Baptism History The Church History and Your History

The First Baptisms Start of His Ministry Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. Christians have seen through Jesus’ own baptism a model. After His Resurrection Jesus commanded his Apostles to go forth to all nations and baptize all people. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles, were filled with the Holy Spirit.

First Baptisms Peter and the other Apostles boldly went out to convert and baptize all who would hear the Good News and believe in Jesus. Following Jesus’ baptism they baptized with water, which symbolized receiving the Spirit of Jesus as they had received it at Pentecost. This simple act of Baptism with water later developed into a complex ceremony of initiation. Full of rich symbolism as discussed earlier.

Activity We need four equal groups Each one will be assigned a Gospel. Look for Baptism stories What Symbol is used to show the Holy Spirit descending?

In the Early Church The Catechumenate: from 2 nd century into the 4 th and 5 th centuries, a process of baptismal preparation. A person desiring to become a Christian needed to find a Christian who would be a sponsor. This sponsor would vouch for her or his character and help the person during the 2 to 3 year preparation for Baptism. About 40 days before the person was to be baptized, the final preparation took place during the period that later evolved into Lent.

Early Church continued This preparation consisted of intensive instruction, prayer, fasting, and liturgies involving the group of candidates or catechumens with the whole community led by the Bishop. Final Step: Easter Vigil which was only time Baptisms were performed.

At the Easter Vigil Ritual bathing on Holy Thursday followed by two days of fasting. Saturday night of Vigil all the candidates were brought together, men in one room women in another. Their sponsors guided them toward their new birth were there. Sponsors were called father and mothers because they were in a parental role. Later sponsors would be called Godparents.

Easter Vigil Start of ceremony faced West place of sunset and darkness. Turned East: and shouted their attachment of Christ. East was considered the place of light, of the rising sun and of new life. Went to a room with a pool. Stripped off their clothing. Oil was poured on candidates, then stepped down into the waist-deep waters. One by one the bishop submerged the candidates into the water. Usually three times. Why three times?

Easter Vigil After they emerged from the other side of the pool, the bishop anointed with oil, and they donned new white linen robes. They were then embraced with a sign of peace and welcome and each was handed a lighted candle. Finally candidates were led into a room where the Eucharist was celebrated. Before their baptism they would only go to mass up unto the completion of the sermon. The first part of mass was called Mass of the Catechumens because the prayers, readings and sermon were intended to give instruction to the catechumens.

Evolution into three Sacraments Process of initiation described was used for adult converts. Later on so many candidates sought initiation into the church that the bishops had difficulty officiating at all the ceremonies. Yet it was considered essential for the bishops to conduct the rites.

A Delayed Anointing To handle increased numbers priests of the community performed the water ritual but delayed the rest of the baptismal ceremony. Delayed until the bishop was able to come and anoint. This ritual of anointing and laying on of the hands by bishops became known as confirmation. Was gradually accepted as a separate sacrament.

Infant Baptism Baptizing infants as soon as possible after birth became the norm. It was thought that an unbaptized baby who died would not go to heaven. Infant baptism caused a delay between Baptism and the bishops conferral of Confirmation. With the practice of infant baptism, children did not receive the Eucharist until they were old enough to understand the sacrament.

Infant Baptism Continued Even today debate is going on as to when in a person’s life is developed enough to celebrate in these three sacraments of initiation. What are your thoughts?

Since Vatican Council II After 2 nd Vatican Council of the 1960’s, the church developed two main procedures for Baptism. 1) A ceremony specifically for babies and young children 2) an initiation process for adults (and a parallel process for older children) modeled on the process used in the early church.

For Young Children Before the special rite for baptizing children was developed, the words of the baptismal ceremony were addressed to children as they were adults. Therefore the adult godparents/parents responded for the children. Godparents have a special role to play in the life of the child whose parents have chosen them. They are to help the parents and support them as they encourage the unfolding of the child’s faith-life. For this reason godparents need to be baptized and firm believers in Christ.

For Adults and Older Children Since 1972 an official process of initiating adults into the Catholic faith has been in use. The official process is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Takes into account 2 realities 1) Becoming Catholic Christian is a process that takes time. 2) Becoming a Catholic Christian meaning joining a community.

Activity Do you agree or disagree with each of the following? When I have children, I won’t have them baptized as infants. They can decide fro themselves when they grow up? If I ran a parish, I would not be willing to baptize children of parents who do not practice their faith?

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