Topic: Catholic practices
Date originally posted: March 5, 2002
Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question
Moderator who originally posted this source: P. Leach
Question: What is the baptism process in the Catholic Church and what does it signify? How is it different from a protestant baptism?
Answer:
What a great question!
Probably the best place for us to begin is with the Sacred Scripture. In the Hebrew Bible, which is our Old Testament, we see a number of places where water is used to bring cleansing and new life. And the New Testament is filled with examples, instructions, and commands about Baptism.
As you probably remember Jesus Himself was Baptized and in that experience gives us the perfect example. Since He submitted to Baptism, we must follow His example and be Baptized.
At the end of Matthew's Gospel, the Resurrected Jesus commands His Apostles to go into the whole world to make disciples and to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit." (Mt. 28:16-20)
Especially pertinent to your question is the passage in Ephesians 4:1-6. Here the Apostle, speaking about the unity which Christians have in the Body of Christ, reminds his readers that there is "one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all...."
On the basis of that Word, the Catholic Church has long believed that there is only ONE BAPTISM -- that is to say, in the most fundamental sense, there is no such thing as "protestant baptism" (in the words of your question).
The one Baptism of which Saint Paul speaks is CHRISTIAN BAPTISM. When a person is baptized, she or he is baptized into Christ and into Christ's Body.
Let me hasten to add, that we, as Catholics, believe that the fullness of what God intends for the Church subsists in the Catholic Church. We make no apologies for our belief. And so, we would certainly want all people to experience that fullness by being part of our community.
But the Catholic Church recognizes that any person baptized with water and in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a Christian. Even if that Baptism occurred outside the Catholic Church, God's regenerating grace is conferred on the person receiving Baptism if the conditions of water and the enunciation of the Triune Name are met.
Having said that, I would also comment on some other aspects of the Catholic Church's view of Baptism. We believe that the community of faith into which a person is baptized has a special and high responsibility for nurturing and giving example to the person baptized. That is one of the main reasons that we generally prefer to celebrate Baptism during a weekend Liturgy -- so that the person being baptized (especially if she or he is an adult), the newly baptized's family, and the people in the community can be reminded of the reciprocal responsibilities which Baptism imposes on the person who is baptized, on the family, and on the community.
The Catholic Church also teaches that Baptism washes away the stain of original sin. Baptism plants, as it were, the seed of faith in the life of the person baptized. Baptism puts an indelible mark on the soul of the person receiving the Sacrament. Baptism -- particularly important in the case of an adult who is baptized -- washes away all actual sin which has been committed by the person being baptized up to the moment of the Baptism. Baptism incorporates, as I already suggested, the person being baptized into the Body of Christ, the Church. Baptism makes the person receiving the Sacrament a "new creation" in Christ.
All of these amazing and remarkable things happen as the result of the simple action of pouring, sprinkling, or being immersed and the Word spoken; God is so good!
Another helpful resource on the question of Baptism is, of course, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church." In the printed version of the book, look at pages 312-324, paragraphs 1213-1277. An online version of the Catechism can be found at
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
and I'm sure it will be helpful to you.
Most Catholic parishes require some kind of preparation before Baptism. In the case of adults who are preparing for Baptism, a year of preparation before and another year of 'mystagogy' after Baptism is the norm in the United States. In the case of infants, the parents and often the God-parents are required to attend some kind of class or classes. These requirements vary from parish to parish, diocese to diocese.
Some, though not all, Protestant Churches practice what is called "believer's Baptism." In this context an 'adult' person must make a statement of his or her faith in Christ and then Baptism is conferred.
Our Catholic understanding of Baptism differs from this "believer's Baptism." Certainly, we focus on the faith of adults who are baptized. But we also baptize infants who cannot make such a profession of faith. Our emphasis is on what God does in the Sacrament. Baptism is God's cleansing, renewing, sanctifying, adopting action. Before the infinite and all-powerful God Who stoops to embrace us in Baptism, we are all like infants. So, Baptism for us as Catholics is a celebration of God's action while our faith is a gift from God.
If an adult comes to the Catholic Church asking to be received into full Communion with our Church and that person has been baptized in another Church or ecclesial community with water in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our usual practice is not to "re-baptize" that person since the Scripture teaches that there is but ONE Baptism.
Catholics practice Baptism in any one of three ways. Immersion is when the entire body of the person to be baptized is plunged under water. Pouring is when the minister of Baptism (in most cases the Bishop, Priest, or Deacon) pours water over the head of the person to be baptized; sometimes the minister will use a sea shell or his own hands. Sprinkling is when the minister of Baptism sprinkles the person to be baptized with water using his hands or in some cases a leafy branch.
Thanks for your question!
God bless you!
Father Phillip