Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism

Introduction to Baptism

• Basis of the entire Christian life.• Become members of Christ and the Church• Become sharers of the mission to bring the “Good

News” to the world• Comes from Baptizein “to plunge”• Plunge to death to rise in new life• Bath of enlightenment• Receive the true light• Enlightened by the light of Christ

The Waters of Life

• The Roots of Baptism begin in the Old Testament (Old covenant):– Creation– The Great Flood– The Exodus (Red Sea Event)– Waters of the Jordan

Creation

• Water has been the source of life

The Great Flood

Water can be deadly

The ark offers Noah the opportunity to be saved

Land symbolizes

the Promised Land

The Red Sea Exodus Event

From death to life

As they cross through the

waters of the Red Sea they

are brought to a new life of freedom

The Waters of the Jordan 1. Solidarity with us2. Spirit prefigures the

presence of the Spirit at our Baptism

3. God acclaimed His Son as He acclaims us as adopted

sons and daughters

From death in the Desert to the “milk and honey” of the Promised land

“Not to Abolish but to Fulfill”

• Holy Spirit hovers over Jesus at His Baptism• At the Last Supper Jesus celebrated the Passover• He spoke of His passion as a Baptism• At the Resurrection He passed from death to Life• To Nicodemus He said “No one can enter heaven

without being born of water and Spirit”• Jesus commissioned His apostles to go and

“Baptize all nations”

Symbols and Ritual• Water– Death– Life– Cleansing and renewal

• Promised land– Israel– Heaven

• Dove – Holy Spirit with Jesus at His Baptism- with us at ours

• Liminal action– Transitional state – from death to life

Christian Initiation in the Early Centuries

• A catechumen was a person who inquired about the Christian faith and then chose to prepare for initiation into the Church. During this time the catechumen was supported by the liturgy and the personal involvement of the community and was offered catechesis. this process would take about three years. Then would receive the Sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Ritual

• Stripped of robes and immersed in the water three times, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• Anointed with sacred chrism.• Given a white garment• Given a lit candle• Join in the prayers of the faithful• Sealed with Holy Spirit with sacred chrism by the Bishop• Enter into the sanctuary for the celebration of the

Eucharist

RCIA• The process by which an unbaptized, person called a

catechumen and those who were baptized in another Christian denomination, called “candidates for full communion”, are prepared to become full members of the Church– Period of Inquiry– Rite of Acceptance– Period of Catechumenate– Rite of Election– Period of Purification & Enlightenment– Celebration of the Sacraments– Post Baptismal Catechesis or Mystogogy

Rite of Acceptance• Preceded by the period of inquiry

– Evangelization and pre-catechumenate– Listens to the “Good News”– Learns about the Catholic Faith– Discerns the call to live the gospel life as a Catholic– Sponsors

• Declares intentions to follow Christ and accepted as a catechumen– questions

• What is your name?• What do you ask of God’s Church?• What does faith offer you?• Inquirer and assembly answer- Are you ready?

– Signed on forehead by celebrant and sponsors, prayers recited over– Stay at Mass until after the homily

Rite of Election• Is preceded by the “Period of Catechumenate”– Catechesis– Spiritual development– Liturgy– Apostolic witness

• First Sunday of Lent– Presented after the homily– Sponsors ask if the catechumen are ready– Catechumen are asked if this is what they want– Pronounced as members of the elect, called & chosen– Prayers for the elect are included in the prayer of the faithful

(intercessions)– Elect are dismissed

Purification & Enlightenment• Precedes the celebration of the Sacraments– Participate in acts of penitence– Deepening knowledge of Jesus– Deepening relationship with Jesus– Reflections on Baptism and its meaning– Participation in the scrutinies• Liturgical rites, 3rd, 4th, 5th Sundays of Lent• Praying over elect by the assembly• Laying on of hands for purification

– Handing on of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer

Celebration of the Sacraments• Easter Vigil Mass– Lighting of the Paschal Candle– Reading of Salvation History– Blessing of the Water

• Paschal candle is lowered into the water– Baptismal promises– Elect are Baptized

• Immersion in the water, “I baptize you in the name of…”• White garment- new life• Lighted candle- flame of faith

– New members are Confirmed– New members receive the Eucharist

Post Baptismal Catechesis or Mystogogy

• Neophytes* continue their study of the faith, or catechesis

• Mystogogy: the period of catechesis following the reception of the sacraments of Christian initiation that aims to more fully initiate people into the mystery of Christ

*beginners

Baptism for Children• Sharing in grace is a gift from God that does

not depend on our merits, therefore from the earliest times Baptism has been administered to children.

• Parents share their most precious possession, their faith, with their child

• Baptism must be affirmed throughout life, in our everyday choices.

Preparation • Parents and godparents attend preparation meetings• Sacrament is celebrated in the midst of the community• Celebrated on Sunday• Child is received into the Church

– Parents asked the questions that inquirers are asked– Prayer of exorcism– Child is anointed on chest with oil (strengthening)– Parents renew their baptismal vow– Child is Baptized– Anointed on head with oil (chosen: priest, prophet, king)– White garment, candle

The Source of Christian Living

• Dying and rising with Christ• Freedom from Original Sin• Children of God• Members of the Church• Sacramental character of Baptism• Empowered for Discipleship