Baptism
What is Baptism?
The word Baptism is derived from the Greek language baptismos, meaning washing. Baptism is an act of adoption to the Christian society, more or less like an acceptance to the family of Christians.
Baptism at its most basic, involves a holy water poured tenderly down your forehead, a blessing from the priest, and the pronouncement, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Baptism is seen is an act of purification, and cleansing of the sins. Baptism was chosen for the declaration of salvation because it is symbolic of Jesus' life. When the person that is being baptised, each act represents an action that Jesus went through. For example, when the one's head is being dunked into the water, it symbolises Jesus' death and the crucifixion. Then, while one's head is dunked inside the water, it symbolises Jesus' burial and once the head is brought back up, it symbolises his resurrection. Most of the time, Christian churches recommend that a person should be baptised after they have grown up because then they will understand and feel the true meaning and experience of baptism.
The word Baptism is derived from the Greek language baptismos, meaning washing. Baptism is an act of adoption to the Christian society, more or less like an acceptance to the family of Christians.
Baptism at its most basic, involves a holy water poured tenderly down your forehead, a blessing from the priest, and the pronouncement, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Baptism is seen is an act of purification, and cleansing of the sins. Baptism was chosen for the declaration of salvation because it is symbolic of Jesus' life. When the person that is being baptised, each act represents an action that Jesus went through. For example, when the one's head is being dunked into the water, it symbolises Jesus' death and the crucifixion. Then, while one's head is dunked inside the water, it symbolises Jesus' burial and once the head is brought back up, it symbolises his resurrection. Most of the time, Christian churches recommend that a person should be baptised after they have grown up because then they will understand and feel the true meaning and experience of baptism.
Symbols of Baptism
The Sign of the Cross
When a person is getting baptised, the priest will invite up the parents and godparents and either use an oil (which i'm going to explain later) or nothing on the finger, to trace an invisible cross on the forehead, saying, "You belong to Christ", to mark that you are now a part of the Christian community.
The Word of God
The Scriptures are always read, whether a child is baptised during Mass or outside Mass. As the Scriptures are proclaimed, Christ himself is present in the assembly, calling us to be his disciples just as surely as he called the first disciples.
The Holy Water
The Priest usually pours a streak of the Holy Water on the forehead, saying, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This represents a cleansing and washing away of the sins. However, it is believed that the cleansing only washes away the sins prior to the Baptism. Water is also used because water is a necessary substance in our lives. It is the sign of life, and without water, nothing can grow. It is a sign of positive growth and life of a fresh new start to a person.
Oil
The oil is usually rubbed on the head or chest of the baby, because this used to be a typical ritual by soldiers and knights before they went into battle, symbolising the protection of struggles of defeat and pain. The oil is made by olive oil and balsam to make it smell sweet, to represent the good that will come.