Sacraments Baptism and Confirmation Outward sign of inward

Sacraments: Baptism and Confirmation Outward sign of inward grace Session Three

Today’s session l Outward sign of inward grace. . . recap Daily rituals which achieve what they signify l Baptism and Confirmation l

Sacraments l Initiation – – – l l Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Of healing – Reconciliation and Sick Of commitment – matrimony and ordination

Sources l CCC – n 1213 – Baptism CCC – n 1285 - Confirmation l SC n 29 l Aidan Kavenagh, Mc. Brien, Towey Didache l l

Ablutions and baptisms in Judaism l l l The holiness structure of Judaism was built on ideas of purity and impurity so ritual cleansing was very important Impurity rendered people unfit for a relationship with God and even with his people Civil and religious excommunication!

Later Judaism l l Had purifications rituals but also developed water rites which seem to be part of the practice of proselyte baptism and initiatory in character 3 elements – instruction in Israel’s persecuted condition and commandments of the Law; circumcision; water bath

Transition from Judaism to Christianity l l John’s baptism emphasised repentance to prepare for the coming of the Messiah – and he saw it as temporary Pre-paschal baptisms - see Jn 3: 22 and 4: 14 An apparent rift between disciples of Jesus and those of John Pentecost: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit Acts 2: 1 -39

Jesus’ baptism l By water and the Holy Spirit l Mt 3: 11 and Lk 3: 16 Unique and significant l

Baptizein – to immerse l l l Imitation of Jesus’ baptism earning for the person adoption into the Trinity family as ‘beloved’ Burial in the tomb and re-emergence as resurrection Exodus from slavery to freedom, death to life Promised land was over the Jordan Jesus, the new Moses, brings living water/true manna

Baptism l Baptism allowed Christians to break with their life histories up to that point. l The newly baptised felt that their lives were starting all over again. l In baptism they surrendered their old identity and discovered a new one in Jesus Christ.

Baptism – a new birth l l l A new self – defined by God A liberation – from everything else but God An immersion into God’s redeeming love So a totally changed person and. . . A new family of brothers and sisters

Early practice of baptism l l Didache ; Justin’s Apology; Tertullian; Hippolytus d c 236 - Apostolic Tradition – Baptism 3 years preparation; evangelisation, moral formation, sponsorship; gradual inclusion in the liturgical life of the community Ceremony: fasting, prayer, scrutiny, oil of exorcism, profession of faith, water baptism by immersion, imposition of hands, anointing by bishop

Didache 7. 1 l l l And concerning baptism, baptise thus: Having said all these things beforehand, immerse in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in flowing water [or]pour water onto the head three times in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit

Didache: 7. 4 l l l Prior to the baptism let the one baptising fast; And let the one being baptised [fast]; and if any others have the strength [let them fast also] Order, on the other hand, the one being baptised to fast during one or two days prior [to the baptism]

Early initiatory experience l l Water baptism remained as well as baptism in the Spirit Normal initiation followed a sequence Gospel proclaimed; conversion; water bath; post-baptismal teaching; fellowship in the Spirit; breaking of bread; prayers [Acts 2: 42] Anointing? Possibly routine also- important in Judaism and may have been in early Christianity AK

Washing and bathing l l l In the ancient world 2 different things for different purposes Specific bathing activities_ A birth bath (Jn 3: 3 -5; Titus 3: 5 -7 A funeral bath and burial (Romans 6: 1 -11) A bride’s nuptial bath (Eph 5: 26) Finally anointing and clothing in clean/new/special clothes

Baptism of water / Spirit l l The evangelists were working with established practices Writings tell us of developing norms where water or Spirit baptism might come first and then be supplemented by the other A continuum of initiatory practice was being developed: proclamation, water bath, outpouring of the Spirit Then participation in worship

Examples of developments l l l Acts 18 24 -19. 7 Acts 10 44 -47 Acts 8 1 -17 Acts 2 37 -38; 2. 41; 8. 12 -13; 8. 35 -36; 16. 1415; Acts 10 44; 11 14 -15; peter the apostolic agent Acts 8. 4 -17

Theology of Baptism l l l Is a later development in Paul and 1 John and 1 Peter Col 2: 12; Eph 2: 1 -6; Phil 3: 10 -11 Baptism incorporates us into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus 1 Cor 12: 12 -14, 27 And into the Body of Christ

Theology cont l Acts 2: 38 - a baptism of repentance l Acts 8: 37 – expresses belief in the Good News Eph 5: 26 – baptism purifies Rom 6: 11 - we become dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus l l

And it requires of us l Rom 6: 12 -23 - we must lead a different kind of life, ‘not under law but under grace’ l 2 Cor 4: 10 - the Christ life is a living out of the Paschal mystery that our baptism celebrates

Council of Trent 1547 - doctrine l l l Baptism is valid whoever administers it Necessary for salvation Imposes obligations to lead a holy life Its grace can be lost though serious sin It can never be repeated – indelible Can be administered to infants and children

Vatican 2 l l LG – Baptism incorporates us into the Church Orients us to the worship of God Gives us rebirth as sons and daughters of God (LG n 11) Is our initiation into the Paschal mystery (n 7)

Vatican 2 l Calls us to witness as a priestly , apostolic and holy people (Decree on the Laity n 11, 2, 3) l Baptism is a bond of unity and a source of potentially full unity among the divided Christian communities (Decree on Ecumenism n 22) l l Reintroduced the Catechumenate – RCIA Infant baptism no longer the norm

Ceremony today l l l Ideally Holy Saturday night Instruction by the celebrant A litany Blessing of the water Renunciation of satan Anointing with the oil of catechumens

Ceremony cont l l l Profession of faith Pouring of the water Invocation of the Trinity [name] I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Anointing Clothing with white garment Presentation of lighted candle

Baptism l l l Uses symbols of oil, water, light, white garment Links with the story of the Pasch, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection Engages us in themes of rebirth, new life, forgiveness of sin, worship of God, the mission of the Church

Baptism and the Church l l Is also about the Church which shows itself as a community, the Body of Christ rather than an institution Identified with the suffering and death of Christ so that it can point the way to Christ’s glory A forgiving community in need of forgiveness “ a holy people”

A sharing in God l l The glorious goodness of God shines forth in Jesus “It is through him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to human beings, making it possible for you to escape the inevitable disintegration that lust produces in the world and to share in God’s essential nature” 2 Pet 1: 4

Baptism l l Makes us free to seek God Enables us to become partakers of the divine nature To become fully human To share in the life of God

Additional features l Baptism of desire CCC - 1258 l Baptism by blood CCC - l Indelible character CCC- 1272 1258

History of Confirmation In the West post-baptismal rites reserved for the Bishop – eventually unsustainable l Around 9 th. C a second anointing expanded to a self-contained ‘rite of Confirmation’ l This carried out by the Bishop and post-hoc a theology was created to justify this Grace for strength – soldier of Christ confirmed at Trent l

Confirmation l l l At the beginning of the 20 th. C the age for reception of Holy Communion was lowered so initiation therefore happened in the early years of a child’s life. This left a vast expanse of time between primary schooling and adulthood To be filled by Confirmation? Much discussion followed

Confirmation - ceremony l l So age varies for those other than RCIA Currently catechesis precedes it Its links to initiation are tentative A sacrament of maturity or of exit?

Ceremony l l Presider reminds people that they are to ’share in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit’ Prayer for 7 fold gifts of the Spirit Laying on of hands Anointing with chrism – ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’

Effects of Confirmation l CCC 1286 – 1321 l 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit - CCC 1831 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit – CCC 1832 l

Confirmation - theology A separate sacrament? Or one with Baptism? l A ratification or sealing of Baptism? l In later years helps those baptised as infants to choose and focuses the whole community on the essentially missionary dimension of baptismal commitment l