1. “B” Is For Baptism
The Presentation

2. "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Gain entry into Christian life and union with the Holy Spirit
Gateway to other sacraments
Reborn as sons of God as it frees us from sin

3. “This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out…”
Named after its central rite of Christian initiation
Meaning to plunge or immerse
“Water symbolizes the Catechumen's burial into Christ's death” and enables them to participate in His resurrection as a “new creature”

4. “This sacrament is also called ‘the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,’”
“For it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit”
Without which no one can enter the Kingdom of God

5. "This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . .”
Baptism is an “enlightenment” in which we receive Jesus and become “sons and daughters of light”.
Baptism is God’s most beautiful gift.
We also call it…
Gift – those who receive bring nothing of their own
Grace – given to the guilty
Anointing – it is priestly and royal
Enlightenment – radiates light
Clothing – veils our shame
Bath – washes away our sin
Seal – guard and sign of God’s Lordship.

6. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
Prefigurations of Baptism in the Old Covenant

7. “Since the beginning of the world, water, so humble and wonderful a creature, has been the source of life and fruitfulness.”
Easter Vigil - commemorates events in saving history that prefigured Baptism
God gives us grace in the symbol of water in Baptism
According to Sacred Scripture the Spirit of God overshadows water
The Spirit breathed in the waters making it the wellspring of holiness

8. Noah’s ark prefigured salvation through water
“The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of Baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness “
Noah’s ark prefigured salvation through water
Emersion is a symbol of dying then rising and because of this death and new life we are in communion with Jesus’ death and resurrection

9. “You freed the children of Abraham from the slavery of Pharaoh, bringing them dry-shod through the waters of the Red Sea, to be an image of the people set free in Baptism”
Like the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt we are liberated from sin through Baptism
Baptism is also prefigured when the Israelites crossed the Jordan and received the gift of land promised to them
“The promise of this blessed inheritance is fulfilled in the New Covenant.”

10. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
Christ’s Baptism

11. “All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus”
Jesus is baptized in Jordan River by John the Baptist
After his resurrection he sends his apostles to baptize the nations and teach to observe what Jesus had commanded
Jesus voluntarily submitted himself to be baptized by John the Baptist
Intended for sinners, but needed to “fulfill all righteousness”
Jesus was revealed as God’s beloved son at Baptism

12. “In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism.”
Jesus’ passion was a Baptism in which he had to be baptized
“The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life.”
We need Baptism in order to enter the Kingdom of God
St. Ambrose tells us that when we are baptized we participate in his Passion and are therefore redeemed

13. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
Baptism in the Church

14. “From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism.”
“Father, you give us grace through sacramental signs,
which tell us of the wonders of your unseen power.
In Baptism we use your gift of water,
which you have made a rich symbol
of the grace you give us in this sacrament.”
Roman Missal, Easter Vigil 42: Blessing of Water

15. Water is the Source of Life
“Since the beginning of the world, water, so humble and wonderful a creature, has been the source of life and fruitfulness.”
Water is the Source of Life
Without water, there is no life
And so, without the water of life from Baptism, our lives in God are incomplete
Water is essential to all life

16. Water cleanses our sins away
“The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of Baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness.”
Water cleanses our sins away
When the Great Flood came, it washed away all of the sinful men and women
Water gave new life in the covenant with Noah

17. Water can also serve as a physical barrier, such as a sea or lake.
“You freed the children of Abraham from the slavery of Pharaoh, bringing them dry-shod through the waters of the Red Sea, to be an image of the people set free in Baptism.”
Water can also serve as a physical barrier, such as a sea or lake.
The Red sea separated God’s Chosen People from the Promised Land
It was only by passing through the waters that they were admitted to the Promised Land, and so, we too must pass through the waters to go to the Promised Land

18. Christ’s Baptism
Jesus’ Baptism fulfills all of the Old Testament prefigurations
He was baptized by John the Baptist
After His resurrection, he told his disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Mt 28:19-20)

19. Christ’s Baptism (cont.)
Jesus willingly submitted to His Baptism by John the Baptist.
The dove that descended upon him represented a ‘new creation’
At the His Final Supper, he said that they (the Disciples) were to now be baptized in the blood and water from his side.
Therefore, we are born into ‘New Life” through Jesus.

20. Baptism in the Church
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him

21. "The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament."
Water, with it’s life-giving effects, is an ‘imperishable seed’
The ‘seed’ is growth of the individual in their faith, through Jesus

22. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
How the Sacrament is Celebrated

23. Christian Initiation
Certain essential elements will always have to be present to be baptized,
Proclamation of the Word,
Acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion,
Profession of faith,
Baptism itself,
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
And admission to Eucharistic communion.

24. Changes Through Time
In the first centuries of the Church, Christian initiation saw considerable development.
A long period of catechumenate included a series of preparatory rites, which were liturgical landmarks along the path of catechumenal preparation and culminated in the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation.

25. Concerning Infant Baptisms
The Church considers it acceptable to baptize a child, so long as the child is taught the faith
This both leads to and requires the sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation seals the Baptism and brings us into the fullness of Baptism itself

26. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
When an adult is baptized, there are considered to be at an age of reason
By accepting Baptism, they also accept the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation
They are also made ready for the sacrament of Reconciliation

27. The mystagogy of the Celebration
The meaning and grace of the sacrament of Baptism are clearly seen in the rites of its celebration. By following the gestures and words of this celebration with attentive participation, the faithful are initiated into the riches this sacrament signifies and actually brings about in each newly baptized person.

28. The sign of the cross marks the imprint of Christ, and as the One who is going to belong to him is in the grace of the redemption Christ won for us.
The proclamation of the Word of God enlightens the candidates and the assembly with the revealed truth and elicits the response of faith, which is inseparable from Baptism. Indeed Baptism is "the sacrament of faith" in a particular way, since it is the sacramental entry into the life of faith.

29. “Since Baptism signifies liberation from sin and from its instigator the devil, one or more exorcisms are pronounced over the candidate.”
Celebrant anoints the catechumen with oil, lays his hands on his head, and renounces Satan
This prepares the catechumen to profess the faith in which he or she will be entrusted through Baptism

30. The Priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to consecrate the water
“The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water…”
The epiclesis is a blessing set upon the water, making it holy and ready for Baptism
The Priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to consecrate the water

31. “The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking.”
Signifies and brings about death to sin and entry into new life through Christ’s death and resurrection
The triple immersion into the baptismal water signifies the Most Holy Trinity
It has also been conferred by the pouring of the water over the candidate’s head three times

32. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In the Latin Church the triple infusion above.
In the Eastern Church, the congregation turns to the east and the priest says, “The servant of God, N., is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
The priest then calls for the invocation of all the members of the Holy Trinity as he immerses the candidate three times ( don’t worry, he raises them up again)

33. “The anointing with sacred chrism…signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian…”
The candidate then becomes “anointed” in the Holy Spirit and incorporated in Christ
In the Eastern Church, both Baptism and Confirmation are administered at the same time with the post-baptismal anointing
In the Roman Church (Our Church) the post baptismal anointing is an announcement given by the bishop

34. The candle symbolizes an enlightened neophyte.
“The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ,“ has risen with Christ”
The candle symbolizes an enlightened neophyte.
Neophyte roughly means novice or person newly baptized

35. "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them."
A child must be baptized in order to receive their First Communion,
An having been ‘clothed in the wedding garment’ or purity of baptism, they are prepared for baptism.

36. “At the Baptism of newborns the blessing of the mother occupies a special place.”
Communion is obtained at an age of reason
The baptism concludes at the solemn blessing

37. BAPTISM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
Who Can Receive Baptism?

38. "Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."
Only those whom have not been baptized can be baptized.
In other words, anyone whom has not already been baptized is eligible

39. Baptism of Adults
Since the beginning of the Church, it has been tradition to be baptized before receiving other sacraments
Receiving Baptism both allows and requires you to receive the sacraments that follow Baptism

40. “The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity…”
Catechumens are properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and evangelical virtues
They are introduced to faith, liturgy, and charity

41. "With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces them as her own."
Catechumens are already joined to the Church, the House of Christ.
They then live a life of faith, hope, and charity

42. Baptism of Infants
The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism.
Infant Baptism free the child form the burden of original sin, as explained in our Pretext

43. “This practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them.”
By the parent taking their child to Baptism, they fulfill their duty to care for their child
They nurture their child spiritually

44. “The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church.”
When “households” receive Baptism, that implies that the child, too, must receive Baptism.
And so, the tradition has bee carried out form the second century onward.

45. Faith And Baptism Baptism is the sacrament of faith.
The Sacrament mean nothing without belief
The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, yet it must be developed over time

46. “For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism.’
Each year the Church celebrates the Easter Vigil with the renewal of baptismal promises
Baptism is the source of new life in Christ

47. “For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important.”
Along with the help required from the parents, the assistance of the godparents is vital
It is necessary that they are able to help the newly baptized person along the road of Christian life
The community is also responsible

48. Who Can Baptize? Bishop, priests, and deacons of the Latin Church
In times of need, anyone, even a non-baptized person, can perform the Baptism with required intention

49. The Necessity of Baptism
Baptism is a necessity for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed
The Lord commands his followers to spread the Gospel and to baptize
Baptism is the only way the Church knows to gain Salvation

50. Baptism of Blood
The Church has found that those who die for the Church’s sake, without Baptism, are still saved by their dying for Christ’s sake

51. “For catechumens who die before their Baptism …”
For those willing to receive the sacrament, yet restricted form doing so, their will to do so has led them to receive Baptism, even though it was not physically received

52. "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine…”
Through Christ’s death, we are called to live in Heaven
We are then called to do all in our power to gain salvation, including Baptism

53. “Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved…”
In regards to children that die before receiving Baptism, They are considered to be at the mercy of God

54. For the forgiveness of sins…
THE GRACE OF BAPTISM
For the forgiveness of sins…

55. “The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite.”
The water symbolizes both death and purification as well as regeneration and renewal
Because of this, sins are forgiven and new life begins

56. “By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.”
Since the baptized is reborn, nothing is left in him that could interfere their entry into the Kingdom of God
Original sin and all other sins as well as punishment for sins no longer exist
FYI: The worst punishment for sin is separation from God

57. “…certain temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized…”
These consequences include
Suffering
Death
Flaws in character
Concupiscence ( basically temptation )
The church describes concupiscence as “the tinder for sin”
One must compete with concupiscence (with the help of Jesus Christ) in order to be granted eternal salvation
An analogy from the Catechism: "an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules."

58. THE GRACE OF BAPTISM
“A new creature”

59. “Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte ‘a new creature,’…”
The neophyte becomes a “new creature” and adopted child of God
As a result he becomes a co-heir with Christ
Also becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit

60. He can live and act under the prompting and gifts of the Holy Spirit
“Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification”
Neophyte can now believe in God, trust in him and love him through theological virtues
He can live and act under the prompting and gifts of the Holy Spirit
Able to grow in goodness through moral virtues
The entire spiritual life of the Christian is based on Baptism

61. Incorporated in the church, the Body of Christ
THE GRACE OF BAPTISM
Incorporated in the church, the Body of Christ

62. Baptism makes us part of the church
“Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore . . . we are members one of another.’”
Baptism makes us part of the church
In Baptism, the “People of the new Covenant” is born
Baptism transcends all races, sexes, and cultures
"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."

63. “The baptized have become ‘living stones’ to be ‘built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.’”
In Baptism we share in the priesthood of Christ
“They are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people…’”
Through baptism we are called to spread the word of God through both deed and word
“Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers”

64. “Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us.”
The baptized must now obey others especially leaders of the church and serve others through the communion with the Church.
However, the neophyte is also entitled to all the rights of the church upon Baptism
These include
Receiving other sacraments
Being nourished by the Word of God and other spiritual resources
The baptized must also profess his faith as well as participate in the apostolic mission of the Church

65. The sacramental bond of the unity of Christians
THE GRACE OF BAPTISM
The sacramental bond of the unity of Christians

66. “Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church”
The Baptized Christians who do not belong to the Catholic faith are justified through their faith in Jesus
They have the right to be called Christians
Therefore, they are accepted as brothers of the children of the Catholic Church
"Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn."

67. An indelible spiritual mark . . .
THE GRACE OF BAPTISM
An indelible spiritual mark . . .

68. “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ”
Baptism permanently seals the person into membership with Christ
No sin can take away this seal
However, sin can still prevent one from receiving the rewards of Baptism
Baptism is given once and for all and can never be repeated
The Baptismal seal enables and commits one to participate in the liturgy as well as “exercise their baptismal priesthood by the witness of holy lives and practical charity”

69. Baptism is a seal of eternal life
“Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord ("Dominicus character") ‘for the day of redemption.’”
Baptism is a seal of eternal life
The faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection

70. The End!
Thank you for your attention. We will now proceed with a special surprise!
After our surprise, we will close with some more fun, followed by your questions
Once again, thank you for you cooperation.