It starts off with the welcome. The priest asks the parents and God parents if they will bring up their child as a Christian. He reminds them of their responsibilities as Parents and God parents. The parents and God parents make the sign of the cross on the baby’s fore head following after the priest. A person then comes up to the lectern to read a piece from the Bible. After, the priest says the homily. He anoints the baby on the chest with the oil of catechumen. It is a sign of strength and healing. The priest asks the parents and God parents if they reject Satan. They reply, “I do”. After the promises are said the infant is baptised. Water is poured over its head 3 times. The baby is anointed with the oil of chrism. It is a sign of the lord’s protection and beauty as the child of God. The white garment the baby is wearing is a sign of purity and innocence.
The paschal candle is lit during this ceremony. It symbolises the light of Christ and also symbolises the resurrection. The God parents carry a baptismal candle which is lit from the paschal candle. The light on the candle represents new life.
At the end of the mass the Lord’s Prayer is said. The priest blesses everyone in the church.
Believer’s baptism is when a person has decided they want to be a Christian. This type of baptism is meant for an older child or adults. It’s a symbol of dying and coming alive again as Christ. By getting baptised as an adult they are showing that they love God and have repented for their sins. They do not believe in infant’s baptism. They are following Jesus’ example as he too was baptised as an adult. This tradition leads back to the New Testament and early church.
In adult baptism a baptistery pool is used. It is kept at the front of the church and covered when not in use. The pool must be large enough in order for an adult to be fully immersed.
Believer’s baptism is held during a normal Sunday service. Anyone who wants to be baptised usually goes for preparation classes for a short time before they are baptised. This is to ensure they know what Christian commitment they are making and taking on.
In the ceremony of Believer’s baptism, the baptistery is filled with holy water before the service begins. People read scriptures from the bible and the minister gives a sermon. The people getting baptised stand at the front of the church and make a pubic declaration of their Christian faith and commitment. The person being baptised goes down a small steps leading into the baptistery pool. The minister goes with them. As they reach the depth of the pool the minister asks them, “Do you believe that Jesus is the Saviour and Lord” The believer replies, “I do.” The minister baptises them with the sign of the cross then lowers the believer into the pool and lifts them back out. This is called full immersion. Everyone has been baptised goes to get changed into dry clothes as the congregation sing hymns.
