"Go and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”
Jesus knew His work had been fulfilled. However, He also knew that the Church would be the engine, which would drive the kingdom to the ends of the earth. The means by which the Church would do this would be through the Sacrament of Baptism. Baptism is essential for all believing Christians. Jesus briefly speaks of the beauty of the Holy Trinity. He did not say, “Go and baptize in my name” or “Go and baptize in the Father’s name”, but He said to baptize in all three persons of the Holy Trinity.
What is Baptism? Baptism is the first of all Sacraments that we receive as Catholics. Baptism was instituted by Christ by His baptism [1], and we are all called to be baptized as we read in today’s Gospel reading. The word comes from Greek that means to “plunge” or “immerse”. [2]
Baptism is also necessary for salvation. Christ himself taught this in John 3:5, “Jesus answered, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit’.” and again, He also commanded his disciples to baptize all who believe in Him as we read in today’s Gospel. The Church does not know of any other way other than Baptism that would assure someone entry into eternal beatitude. [3] What about those that wanted to be baptized but weren’t able to? The Church has always believed that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. [4] For “catechumens”, those who are in the process of receiving Baptism, who die before their Baptism, their full desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and love, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive the sacrament. [5] In regards to children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God. God’s infinite mercy, and Jesus’ desire for all to be saved through Him and in particular children, allows us to hope there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. [6] This is why the Church is adamant about not preventing little children from being baptized.
What does Baptism do? The Sacrament of Baptism does many things for us. The spiritual effects of Baptism are the removal of original sin, the removal of any previous sins along with the guilt of sin and all punishment due to sin. It also infuses grace and virtues, brings you to Christ and His Church, receive the baptismal character, and the right to Heaven. Baptism helps restore us back to the state Adam was in before the fall. However, the effects of original sin still remain after Baptism; namely suffering and death, concupiscence and ignorance. Baptism does however give us the grace to cope with suffering, the promise of release from suffering after death, the grace to resist sinful tendencies, and the virtues of faith, hope, and love which help us to believe all that God has shown us. [7]
Why do we baptize infants? Many of us were baptized when we were just infants and do not remember it. Some non-Catholics will argue that we should not baptize infants. Their main reason is because the child has not reached the age of reason and cannot understand and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The main problem with this is that they do not see baptism as a Sacrament like Catholics do.
The Catholic Church has always taught all are called to be baptized young and old alike. To withhold baptism from anyone is withholding their salvation, their union with Christ, and being brought into the Christian family. When a husband and wife are getting married, they make a vow to each other, the Church, their family, friends, and God that they will raise their children in the Catholic faith. The first thing to do in raising them in the faith is bringing them into the Church, and this can only be done through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Another way to think of presenting infants to baptism is to think of a baby shower. The baby typically has not been born yet. The mother gets together with family, friends, and loved ones. They have a nice party and there are usually some presents. The presents are typically for the infant; cute little outfits, a stroller, car seat, crib, and other things for the baby. Now imagine if the mother said, “These are all so wonderful! But I’m going to wait until the child is old enough to understand and accept these gifts. The child would be maybe four, five, or six years old before they could be old enough to open the gifts and understand what they were, but unfortunately they would be too old for those gifts. Baptism is the most precious gift we can give to our loved ones, and to wait until they are older does not help bring the graces, and the light of Christ to them.
Lastly, it is found in scripture. In Acts chapter sixteen we see two places where Saint Paul baptized not only a person but also their “household” [8] and “all his family” [9]. Also, when greeting the Corinthians, Paul said “I did baptize also the household of Stephanas” [10] In these examples; we see entire families, men, women, and children being baptized. [11]
Why doesn’t the Catholic Church do immersion baptisms? The Catholic Church recognizes and accepts total immersion, the pouring of water, and the sprinkling of water as valid ways to baptize the common practice in the Roman Rite is pouring or “infusion”. Non-Catholics may argue that the only true baptism is through total immersion. An example of why pouring of water instead of immersion was practiced in the early Church is when Peter and the apostles, immediately after Pentecost, converted over 3,000 people! Imagine trying to baptize that many people in a day. Archaeologists have shown that there was not sufficient water supply for this many people to have been immersed. Even if there had been a place big enough, the city would not have allowed 3,000 people to pollute their source of water. However, we see as early as 70 A.D. in Didache writings that the Church allowed the pouring of water as an acceptable means.[12] Also, we see in the earliest Christian artwork reference to baptism through the pouring of water and not by immersion. For many people, water is a scarcity, and to be able to conserve water, they would pour water on people.
Another reason why we do not do immersions is due to people’s safety and health. In baptism, the person has water poured on their heads three times. This is done because, as Saint Gregory the Great explains, it signifies the rebirth of the person with Christ who rose from the dead after three days. [13] Before pouring was the standard, it would not be out of the norm to see someone be immersed three times in the water. For obvious reasons this custom was removed.
Does someone need to be “rebaptized” when coming to the Catholic Church? No, one does not need to be baptized again when coming into the Catholic Church if the person has received baptism from a different Christian faith. The Sacrament of Baptism only needs to be dispensed once and leaves an indelible mark on our souls. Each sacrament must have the correct form (words) and matter (action, physical elements). “The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” [14]
Why do we have Godparents for baptism? Godparents are not necessary for a valid baptism, but they are important. They can serve as official representatives of the community of faith. Their functions after baptism are to serve and provide the child’s religious training if the parents are unable to do so. [15] The Godparents must be Catholic because someone who is not a Catholic would not be able to instruct the child in the Catholic faith. St. Augustine beautifully wrote of the role and responsibilities of a Godparent, “They should use all care, often to admonish in true love their godchildren that they may strive to lead a pure life; they should warn them against all detraction, all improper sins, and keep them from pride, envy, anger, and revenge; they should watch over them that they may preserve the Catholic faith, attend the church services, listen to the word of God, and obey their parents and their pastors.” [16]
Are there any other kinds of Baptism? There are three kinds of baptism: the baptism of water, which is the Sacrament of Baptism. There is baptism of desire, which was described earlier in this lesson. It is when the person has a desire for baptism of water and has perfect contrition but is unable to receive it. There is also baptism of blood, which is given to those who suffer martyrdom for the true faith without having yet received baptism. [17]
Why does the person where white? The white robes infants and adult’s wear when baptized symbolizes that the person baptized has put on Christ and has risen with Christ. [18] It also represents the purity and beauty of the soul, which has been washed from sin. They are as holy as Christ and receive Jesus in them. [19] This is why many times Saint Francis of Assisi was known to genuflect at a baby or a person who had just been baptized. They are completely filled with the Holy Trinity.
Why do they use a candle at baptism? The light represents the light of Christ now shinning in the person where there was once darkness due to sin. The Paschal light, which was lit at the Easter vigil, is the same light that is given at baptism. The light also represents the love for God and our neighbor. It is the light of good example shining for the whole world to see. [20]
Why does the priest or deacon place oils on the person? The oil used is known as the sacred chrism. Sacred Chrism is perfumed oil, consecrated by the bishop, and signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized. This is the same oil used in our Confirmation when we receive the Holy Spirit. Someone may also notice the priest laying hands on the child numerous times. This shows that the person is the property of God and is under His protection now.
What is the importance of the baptismal font? The font is the womb that holds the waters of life, just as the waters within the womb of a mother, sustain the life of her baby. Saint Gregory of Nyssa calls, Faith the womb. Our parents were asked at during the Rite of Marriage, “Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?” [21]Parents have faith and the greatest gift they can give their children is the faith, they therefore bring their children to the womb of the Church, the baptismal font. “Faith is the womb that conceives this new life, baptism the rebirth by which it is brought forth into the light of day. The Church is its nurse; her teachings are its milk, the bread from heaven is its food.” [22] It is not by mistake that at the Easter vigil the Easter candle, which represents Christ, is dipped into the waters of the baptismal font (the womb). Christ is the Groom and the Church is the Bride. The womb of the bride, touched by the groom at the Easter vigil, conceives new life, at not only the baptisms that take place that night but also all the baptisms, all the new life that will be born of the font. Each Catholic renews this life at each Mass, where they see the womb (the font), perhaps even the very womb in which they were born, the are taught by the Church (Liturgy of the Word) and they receive the bread from heaven (Liturgy of the Eucharist). Needless to say, the Mass is not just a reminder of our Spiritual Life, but is our Spiritual Life, our lifeline, in which we as branches remain connected to the vine.
[1] Matthew 3:13-17
[2] CCC 1214
[3] CCC 1257
[4] CCC 1258
[5] CCC1259
[6] CCC 1261
[7] Fr. Hardon, Basic Catholic Catechism Course pg. 84-85
[8] Acts 16:15
[9] Acts 16:33
[10] I Cor. 1:16
[11] The Essential Catholic Survival Guide pg. 145
[12] The Essential Catholic Survival Guide pgs. 152-153
[13] The Church’s Year pg. 318
[14] Catechism of the Catholic Church; Glossary: Baptism
[15] The Catholic Catechism pg. 506
[16] The Church’s Year pg. 316
[17] The Church’s Year pg. 315
[18] CCC 1243
[19] The Church’s Year pg. 319
[20] The Church’s Year pg. 319
[21] Rite of Marriage
[22] Saint Gregory of Nyssa; Liturgy of the Hours; Fifth Week of Easter; Monday, Office of Readings