The sacrament of baptism represents the beginning of life. People baptise as Jesus was baptised, this was a turning point in Jesus’ life, and marks the beginning of his mission.
He commanded his disciples to baptise, ‘Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28: 18-20) Catholics believe that they have a responsibility to do what Jesus told them to do.
In Baptism, the priest, parents, and godparents make the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead, a sign that the child belongs to Christ and has been saved by his death. The priest then exorcizes and anoints the child, a sign that in the future the child will reject evil. The parents and godparents make promises and declare their faith on behalf of the child. The priest pours water from the font on the child’s head three times, ‘In the Father, the Son, and in the Holy Sprit’. Water is a sign of cleansing. The priest anoints the child with chrism, a sign that the child is a new member of the body of Christ, the Church, to its life. The priest lights a candle from the Paschal candle, which is given to the parents on behalf of the child saying, ‘Receive the light of Christ’. The candle is a sign that Christ will now guide the child to lead a Christian life and to be a light to the world. Baptism makes the child a member of the church.
The sacrament of the sick represents the end on a person’s life, although it is sometimes for the people who are seriously ill. We celebrate the sacrament of the sick because Jesus healed people and Christians believe that they are carrying on what Jesus started. Jesus healed a leper, this is a sign that he would heal any one no matter how bad a case they are, or that he may become contaminated. So Catholics try to follow the lead of Jesus by helping others. He gave equal value and respect to every one’s life. In the passage Sickness and Healing it says, ’Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with the oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.’ (James 5:13-16) James here is giving people advice to Christians, as it was a rule for the elders in each church to pray for sick members. They would also anoint the sick with holy oil too. There are effects on a person after the sacrament is carried out. Many people say the have a feeling of power enter them, to heal them or help them fight the illness. People share in the suffering of Jesus. People may start their life as if it were new. People feel more able to cope again. For some it will be in preparation for death. They make amends to God.
Catholics believe that they have responsibilities to people at the beginning and the end of their lives. They believe they have to protect the babies, as they are a gift from God. The responsibilities that they have for people at the end of their lives are that they need help, as they are helpless.
