All people are born with original sin (that is the sin of Adam). The priest uses God’s power to exorcise the evil. He then makes the child holy by anointing them with oil, known as the oil of catechumens. (The meaning of this oil means strength against temptation, sin and evil.)
On behalf of the child the godparents then make promises to live a Christian life. These promises are based on an ancient creed known as the Apostles’ Creed.
The priest then places the child over the font pouring water over the child’s head three times saying, "(name)I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
A second anointing is performed with the oil of chrism. This oil is used in confirmation and at an ordination. It is a sign that the new Christian is a Prophet, a priest and a King.
Following the Early Christians tradition the child is then given a white garment as a sign of purity.
A candle is given to one of the parents who lights it from the Easter candle (known as the Paschal candle, which is a symbol of life and knowledge).
The Lord’s Prayer is said, the priest gives a special blessing for the parents and the child.
Believers Baptism
In the Church of the first Christians most people who were baptised were adults. Gradually baptism of adults became less, because most adults were already Christian and more babies were baptised. However, the baptism of infants is still based on the baptism of adults and some Christian groups (such as The Quakers) still only baptise adults.
Christian groups who baptise adults believe that because baptism requires a choice and a personal commitment to be a Christian and a change of way of life, only an adult can make such a choice. These groups often have a naming ceremony for a new born child, but children are not baptised. As the person has to believe in Christ and make a decision for him/herself this type of baptism is often known as Believer’s baptism.
In the Baptist Church the baptism of an adult usually takes place in a special pool in the church, although sometimes in a pool, river or in the sea. The service is very like the way Jesus was baptised. The adults being baptised all wear white robes as a sign of purity and cleansing. [In the Early Church Christians would take off their old clothes before entering the water and put on new white robes when they came out. This also symbolised the change from one way of life to a new, pure kind.]
The service starts with the person being baptised telling how they came to believe in Jesus as Christ. He/She then walks into the pool and joins the minister who is in the water.
The minister totally immerses the person into the water. At that moment the person is a full member of the Baptist community. In the Baptist Church there is no Sacrament of Confirmation because the person who is being baptised has made their choice as an adult, knowing the full responsibility of their own decision.
Many denominations that use Believer's baptism refer to baptism as 'being born again'. This is actually a reference to a teaching of Jesus about baptism. After baptism the person is usually given words of encouragement and a hymn is sang.
Barry Connolly 12J
