Fundamental Catechism on Sacrament of Baptism.
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Catechism Sacrament of Baptism
1. What is a Sacrament
- A Sacrament is an visible (outward) sign instituted by Christ and granted to the Church to give grace.
2. What is the Sacrament of Baptism
- Baptism is the sacrament, instituted by Christ, through which the pouring of water and declaration of the Holy Trinity, that those who received it is born again and becomes a member of the Church and a child of God.
3. Other names for the Sacrament of Baptism?
The Sacrament of Baptism is also called:
- The immersion: The baptized is immersed 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.” (x. 2Cr 5:17).
- The regeneration and renewal: “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.” (Jn 3:5).
- The enlightenment: the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light” (Ep 5:8). (CCC 1214-1216)
4. The importance of the Sacrament of Baptism?
- It is the door which gives access to other Sacraments.
- It is the necessary requirement to receive other Sacraments.
- It is the essential criteria for our salvation.
5. The effect of Baptism?
- We are freed from sins (Original sin, personal sins).
- We are reborn as children of God.
- We are incorporated into Christ in the mystery of the Passover. We share in our rights and duties to be (prophet, priest and king).
- We become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.
6. The mystagogy of Sacrament of Baptism? (CCC 1234-1243)
- The meaning and grace of the sacrament of Baptism are clearly seen in the rites of its celebration. By following the gestures and words of this celebration with attentive participation, the faithful are initiated into the riches this sacrament signifies and actually brings about in each newly baptized person.
- The sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross..
- The proclamation of the Word of God enlightens the candidates and the assembly with the revealed truth and elicits the response of faith, which is inseparable from Baptism. Indeed Baptism is “the sacrament of faith” in a particular way, since it is the sacramental entry into the life of faith.
- Since Baptism signifies liberation from sin and from its instigator the devil, one or more exorcisms are pronounced over the candidate. The celebrant then anoints him with the oil of catechumens, or lays his hands on him, and he explicitly renounces Satan. Thus prepared, he is able to confess the faith of the Church, to which he will be “entrusted” by Baptism.
- The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer of epiclesis (either at this moment or at the Easter Vigil). The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it may be “born of water and the Spirit.”.
- The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking. It signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ. Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate’s head.
- In the Latin Church this triple infusion is accompanied by the minister’s words: “N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the Eastern liturgies the catechumen turns toward the East and the priest says: “The servant of God, N., is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” At the invocation of each person of the Most Holy Trinity, the priest immerses the candidate in the water and raises him up again..
- The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king.
- The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has “put on Christ,”42 has risen with Christ. The candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In him the baptized are “the light of the world.”
- The candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In him the baptized are “the light of the world.”
- The newly baptized is now, in the only Son, a child of God entitled to say the prayer of the children of God: “Our Father.”).
7. What consists of the essential rite of Baptism?
- The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head (3 times), while the minister pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: “____, I baptize you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
8. Why do we pour water on the head? Is it all right to pour water on other parts of the body?
- Water is poured on the head because it represents the whole body. For the person who has fuller hair, it is recommended to pour on the forehead as the water must contact the skin. When pouring it must flow like a stream, symbolizing the cleansing. A sprinkling of drops of water is not efficient.
9. In Baptism what type of liquid water is appropriate?
- The liquid water must be from natural resource: rain water, distilled water, water from river, stream or ocean can be used. However, liquid from fruits, juice or can not be used for Baptism.
10. Who can administer the Sacrament of Baptism?
- The official minister for the Sacrament of Baptism are bishops, priests and deacon.
- In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate’s head while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”.
11. What is the requirement for receiving the Sacrament of Baptism?
General requirement: Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.
- Adult Baptism:
- Those with normal growing knowledge and wisdom (age 7 or older).
- Those with self ability to proclaim the faith.
- Those who are willing to receive the sacrament.
- Those who are willing to go through the process of learning catechism of the Church. However, inn case of near death, the candidate only need to proclaim his/her faith.
- Those who are willing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist after being baptized.
- Infant Baptism: (age 0-6)
- By the request of the parents to the pastor.
- Can be baptized in a few weeks after birth.
- Can not be baptized if both parent don’t approve (if one or both approve, then the child can be baptized). But if the infant is near death, one can administer Baptism even without the parent consent.
12. Does one need a sponsor (god-father / god-mother)?
- One who’s to be baptized must have a sponsor (god-father or god-mother).
13. What are the role and responsibility of the sponsor?
- His/her responsibility is to assist them in their spiritual life.
14. Who can select the god-parent for the baptized?
- Adult can choose their own god-parent (sponsor).
- For infant, the parents can help choose a god-parent (sponsor).
15. What are the requirement for Baptismal Sponsor?
As stated in Canon 874 and required by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston:
A Catholic Godparent:
- Must be at least 16 years of age or older and be mature enough to undertake this responsibility.
- Must have received the three sacraments of initiation, namely Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
- Must know the fundamental truths of the Faith and be a practicing Catholic who goes to Mass on Sunday, receives the sacraments regularly, and sees to the religious instruction of his/her family.
- Must be a member of the Catholic Church, canonically free to carry out this office (this would indicate that Catholics publicly living in an invalid marriage or living in a relationship outside of marriage are ineligible).
- Must not be the father or mother of the one baptized or confirmed.
- If two godparents, they must be one male and one female or just one godparent.
16. Why must the baptized person need to undertake a Patron Saint name?
- This is so that the baptized can emulate the life of the patron saint and for the patron saint to intercede for him or her in God’s presence.
17. Who can be baptized if his/her baptism is in dout (or can not be confer)? How is it administered?
When the event or effect of someone baptism can not be conferred or is in doubt, baptism can be administered to:
- Those from different Christian denomination (Protestant, Anglican) and we can not ascertain that their baptism from their church is valid or effective.
- Those infants or children who were orphan and it is unknown if they have been baptized.
- Those fetuses from miscarriages.
In the above cases, the Church will administer Baptism under these formats:
- If you have not been baptized, I baptize you….
- If you were alive, I baptize you…..
- Note: With aborted fetuses, the minister needs to open the uterus to expose the head and pour water on the head of the infant.
18. Can those who has not been baptized receive salvation?
The following people though were not baptized but still can receive salvation:
- Those who were baptized by blood – who have died for their faith (martyrs) – The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
- Those who were baptized by desire – For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. “Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.”63 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity. (CCC 1259-1260).
- As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus’ tenderness toward children which caused him to say: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,”64 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.(CCC 1261)
19. Dates / Time & Location for the Sacrament of Baptism at Our Lady of Lavang Church.
- The Sacrament of Baptism will be performed in the main church,on the First Sunday of each month at 12:30pm after the 11:00 am.
20. Who can participate in the Sacrament of Baptism?
- Required Participants: Baptized Infant, parents & god-parents.
- Recommended Participants: Families and friends.
Parent’s Roles & Responsibilities in Children’s Faith Formation.
The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called “the domestic church,” a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity. (CCC 1666). While church and school are important for children, the greatest source of faith formation is family life.
We are inviting parents/guardians to model for their children what it means to grow in faith and grace by experiencing the fullness of sacramental life for themselves. We encourage families seeking baptism of their children to have one or both parents who are fully initiated into the Catholic faith having received the Sacraments of Baptism, 1st Eucharist, Confirmation, (RCIA), and Matrimony, and/or the “regularization” or convalidation of marriage.
Godparent’s Roles & Responsibilities.
Who can be godparents?
Church law requires that there is at least one godparent for the child baptized. Godparents need to be active, practicing and fully initiated Catholics at least 16 years of age. Godparents must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, 1st Eucharist, and Confirmation. Godparents need to submit written proof of registration from their parish.
Can a non-Catholic be a godparent? No, only a Catholic can be a godparent because they are asked to promise to help support raising the child in the Catholic faith. A non-Catholic Christian can witness the baptism as long as there is one Catholic godparent. A non-baptized person cannot be a godparent or a witness.
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Parents and God Parents must take the assessment test below: (passing grade = 7/10)