Baptism & other 2

sacraments of initiation widened. Vat II restored the link between 3 sacraments –

RCIA becomes the norm.

Formula for Baptism

Form: “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” + sprinkle/ pour/ immerse

Matter: Water Minister of Baptism: Ordinarily –

ordained minister; extraordinarily – any person

The effects (grace) of Baptism

Forgiveness of sins (CCC 1263,1264) A new creature (CCC 1265, 1266) Incorporated into the Church (CCC 1267-

1270) Sacramental bond of unity among all

Christians (CCC 1271) An indelible spiritual mark (CCC 1272-

1274)

Special Questions

Why are infants baptised? What is original sin? Is baptism necessary for salvation? How about persons who have not been

baptised, will they be saved too? Do we re-baptise Christians who have

been baptised in other churches?

Original Sin

Original Sin is the state or condition in which, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, all human persons are born. The term has 2 references:

1. The initial, ‘originating’ sin of Adam and Eve (peccatum originale originans): the first sin; and

2. The subsequent ‘originated’ universality of human sin (peccatum originale originatum): original sin.

Original Sin - Characteristics

A State of sin – analogous, contracted not committed CCC 404

Loss of grace, original holiness and justice, innocence

Wounded/weakened free will Concupiscence – inclination to evil Death – soul/ physical

Grace God’s self-communication and presence within

and among us (Karl Rahner) CCC 1997 Grace is a participation in the life of

God… CCC 1999 The grace of Christ is the gratuitous

gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. It is the sanctifying or deifying grace received in Baptism. It is in us the source of the work of sanctification

Grace & Justification

Official teaching countered 2 distortion1. Pelagianism – self-sufficiency of nature

2. Calvinism (Protestant) – sola gratia – free will totally damaged by original sin

CCC 1993 Justification establishes cooperation between God's grace and man's freedom.

Confirmation

Meaning of Confirmation CCC 1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the

sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. 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

Justification from NT

Spirit in the Life of Jesus Acts 2 – Outpouring of Spirit at Pentecost Acts 8:14-17. Samaritans who received

baptism earlier but received laying on hands later by apostles. It is said that the divine Spirit was given “through the laying on of the apostles’ hands” (vv. 18-19)

Historical Development Early Church – Single rite of initiation. In 215 (ref. Hippolytus) role of bishop anointing with oil,

laying on hands and kiss of peace – after ‘washing’ In 416, Pope Innocent I had laid down that only the

bishop could anoint with chrism. In the East, the original unity was kept in tact by

allowing priests to administer confirmation. In the West, confirmation reserved to bishop.

Separation of baptism and confirmation. Up till 12th, bishop still administered all 3 when available.

Because of Augustine’s influence and infant baptism, confirmation of children was postponed till 10 or 14.

In1910, Pope Pius X encouraged children to receive communion at the age of 7. Effect – order of sacraments of initiation altered.

Formula of Confirmation

Form: laying of hands and anointing – “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”

Matter: Oil (Significance of Oil: joy, abundance, blessing, - sign of healing, of strengthening, of election/blessing)

Minister: Ordinary – Bishop (where conferred separately) / Priest (in the case of RCIA)

Effects of Confirmation

CCC 1302 – special outpouring of Spirit CCC 1303 – increase and deepening of

baptismal grace CCC 1304 – indelible spiritual mark CCC 1305 – power to profess faith publicly

and officially.

Special Questions

Where is the Sacrament of Confirmation placed in the order of the Sacraments of Initiation?

When do we receive the Holy Spirit, at baptism or at Confirmation?

Q & A

Thank You. Good Night