BAPTISM
Original Sin
1. What is original holiness?
"Original
holiness" is the initial state of holiness and justice in which our first
parents Adam and Eve were originally constituted, and in which they had a share
in the divine life. This state involved
an inner harmony in their persons, a harmony with all creation, and the
radiance of grace in all dimensions of their lives. As long as they remained in this state they
would not have to suffer or die. They
were free of the triple concupiscence. [375, 400, 404].
2. What is original sin?
Original
sin is the disobedience by our first parents Adam and Eve of God's command not
to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in
his Creator die, and abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. He chose himself over against God. By this first disobedience Adam and Eve lost
the grace of original holiness. "Death made its entrance into human
history" (Rom
3. What were the consequences of original sin?
As a
result of original sin Adam and Eve and all their descendants lost the state of
original holiness. "By one man's
disobedience many were made sinners.......sin came into the world through one
man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men
sinned...." (Rom
4. What is the triple concupiscence?
The
triple concupiscence is the impairment that a person feels in his whole being
that subjugates him to: the pleasures of
the senses, covetousness for earthly goods, and self assertion contrary to the
dictates of reason. All mankind endures
this threefold impairment, or triple concupiscence, as a result of the original
sin of Adam and Eve. [377].
Baptism in the Scriptures
5. What is the Protoevangelium
or "First Gospel"?
The Protoevangelium is the account in Genesis (Gen 3:9,15) of a battle between the serpent and the woman, with the
final victory to a descendent of hers.
The Christian tradition sees the woman as Mary the mother of Jesus, and
the final victor as the "New Adam" Jesus Christ. In the words of the Exsultet the sin was a
"happy fault (felix culpa).....which
gained for us so great a Redeemer".
[411-12].
6. How was Baptism prefigured in the Old
Covenant?
Baptism
is prefigured when "God's spirit hovered over the water" at creation
(Gen 1:2), when Noah and his
household were saved by water in the great flood (Gen 7:1; 1 Pet 3:20),
when Israel was saved from slavery at the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex 14:22), and when the People of God
crossed the Jordan river to enter the Promised Land (Jos 3:16). [1217-1222].
7. What are some of the New Testament
references to the importance of Baptism?
Jesus
starts his public life with Baptism by John in the Jordan "This is my
Beloved Son" (Mk 3:13); Jesus makes reference to his passion and
death by saying: "There is a Baptism that I still must receive" (Lk:12:50); Jesus' final commission is:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 3:15). [1223].
The Sacrament of Baptism
8. What is the sacrament of Baptism?
Baptism
frees us from sin and brings about our rebirth as children of God into the new
life in Christ, incorporated into the Church, and sharers of her mission. [1277*, 1279*, 1213].
9. What type of Sacrament is Baptism?:
Baptism,
Confirmation and the Eucharist together constitute the "Sacraments of
Initiation". [1275*, 1232-33].
10. What are the essentials of the Rite of
Baptism?
The
essential Rite of Baptism involves either a triple immersion in water, or a
threefold pouring of water on the forehead of the candidate. This is accompanied by the minister's words
"I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit". This constitutes Baptism
in an emergency situation. [1278*, 1239, 1240].
11. What are the usual procedures for the Rite
of Baptism of children?
The
liturgy for the sacrament begins with a greeting and some brief questions
concerning the desire for Baptism. Then
there ensues a reading from the Gospel, a brief homily, intercessions and a
short litany. This is followed by an
exorcism, and an anointing with the oil of catechumens. The water is then blessed, and the parents
and godparents pronounce a rejection of Satan, and a brief profession of
faith. Then comes the Baptism itself
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit",
accompanied by the threefold pouring of, or immersion in, the water. After the Baptism there is an anointing with
holy chrism, clothing with a white garment, receiving a candle lighted from the
Paschal candle, and a rite of ephphetha or prayer
over the ears and mouth. The ceremony
concludes with the Lord's Prayer, a blessing, and a dismissal. The rite of
Baptism of adults is often very similar to this, but the baptism of catechumens
at the Easter Vigil Mass is a more elaborate celebration. [1234-1245].
12. What is the exorcism that is performed
during the Baptism?
The
exorcism is the recital of a short prayer that invokes the help of God in
overcoming the power of Satan and the spirit of evil. [glossary,
1237].
13. Who can receive Baptism?
Every
person not yet baptized, and only such a person, can be baptized. Infant Baptism is a time honored tradition of
the Church, testified to from the second century. [1282*, 1246].
14. Who are the ministers and the participants
in Baptism?
The
ordinary ministers of Baptism are bishops, priests and deacons. Also required
are the presence of the godfather and godmother who must be firm believers,
able and ready to help the newly baptized on the road of Christian life. The parents should be present for infant
baptism. In case of necessity anyone, even a non-baptized person with the right
intention, can baptize by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to do the will of
what the Church does when she baptizes. [1284*, 1256].
Characteristics of Baptism
15. What sins are forgiven in Baptism?
By
Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as
the punishment for sin. [1279*, 1263].
16. What are the benefits of Baptism in addition
to the forgiveness of sins?
Baptism
makes the person a partaker in the divine nature, endowed with sanctifying
grace, the grace of justification. It
enables him to believe in God, hope in God, and love God through the
theological virtues, gives him the power to live and act under the prompting of
the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and allows him to grow in
goodness through the moral virtues. It
also makes him a member of the Church.
[1279*, 1262-1270].
17. Does Baptism imprint an indelible spiritual
sign, or character, on the soul?
Baptism
does imprint an indelible spiritual character on the soul which consecrates the
baptized person for Christian worship.
Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated. [1280*, 1272].
18. Is Baptism necessary for salvation?
Baptism
is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed,
and who have had the possibility of asking for it. God has bound salvation to the
sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. [1277*, 1257].
Baptism of Blood and Desire
19. Are unbaptized martyrs saved?
Those
who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are
baptized by their death for and with Christ.
This is called Baptism of Blood.
[1258].
20. Can those ignorant of the Gospel of Christ
be saved?
Every
person who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and His Church, but acting under
the inspiration of grace, seeks God sincerely and strives to fulfill his will, can be saved even if he has not been baptized. This is called Baptism of Desire. [1281*, 1260].
21. Can children who die before Baptism be saved?
As
regards children who die before Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us
to trust in the mercy of God, and to pray for them. [1281*,
1261].
22. Can catechumens, unbaptized
persons taking instructions to become Catholics, who die before their baptism
and entry into the Church, be saved?
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
they were not able to receive through the sacrament. [1281*, 1259].
23. What steps are ordinarily followed by an
adult joining the Church?
The
process of joining the Church is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of
Adults, commonly referred to as RCIA. It
involves an initial informal period of Inquiry called the precatechumenate,
a year long process of formation called the catechumenate,
joining the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass by reception of the three
sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), and a final
period of formation called Mystagogia that lasts
until Pentecost. This is the process
for catechumens who had not been previously validly baptized; candidates from Protestant churches
who have already been baptized often have a shorter period of preparation, and
do not repeat the Baptism. [1229-1233;
1247-1249].
24. What other
rites accompany the conferral of Baptism and entry into the Church for adults?
There is an exorcism, anointing with oil of
catechumens, renunciation of Satan, blessing of the water, the essential
Baptism itself, anointing with chrism, conferral of a white garment and a
lighted candle, a rite of ephphetha or praying over
the ears and mouth, conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation, reception of
First Holy Communion, and a final blessing.
[1234-1245].