Baptism is one of the first seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.

AO1 BAPTISM COURSEWORK 1C

PAUL MCGARTY

Baptism is one of the first seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is the first of three sacraments of initiation which makes a person a full member of the church. The sacraments are baptism, confirmation and the eucerist. There is a special ceremony or rite for the Christian initiation of adults into the church, but the following account is for the baptism of infants. However, the orthodox believes that they are special features for the baptism of a child. The most obvious is the baby is totally dipped into the font. Traditionally the orthodox baptism occurs on the eighth day after birth. The baby is held in the font facing east (a symbol of resurrection) which is very important in baptism. He is then dipped three times into the water. The orthodox service has three parts. Blessing the baptismal water with a prayer and breathing on the water in the sign of the cross, then a pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of gladness, then the actual baptism takes place. The Roman Catholic and Anglican churches believe the water should be poured over the babies head with the phrase ‘I baptise you in the name of the son and of the Holy Spirit’. Normally the parents of the child bring him for baptism and the god parents promise to watch the child and to encourage them in the right way to god. The ceremony happens like so that the child is presintated for baptism by parents and god parents then the parents and god parents profess there belief in the chief beliefs at the Christian church. There is then a shaping of structure which emphasises the importance of baptism then the congregation welcomes the new member of the church the child is then baptised with water poured over his head with the words ‘I baptise you in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit’.