The next step in the baptism is the reading at the lectern. During this part, the “Word of God” is proclaimed to nourish faith of these present people in the church. It is to teach the children to talk to God in prayers. Children will learn this from their parents in the future life. The readings from the gospel will guide the candidate to be Christ like because they consist of the teaching of Jesus who is the example for them. Those readings will also give the candidate strength at difficult moments in their life for example contact with drugs or bullying as the Gospel passages can show us that God is always there for us.
Then the child is anointed with the oil of Catechumens which is the sign of strengthening for the life long struggle with the power of evil and sin. It also symbolises the healing. The oil of Catechumens gives us power to fight with the evil and it heals our bodies and souls from the wounds caused by the original sin. The anointing with the oil of Catechumens will give the candidate the strength at the difficult situations, at the challenges of our faith and also to live as Christ wants us to live – witness to Him.
The child is also anointed with the oil of Chrism. It is the mixture of the olive oil (perfume) and balsam. The oil was used in the coronation of the king or a queen at the Old Testament times. The anointing with this oil symbolises that we have been chosen by God for a special task and mission to do His will. It marks the candidate as being special – as one of God’s people.
Then the candidate is baptised by the priest who pours the holy water onto the candidate’s head. It is the symbol of the cleansing of the original sin and purity of the candidate after the baptism. It gives us the opportunity to return to that state of being pure by repenting. It also gives us a chance to renew the baptism in the future life by the vows.
After pouring water onto the candidate’s head, he/she is dressed with the white garment. In the daily life the white colour is associated with the clouds, sheep, snow, frost, Pure, clean, peace, surrender etc. In the baptism it symbolises the Jesus’ clothes during the Transfiguration. “And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them” (Mark’s Gospel 9:3-4). The white garment is a sign of new life and faith which we get in the baptism. It is the idea of purity and new life which the candidate gets in the baptism.
The last thing used in baptism is candle. It is the symbol of light of Christ and His resurrection because the flame is passed from the Paschal candle. The light of Christ is in us to guide or to help other people and also to guide us in our future life, when we are at times of difficulties, when we are depressed, God lighten up our life so that we know what to do, how to solve our problems, difficulties.
In the baptism there is also a sign of the Cross which is very important because it unites us with the Trinity who was present at the Jesus’ baptism as well as at our baptism. We believe that the Trinity is present so that’s why the sign of the cross is so important. By using the sign of the cross, all five of our senses are blessed and it symbolises that everything we do should reflect the love of God and teachings of Jesus.
The rite of the baptism concludes at the altar and already there is a pointing forward to Confirmation and First Communion, the two other sacraments which complete the initiation of the child into a Christian Community. Therefore the sacrament of Baptism is a sort of pass in the future life as a Christian because without it we are not able to take other sacraments such as Confirmation or First Communion.
I would like to conclude by saying that the sacrament of Baptism makes us free from every sin, gives new life and power so that we will be able to chose the good, not the evil, and it also brings us into a Christian community – God’s Family where everybody should love each other equally, everybody should help each other and where every body is loved and treated equally by God.
