Baptism: Introduction 2

NEW TESTAMENT 1. JOHN’S BAPTISM water baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4) those baptized with this baptism were told to believe in the one who was to come after him (Acts 19:4) those who were baptized with this baptism following the resurrection of Christ were rebaptized (Acts 19:3-5) 2. BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS water baptism which is based upon Christ and which Jesus commanded his apostles to administer to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) all who respond to the gospel by being baptized are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) PAUL: associated knowledge (if not possession) of the Spirit to be associated with baptism in Jesus' name.

3. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT John announced that the one who would follow him would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33) it was only before his ascent into heaven that he told his apostles that they would be immersed in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) occurred on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit descended upon them and filled the room leading to the gospel being preached for the first time to the Jews. (Acts 2:1-4, 33)

EARLY CHRISTIANITY  the candidate stood in water and water was poured over the upper body  theology of baptism attained precision in the 3rd and 4th centuries; The tradition of infant baptism is at least as old as the 3rd century  Some early Christians delayed baptism until they were dying, as is said to have been the motive for which Constantine delayed receiving baptism  Baptism of the sick or dying used means other than even partial immersion and was still considered valid

EARLY MIDDLE AGES  Infant baptism became common  12th century: Sacrament baptism one of the seven rites  12th-4th century: Western Europe affusion (pouring) became the usual manner of administering baptism  Throughout the Middle Ages, there was therefore considerable variation in the kind of facility required for baptism  East and West: washing with water and the Trinitarian baptismal formula

PROTESTANT REFORMATION  16th century Reformers broke from the Roman Catholic Church o Martin Luther o Huldrych Zwingli  Anabaptists (“rebaptizers”) • they denied the validity of baptism outside their group • They "rebaptized" converts on the grounds that one cannot be baptized without wishing it  Anabaptists and other Baptist groups do not consider that they “rebaptize” those who have been baptized as infants

MODERN PRACTICE Today, baptism is most readily identified with Christianity, where it symbolizes the cleansing (remission) of sins, and the union of the

of water the only kind o

BAPTISM OF WATER Those who through no fault of their own, have not received the sacrament of Baptism can be saved through what is called Baptism of Blood or Baptism of Desire. BAPTISM OF BLOOD when he loves God above all things and desires to do all that is necessary for his salvation BAPTISM OF DESIRE an unbaptized person receives the Baptism of Blood when he suffers martyrdom for the faith One who is unbaptized and loses his life for Christ or for some Christian virtue receives the Baptism of Blood

CCC 1250 Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism. the Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth. CCC 1251 Christian parents will recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them. CCC 1252 The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.

abies go to heaven if they die w

Infants cannot have Baptism of Desire. The reason for this is because it requires the use of reason. And in our times, infants have a very small chance of being slaughtered out of hatred for Christ, and so rarely can they have Baptism of Blood. Therefore they must have the Baptism of Water, and if this is not given them, they die unbaptized through no fault of theirs and can never go to heaven. "Unless a man (that is, a member of the human race or species) be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (JOHN 3: 5)

portant points should be kept g the baptism of infants and f

BAPTISM OF INFANTS AND FETUSES  Ordinarily, an infant should not be baptized until fully delivered. If it is weak and sick, but will probably live till a priest can be summoned, then the priest should be called to baptize it. If it is probable that the infant may die before the arrival of the priest, it should be baptized by someone present, in the absolute form.  If in the process of delivery

 If any other part emerges first, water is poured on it, and the conditional form is used: "If you are capable of being baptized, I baptize you.... etc." This is because one is not sure if the child is dead or alive.  From the first moment of conception the human fetus is animated by a rational soul. Therefore, in cases of premature birth or miscarriage, the fetus, however small, even if only

What is Limbo?

LIMBO Limbo The place where unbaptized infants go. It is a place of natural happiness surpassing the most exquisite joy of the present life.

They are in a place where they do not see God, but where they do not suffer any pain - They are in Limbo.  Heaven is better than limbo  In Limbo their joy is natural. In Heaven it would have been supernatural, an infinitely superior ecstasy of joy.  Children should be baptized within the first weeks after birth.  In the new Code, Canon 868 states very clearly that infants should be baptized as soon as possible. It states

ns should be baptized accordin prescribed for adults?

ADULT BAPTISM "Adult Baptism" is given to persons who are not yet baptized, and:  have reached the age of which they can sufficiently understand the significance and necessity of Baptism;  have received sufficient instruction in the fundamentals of the Catholic religion, and understand the commandments of (God and of the Church; and  have the desire to receive the Sacraments, and are willing to comply with the duties inherent in the profession of the Catholic Faith.

hat sometimes people are re

ABSOLUTE BAPTISM

CONDITIONAL BAPTISM

 In emergency baptism, usually administered by lay persons without experience, the person baptizing sometimes gets nervous or excited. He could make a mistake in the Form or in the Matter he uses.

 If there is doubt that the proper Form and Matter for valid Baptism was used "If you are not yet baptized. . .'' (followed by the baptismal formula)

 When non-Catholics are converted into the Catholic Church and their sect has no baptism or uses an invalid form

 Infants born apparently dead "If you are alive. . ." (followed by the form)

 When the previous baptism is doubtful

 adults who are baptized when they are already in a coma or apparently dead  "If you are a human being. . ." or "If you are capable of being baptized. . ."

ild given the name of a sain

 The child is given the name of a saint at Baptism because it symbolizes newness of life in Christ and incorporation into the Christian community. The saint whose name is taken at Baptism becomes a heavenly patron who exercises special lifelong care over the baptized person.  Canon 853 of the new Code reminds parents and godparents that the name of the new Christian should not be alien to a Christian sense (ne imponatur nomen a sensu cristiano alieno).

Kimberly C. Nayre Feb 2009 That in all things God may be glo