Transcript The Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism
Chapter 3
Pompa Diaboli (Ch. 3-1)
• In Baptism a series of six questions are asked
– Either to the Godparents of the infant or the
catechumen themselves.
• The term “Pompa Diaboli” refers to the promise
of what appears to be life in abundance in the
secular world.
– Also termed “anti-culture”
– Manifested in permissiveness, corruption of joy, love
of deceit and fraud, and perversion of the true
meaning of life.
• Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?
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– Response: I do.
Celebrant: And all his works?
– Response: I do.
Celebrant: And all his empty promises?
– Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth?
– Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was
buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of
the Father?
– Response: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
– Response: I do.
Pompa Diaboli
• Three of the six questions in Baptism
require the response of “no”, witnessed by
our actions, in rejecting Satan and the
anti-culture prevalent in the world.
– Asks to reject and condemn the popular
mainstream culture we live in today.
• Witnessed in sexual promiscuity, cruelty, violence,
drug abuse, and atheism.
• All things that seem to give us a promise of
apparent happiness but in fact leave us deflated
and put a divide between us and Christ.
Pompa Diaboli
• What can we expect to receive through the
Sacrament of Baptism?
– Pope Benedict XVI says, “The hope for a good life,
the true life…”
– The life God intended for us to live
• Think back to “Made for More”.
– What were we made for?
 Happiness.
Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as
sons of God; we become members of Christ, are
incorporated into the Church and are sharers in her
mission.” (CCC, 1213)
Discussion
• What are some sinful elements of popular
culture that you have rejected?
• By word or action, how do you affirm you
baptismal promise of belief in God?
Understanding the Sacrament of
Baptism (Ch. 3-2)
• “To baptize” comes from the Greek word baptizein,
which means “to plunge” or “immerse”
– The act of being plunged under water represents our death
to a life of sin and just as Jesus died and was raised by the
Father we also “rise up” as a new creature when we emerge
from the waters of baptism.
“Do you not know that all of us who have been
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
death? We were buried therefore with him by
baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we
too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4)
Understanding the Sacrament of Baptism
• Economy of Salvation
– Definition?
• God’s revelation and communication with man
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throughout history for the sake of our salvation.
Not always through words but also through signs,
symbols and prefigured events.
– Baptisms place within the history of salvation
is remembered in the liturgy of the Easter
Vigil, in which several events of the Old
Testament prefigure Baptism.
Understanding the Sacrament of Baptism
• Baptism Pre-figured in the OT
– Water is a symbol of life
• Water springs forth from the rock (Ex 17:5-7)
– Water is a symbol of death
• Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1 & 2)
• Water witnessed throughout God’s plan of
salvation
– Noah and the Ark
– Moses parting the Red Sea
– Just as Noah and Moses entered into new covenants
with God through the effect of water, so do we in the
Sacrament of Baptism.
Water as a symbol of life
• And the Lord said to Moses: Go before the
people, and take with you of the ancients
of Israel: and take in your hand the rod
wherewith you struck the river, and go.
6 Behold I will stand there before you,
upon the rock Horeb, and you shall strike
the rock, and water shall come out of it
that the people may drink.
Water as a symbol of Death
Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonas: and Jonas was in the belly of a
fish for three days and three nights. 2 And Jonas prayed to the Lord, his God, out of
the belly of the fish. 3 And he said: I cried out of my affliction to the Lord, and he
heard me: I cried out of the belly of hell, and you have heard my voice. 4 And you
have cast me forth into the deep, in the heart of the sea, and a flood have compassed
me: all your billows, and your waves have passed over me. 5 And I said: I am cast
away out of the sight of your eyes: but yet I shall see your holy temple again. 6 The
waters compassed me about even to the soul: the deep has closed me round about,
the sea has covered my head. 7 I went down to the lowest parts of the mountains: the
bars of the earth have shut me up for ever: and you will bring up my life from
corruption, O Lord, my God. 8 When my soul was in distress within me, I
remembered the Lord: that my prayer may come to you, unto your holy temple.
9 They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy. 10 But I with the voice
of praise will sacrifice to you: I will pay whatsoever I have vowed for my salvation to
the Lord. And the Lord spoke to the fish: and it vomited out Jonas upon the dry land
.
Understanding the Sacrament of Baptism
• Christ’s Baptism
– Done by St. John the
Baptist
• He preached repentance of
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sin.
Baptized people as a sign of
their repentance before Christ
marked it as necessary for
salvation.
Christ’s Baptism
• Christ was baptized by St. John even though he was
without sin.
– This was because Christ would later commission the
Apostles to evangelize to other nations and baptize them in
his name.
– Christ was also setting an example of the importance of
Baptism.
• Even though he did not need the effects of Baptism, he was baptized
in order to express the value of submitting to God and letting go of all
that we try to control and rather let God work in our lives.
Christian Initiation in the Church
• Catechumenate
– A preparation process for Baptism and the
other Sacraments of Christian initiation.
– Catholic Inquiry
– Period of Catechumen
Initiation for Baptism and Other
Sacraments of Initiation (Early Church)
1) Precatechumenate
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The initial conversion.
This person has heard the Gospel and wants to
learn more about the Christian faith.
It was a period of Inquiry.
Had sponsors that knew them well and that took
time to guide them through their Gospel
instruction as well as evaluated their intention to
become Catholic.
The Church celebrated a rite that admitted them
into the Order of Catechumens.
Initiation for Baptism and Other
Sacraments of Initiation (Early Church)
2) Catechumenate
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A period of study for 2-3 years.
During this time they received instruction on the
Gospel from Catechists (teachers of the faith).
Celebrated Mass. However, did not receive the
Eucharist.
Initiation for Baptism and Other
Sacraments of Initiation (Early Church)
3) Purification, Enlightenment,
or Illumination
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Coincided with Lent.
Candidates took part in Rite of
Enrollment.
They recorded their names in
the Book of Elect, further stating
their intention of receiving Christ.
Attended prayer services and
scrutinies that ask God to help
them examine their lives for sin.
Prepare for Easter.
Celebrated Baptism,
Confirmation, and Eucharist at
Easter Vigil Mass and become
full members of the Church.
Initiation for Baptism and Other
Sacraments of Initiation (Early Church)
4) Mystagogia
(Mysteries)
• Continued through
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the entire Easter
season.
The new members
immersed themselves
in the Sacraments.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
(RCIA)
• A practice restored by Vatican II.
– 1962-1965
• Difference between Eastern and Western Rites.
– Eastern confers all three rites at infancy.
• Infants receive Eucharist through species of consecrated wine.
• Infants become full members of the Church at this time.
– Western baptizes infants but they do not become full members until they
have undergone years of preparation to receive the Sacraments of
Eucharist and Confirmation.
STOP
Quick Review
• Baptism takes it’s name from a Greek word which means to plunge
• The OT prefigures Baptism
– The establishment of a covenantal relationship
• Jesus was baptized as a way to teach the importance of receiving baptism
• Our own baptism is connected with the Paschal Mystery
– Death & Resurrection
• Baptism always has and is the way to membership in the Church
• The catechumenate is the period of study which is comprised of several stages
Celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism
(Ch. 3-3)
• In the 4th and 5th centuries knowledge of
Original Sin increased.
– Original Sin refers to the nature of sin that all
humans have inherited through birth from the first
sin of Adam.
• Born with a tendency to sin and reject God’s will for our
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own.
It is why we aren’t born with all the answers to our faith
and understanding of God.
– Baptism removes the stain of Original Sin
• This pushed many parents to have their children baptized
since many did not make it to adulthood because of
disease and sickness.
The Rite of Baptism of Children
(RBC)
• The rite in which most Catholics are
initiated into the Church.
– Is a perfect example of how the salvation
received from Baptism is a pure gift of Christ’s
grace because nothing is required to receive
it.
• Some Protestant sects of Christianity believe that
children should only be baptized once they reach
the age of reason because they are unable as to
make commitments as children
The Necessity of Baptism
• Because Jesus said so.
– “Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
(John 3:5).
– “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever
does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
• CCC 1257
– The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also
commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to
baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the
Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking
for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than
Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes
care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see
that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has
bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound
by his sacraments.
Salvation Without Water?
• Three traditional examples of how
God is not bound by the Sacrament.
– 1) Baptism of Blood
• Those martyred for Christ’s sake before they
were able to be baptized.
– 2) Baptism of Desire
• Those who have received the Gospel and
desired to be baptized but died before they
were.
• Those who never received news of the Gospel
but lived a life according to God’s will as best
they knew how.
– 3) Infant death prior to Baptism
• The Church entrusts them to God’s mercy.
• God desires that all people be saved.
Baptism of Desire
• The Church teaches that Baptism is necessary for salvation.
• So…
• What would the Church tell grieving parents of a stillborn child
or a child who was miscarried since these children have never
received baptism?
• The Church emphasizes God’s great mercy in these tragic
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situations
God cherishes the dignity of every human conceived
– Our responsibility as Catholics to protect the lives of the
unborn
Also, the desire of the parents for their child to be baptized is a
type of “Baptism of desire”
Rites and Symbols of Baptsim
• The meaning and the grace of the
Sacrament of Baptism are revealed in the
essential rite, actions, and symbols of the
sacrament
• Essential Rite of Baptism:
– Immersion or pouring of water 3 times
– “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the H.S
• Communal celebration (Easter Vigil/Sunday Mass)
– “Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith
needs the community of believers. It is only
within the faith of the Church that each of the
faithful can believe.” (CCC 1253)
Phillip and the Ethiopian
Eunuch
• Acts 8:27-38
• Phillip was an Apostle
– Preached to Gentiles in Samaria and Africa
– Came across Eunuch reading book of Isaiah
– Eunuch asked to be baptized
• In Egypt, it was the practice of the
Pharaohs to have large harems of women
– These women were protected by eunuchs
• Male officials (slaves) who were castrated so that
they would not have sex with Pharaoh’s women.
Phillip and the Ethiopian
Eunuch
•Eunuch’s were considered outcast’s by
Jewish culture because of their physical
condition.
•They could not be circumcised and
could not be admitted to Judaism
•Phillip’s conversion of the Eunuch
shows that God invites all people into
His Church
•The Eunuch did not have to become
a Jew to become a Christian
•An example of “Baptism of desire”
•Was reading scripture and
attempting to understand who the
Messiah was.
BTW
• Either bishops, priests, or deacons are the
ordinary ministers for the Sacrament of Baptism
• However…
• In emergency situations anyone, Catholic or
non-Christian, can baptize another so long as
the Trinitarian formula and immersion or
pouring of water is used
– Just as the Church does
– Sacrament is still efficacious
Quick Review
• Anyone not baptized is eligible for Baptism
– Baptism is necessary for salvation
• God is not bound by this sacrament
– Baptism of Blood, Desire, infant death
• Baptism is properly celebrated communally
• The essential rite:
– Immersion or pouring of water 3 times
– “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the H.S.
• Today’s catechumenate:
– Rite of Acceptance
– Rite of Election
STOP
The Grace of Baptism (Ch. 3-4)
• Two primary graces or effects of the
Sacrament are indicated by the immersion
in water.
– 1) Death to sin.
– 2) New birth in the Holy Spirit.
• Overcome Original Sin and become receptive to
the teachings of the Church.
The Forgiveness of Sins
(Death to Sin)
• Both Original Sin and personal sins are
forgiven.
• Sin is understood as the “abuse of the
freedom that God gives” us. (CCC, 387)
• Adam received original holiness and
justice for him and for all human nature.
Original Holiness and Justice
• The state of man and woman before
sin.
– Essentially, harmony with God and creation.
– Total spiritual control, no suffering or grief.
• By the sin of Adam, all men were
affected and took on a fallen state or
rather, received a wounded human
nature.
– This wounded nature causes us to choose
our own will over God’s will and gives us the
false sense that we know what is best for us
despite our constant return to sin.
• Protoevangelium “First Gospel” (Gen
3:15)
– Gospel = Good News
Protoevangelium
• Genesis 3:15
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God said to the serpent:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and
hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”
• How can this one line from Scripture be called a “Gospel”, or rather
a story of Good News?
• It is an announcement of the “New Adam” who will make amends for
the sin of Adam through obedience to God… even up to Death on a
cross.
• God, immediately after banishing Adam and Eve from the garden,
makes a promise that He will not abandon us.
Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross is
the Source of Our Salvation
• Through Baptism we die with Christ and
are resurrected.
• Original as well as personal sins are
absolved.
Becoming a “New Creature”
• Baptism changes our identity
– We become members of Christ.
– We can now share in a divine life (relationship)
• Through Baptism we receive the grace of
justification
– More than just the forgiveness of sin; being
transformed in a way that is more Christ-like.
• 1) Enables us to believe in God
• 2) Opens our hearts to live and act under the Holy Spirit
• 3) Allows us to love what is good and to act in a way that
promotes goodness.
Incorporated Into the Church
• Baptism makes us members of the Church.
– We no longer belong to ourselves but to Christ.
• The rights we receive as members of the
Catholic Church
– 1) The right to receive the other Sacraments
• Catholics must be baptized before receiving any other
sacraments.
– 2) The right to be nourished with the Word of God.
• To hear it and have it taught to us according to the
Church’s teaching.
– 3) The right to take part in and be sustained by
additional spiritual helps of the Church.
• This includes parish activities, religious education,
retreats, etc. (To be spiritually sustained by the Church)
Rights and Responsibilities
• Through Baptism we are given rights
• Additionally, we take on responsibilities
• What are rights that we have as American
citizens?
• As a result of these rights what duties do
we have?
Incorporated Into the Church
• Our duties as members of
the Church
– 1) Obey and submit to
Church leaders regarding
faith and morals.
• The H.S. guides the Pope
•
and his bishops
This ensures adherence to
the original teaching of the
Apostles
2) Give Witness by Living in
Holiness and Practicing Charity
• How do we do such things…
• What does HOLINESS mean?
– Sanctification, God calls us to be His own.
We respond by keeping His commandments
– Closeness to God, varying degrees
• What does CHARITY mean?
– First love of God, secondly love of man
because of God’s love for men (Dignity)
3) Participate in missionary
activity of the Church
• Serving the poor
4) Obey the Precepts of the
Church
• 1) Keep Sunday Holy by participating in Mass and
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refraining from servile work
2) Go to confession at least once per year (remove
personal sins that occur after baptism)
3) Receive Communion at least once a year at Easter
4) Keep days of obligation holy by celebrating Mass and
refraining by servile work
– Christmas, Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), Assumption
of Mary (Aug. 15), All Saints (Nov. 1), Immaculate
Conception (Dec. 8)
Keep days of fast and abstinence
Contribute to the support of one’s local Church
Unity With Other Christians
• Baptism strengthens the opportunity for unity
among all Christians
– Includes those baptized outside of the Church
• Have acquired an imperfect form of communion
• The Catholic Church recognizes most Christian
Baptisms as valid.
– Must be done in the name of the Father, and of …
– No need to be re-baptized; it is a one-time
sacrament
• “We believe in the one baptism for the forgiveness of
sins.”
The Seal of Eternal Life
• Baptism seals Christians with an indelible mark
– Not even sin can erase this mark.
– However, sin can still prevent a baptized person
from gaining the rewards of Salvation.
• Venial sin: stumbling block on our path to achieving
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spiritual perfection
Mortal sin: aversion from this path; violate natural law
• The mark of Baptism readies Christians for
religious worship.
– Baptism is a spiritual primer.
– We have been prepared by it, now we must live it in a holy life committed
to service of others and faith in God.
The Reality of Our Salvation and Baptism
• Baptism is necessary for salvation
• HOWEVER…
• Baptism by itself will not save a Christian who
thinks that they do not need to do anything
anymore.
– This would be like an athlete, band member, or
student showing up for the first practice or day of
classes and believing that they have everything
under control
– Think of Baptism as the necessary first step
Quick Review
• The effects of Baptism are indicated by
our immersion in water
• Death to sin, new life
• Other effects include:
– Incorporation into the Church
– Unity with other Christians
– The seal of eternal life
Objectives
• To study the three theological virtues that help
us to live out our baptisms.
– Remember that we have agreed to certain duties.
• Many people today, especially young people,
unfortunately live without hope.
• Understand the four cardinal virtues and how
other virtues are drawn from them.
• Become familiar with sacramentals and how
they relate to Baptism
Loving God More Deeply (Ch. 3-5)
• As mentioned earlier, an effect of Baptism we
receive is the sanctifying grace of justification.
– This grace allows us to more deeply believe in God,
hold hope in Him, and most importantly love Him.
• HOW DO WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE AND GRATITUDE
FOR HIM?
– Through the Theological Virtues
 Understanding these virtues are helpful in living a Christian
life.
 St. Gregory of Nyssa, “The goal of a virtuous life is to
become like God.”
 Allows us to avoid making poor choices.
Loving God More Deeply
• Theological Virtues
– Are not earned or achieved by anything that
we do.
– God infuses them into our souls to make us
capable of choosing goodness over sin.
– Serve as the foundation of Moral or Human
Virtues, which are acquired through our
education and deliberate acts.
What are the Theological Virtues?
FAITH
• The Theological virtue by which we
believe in God and all that the Church
teaches.
• Builds our personal relationship with Christ
and helps us to recognize him as the
source of our salvation.
FAITH
• Professing one’s faith is not enough.
– “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so
also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)
– Living out the faith we profess often becomes
difficult, especially during our young-adult years.
• Participating in weekly Mass
• Exposure to as well as curiosity in immoral behavior
– Stealing, cheating, lying, promiscuity, drugs, etc.
– Recognize your mission through deliberate prayer
and action
• We all have the capacity to be faithful and to love God and
all that is good.
• Reflect the love of God in yourself; be a great witness.
– Can do so just by the way you conduct yourself and interact
with others. Look at the lives of the saints.
HOPE
• The Theological Virtue by which we desire
happiness and the Kingdom of God.
– In “Made for More”, the author spoke of happiness
and that our behavior is directed by our desire to
attain it.
• Whatever we deem as the source of our happiness we
will hope in e.g. sports, relationships, success, etc.
– All of these will not measure up to the eternal happiness we will
receive when we enter heaven.
– Let your hope lie in your salvation.
Hope
• Founded in the Paschal Mystery
– The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Unfortunately, many people today, including young
adults, live without hope.
– We must find hope in, as well as lead those without hope to
Christ.
• The salvation that Christ has earned for us should give us hope for
the experience of eternal happiness that we will one day encounter.
• “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Matthew 11: 28-30)
Yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam, normally
used between a pair of oxen or other
animals to enable them to pull together
on a load when working in pairs; some
yokes are fitted to individual animals.
•Christ asks us to try on his yoke
•“Burden”
•This first requires us to remove our own
yoke so that we may be free to take on
Christ’s (abandon our will for God’s)
•Natural for us to hold on to our own
yoke in fear that another’s yoke may
be more burdensome
•However, Christ assures us that the
load of his yoke is light.
What do you find most difficult about “living the
faith”?
Or rather what is challenging about “living out your
Baptismal promises”?
Do these challenges cause you to feel hopeless?
Are there other difficulties that cause you to lose
hope?
CHARITY
• The New Commandment
– “Love on another as I love you.” (John 15: 12)
– Our expression of love for Christ manifested in our
service to others because we recognize that they
are just as special to Christ as we are and that
Christ is present in them just as he is in us.
Sacramentals
• The Church offers several reminders of
our Baptism both in its liturgies and in its
practices
• A sacred sign (objects, places, and
actions) that resemble the sacraments
– Man-made not Christ-made
– Holy water, sign of the cross
– Name others…
Quick Review
• The gift of the sanctifying grace of
justification infuses the baptized with the
theological virtues.
• In the liturgy and through prayerful
reflection, we are reminded of the graces
of the Sacrament of Baptism.
• Forgiveness of sin
• Ability to follow and imitate Jesus