The actual Baptism Ceremony has four stages:
1) Door (welcome)
2) Lectern (listen)
3) Font (sacrament takes place)
4) Altar (blessing)
DOOR- Parents and Godparents accept responsibility of raising a child as a Christian. It is the duty of the parents to hand the faith by their loving example.
. The priest welcomes the child into the Church –he makes the sign of the cross. This symbolises the saving power of the crucifixion.
LECTERN- Celebration of the Word of God at the lectern. God’s Word and Homily enlighten all present. “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (Jn3: 1-6). Prayers are said for the child, the parents, the dead, the sick and lonely, relatives and friends and the Church. Child is strengthened by oil of Catechumens for journey of life ahead (first anointing). This prayer and action ask God to strengthen the child against the temptations of life and power of evil.
FONT- The actual moment of the sacrament. The Baptismal water is used as it is essential for life (spiritual, eternal life) and is used to cleanse (inner cleanliness, soul cleansed from sin).
. Profession of Faith by parents and Godparents –Baptismal vows are said. . Then the child is baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The water is poured three times, one for each person of God.
. The child is then marked out as a follower of Christ with oil of Chrism (second anointing).
. The child is then clothed in a white garment this represents Christ around the child –‘clothed in Christ’.
. The lighting of the candle takes place –the child receives the light of Christ –Christ has enlightened the child.
. Prayer over child’s ears and mouth “May the Lord Jesus touch your ears to receive his word and your mouth to proclaim his faith”.
ALTAR- Our Father is said and additional blessing is said for child, parents and Godparents.
THIS IS THE END OF THE BAPTISMAL CEREMONY.
Eucharist- thanksgiving.
The second sacrament received in Roman Catholic tradition is the Sacrament of Eucharist (Holy Communion, Mass). When we receive Holy Communion we believe that we are united in a most intimate way to the person of Jesus, and through him, to each other. Sharing emphasises the Christian fellowship of all who believe in Jesus Christ. This is the most sacred sacrament; we believe that the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins is represented in the sacrament. During the Sacrament of Eucharist, Christians recall the Last Supper, which is highly significant to us, as it has been observed as the central act of Christian worship since it occurred. At the Last Supper Jesus transformed the meaning of the Passover meal by identifying the bread and wine with his own body and blood. As a faith community we gather in love and devotion to God. Holy Communion is our ‘spiritual nourishment’. In the Roman Catholic tradition we can receive the Sacrament of Eucharist everyday. We celebrate this sacrament frequently as we find it central in our faith. In this sacrament we remember Jesus suffering, death and resurrection –offering himself as a sacrifice for humankind. We feel that we must celebrate it in obedience to Jesus command given in the upper room, “Do this in memory of me.” We believe that the bread and wine becomes the risen body and blood of Jesus –our ‘suffering servant’ Messiah. The fact that we are sharing and we are united as one creates a sense of belonging for all –we are all equals gathering together in love for God. Eucharist is a time for people to examine their lives before they share in this sacred and special meal. Ultimately, the eating of the bread gives spiritual strength and nourishment to the participants. As Roman Catholics we believe in the ‘real presence’ –during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the risen body and blood of Jesus (under the appearance of bread and wine).
The Sacrament of Eucharist is celebrated during the ceremony of Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. The transubstantiation at the consecration of the Eucharist happens during the Liturgy of the Eucharist (third stage of the mass). During this stage of the mass the gifts are brought to the altar (offertory) –the priest then takes the gifts and blesses them, he then reads a prayer over them. The Eucharistic Prayer –the Great Thanksgiving Prayer, follows this, here the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus (transubstantiation at the consecration of the mass). This is followed by the fourth stage of the mass –the Communion Rite (eat). At this stage we say the Lord’s Prayer, then offer each other the sign of peace. The breaking of the bread follows this, at this time the congregation say the LAMB OF GOD. Then together we share and receive the risen body and blood of Jesus.
Confirm- establish beliefs
The third and final Sacrament of Initiation is Confirmation. This is the sacrament of Christian Maturity –during the ceremony the young person makes the vows that were made for them at baptism. The person is able to make a personal act of commitment to Christ. This sacrament involves active participation of the young people to be confirmed. They are accepting for themselves the promises made for them by their parents and Godparents at baptism.
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES:
The bishop asks those to be confirmed to renew their baptismal vows (openly proclaim their faith). By doing so those who are to be confirmed are accepting all that was involved in their baptism.
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS:
The bishop and any priests who are celebrating the sacrament with him extend their hands over the heads of those who are to be confirmed and in prayer ask God to send the Holy Spirit to them. Through the Holy Spirit the candidates receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, Wonder and Awe in God’s presence).
THE PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATE:
The candidates are brought to the bishop by their sponsor, who represent the community, which rejoices, as there is another entrant into the Church.
ANOINTING WITH CHRISM:
This is also the oil used at Baptism and the Rite of Ordination. This is a sign of God’s special calling to the candidate. It symbolises the giving of strength to fulfil this call –the candidate has been called and set apart to continue the work of Jesus.
Personally, I feel that as a member of the church, I have a special relationship with God and I have met God in different ways in each of these sacraments. My understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Sacraments of Initiation have and will continue to deepen as I reflect on my response to the presence of God in my life and to my membership in God’s family. I feel that through the receiving of the Sacraments of Initiation I have become an active member of the Church and that I can understand God better and from this I can live my life in the image and likeness of God.
