The book symbolises the “Word of God”. This is symbolic as the word always precedes the action. The readings are about the people of God. The scripture reading of Baptism may describe the baptism of Jesus, or it may be Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John3. The prayers of the faithful follow. These symbolise the new life given through baptism and the serious responsibilities, which are being taken on, by the parents and Godparents. Before being brought to the font, the child is anointed with the oil of Catechumens. This symbolises the child being freed from the control of all evil forces. The oil is a reminder of the strength and power given by Christ to enable the person to fight evil and do good.
At the Font the child is baptised by pre-blessed water. Water is a symbol of life and death. Water is used, as it is a powerful symbol in the Old Testament. It is seen as a source of strength and power. It is Life Giving. In Exodus water is what sets the slaves free from slavery, it is a sign of hope and new beginning. In the story of Noah we see how God uses water to aid the destruction of all evil. It sets the child free from the power of evil and gives he/she a new beginning. Water is therefore a very important symbol used in Baptism. The child is actually immersed in or has water poured upon it with the word of the Trinitarian Formula recited. Chrism is used to show the child receiving a new way of life. The action is associated with a person being appointed to important work, the work of Christ. The paschal candle represents the light of Christ. It is in front of the book and represents how Christ overcame death and sin, the way the light overcomes the darkness. The light is a symbol of life and knowledge for the child. The child is usually baptised in a white garment. This symbolises the child’s Christian dignity. It suggests innocence and sinlessness along with happiness and joy. It is used as a sign of new life and faith.
At the altar where the ceremony ends is a reminder of the Eucharist. Through baptism the child looks forward to the sacraments to follow in which he/she becomes a committed member of the Church. The Graces of Baptism do not only come from God to the child, they also come from God through the baptised in the community.
In the Baptist faith, for example, the people believe in Believers’ Baptism. Believers' baptism is the common practice in the Baptist Church and many other evangelical churches. It is common practice in these churches for the person being baptised to be completely immersed in the water. Some Christians actually conduct the service in a river to remind them of Jesus' own Baptism in the River Jordan. Normally, a person is baptised in a special pool. The person walks down three steps into the pool where the minister tips the person back into the water. The person then climbs out of the pool at the opposite side to where they got in and often gives a short talk about how they became a Christian. In order to comply with the arrangements of Believers’ Baptism, candidates must be sorry for their sins and have faith in Jesus Christ. They often give a public testimony to the congregation about this. The candidates present themselves in baptismal robes, a white garment or suitable clothes for the baptism. These robes or garments, along with the confession of their sins, represent how the person is sorry and how they repent satin along with their profession of faith. The descending into the water by the candidate, in conjunction with the certificate of the new baptism, is a symbol of forgiveness and a new life in their faith.
Chris Gibson
