At an infant baptism (Roman Catholics) promises are made by the god parents these promises are made because the godparents take a special interest in the child to encourage the child in the Christian faith.
Usually a male infant will have two males and one female godparent and a female infant will have two females and one male godparent. Sometimes there can be more.
Holy water is sprinkled onto the infants forehead this symbolises the sins getting washed away (the original sin) also the sign of a cross is made ,the cross symbolises the sign that the child now belongs to god.
A baptism service is a public service to show the Christian community that a new Christian has joined
Prayers and blessings are said to the child this is because they want the infant to have a strong faith and belief in god later on in life.
Infants can wear any types of clothing but traditionally infants wear a special christening gown often white because white symbolises purity.
A candle is often lit to symbolise a person has moved from dark to light
The light from the candle reminds follower so of Jesus to shine like a light in the world.
At the end of the service hymns are sung to rejoice the baptism and the priest blesses the mother and the father and all the people in the church.
Believer baptism (adult) BAPTSITS
The Christian wanting to get baptise takes preparation classes a few weeks before baptism where they will look at life as a Christian and the bible.
At a believer baptism the person will talk about how they became Christian and why they decided to get baptised this is called a testimony. This show the person is ready and understands. The person then confesses the sins to the church and repents openly.
The church minister and the person getting baptized go into the water together.
Then the minister says a few words i.e. promise and belief the name of the father etc.
the minister lower the person and immerses the person symbolizing of their old life dying and raises them back up again as a symbol of new life with god.
This type of baptism builds a bridge between god and humankind.
And encourages Christian to pray to god.
Baptism started when John the Baptist, Jesus cousin use to baptise people he used to tell them about god that moved them the people wanted to put thing straight this when baptism started
One day, Jesus went to John and asked to be baptized. And said, 'I am the one who needs to be baptized by you!' ()
As Jesus was being baptized, John heard God's voice say, 'This is my beloved Son' and saw 'the Spirit of God was descending like a dove' on Jesus. Now he knew that Jesus was God's Messiah.
Christians are baptized today to follow Jesus' example, and to show that they believe and obey him.
