Baptism and the Eucharist

Baptism Sign of the pure gift from God, the gift of faith and justification that comes to people without any merit on their part if they do not reject it. Infant baptism – Public ratification that the infant, alienated from God through no fault of its own but by the sins of society (original sin), is now being drawn by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and his redeemed community of the church in union with the Father.

Infant baptism Public ratification that the infant, alienated from God through no fault of its own but by the sins of society (original sin), is now being drawn by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and his redeemed community of the church in union with the Father. Begins biologically and sociologically from the moments of conception and birth. The infant dying before baptism has already been justified through the prayer of the church(esp. of the child’s family) and will enter into the intimate mystery of God.

Infant baptism… To administer it is to manifest the concern of the church and to keep alive the consciousness of the dignity of the human person from the first moments of existence. Nurses and physicians : – Should baptize infants who are in danger of death and even miscarried fetuses who exhibit human form and some sign of life. – Pour water on the child(on the head, if possible), touch the skin, and say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Expression of Christian reverence and fellowship with this little person who will forever be part of the Trinitarian community

For the dying unconscious person: – Permissible to perform such a baptism with the condition, “if you are not baptized, I baptize you” – Not a grave obligation unless the person has asked to be baptized before lapsing into unconsciousness – shows concern of the church for a person who has providentially come under the care of the Catholic community – Should not be done in a merely mechanical manner (e.g. trying to baptize everyone in the hospital, etc.)

The Eucharist Supreme sacrament and sign of the Christian community A life-giving, health-giving sacrament – because eating the bread and drinking the wine are the basic symbols of the power to live Indicates that such patients remain a part of that community, even when absent from the public worship assembly, and that they are destined for eternal life with the community.

In a hospital: – Appropriate when possible to have the patients who so wish listen to the mass in the chapel on closed circuit radio or television, then to be brought communion immediately afterwards. In this way, the union between mass and communion would be emphasized. – Essential communion for the sick (no matter where they might be): at least a card containing scripture readings and prayers should be used by the patient while preparing for communion.

CONCLUSION Medical ethics – has to do not merely with certain rules about forbidden procedures, but rather with a healing process – the dignity of every human person in all its dimensions is respected by the community and the sick person is restored to full life in the community  Unethical behavior - exclude persons from the deepest sharing of communal life centered in the Trinity  Ethical behavior- fosters this communion These sacraments represent for us how Jesus went about treating sick people.