Current Ritual Structure of Baptism in the Christian Church
In today’s society the ritual structure of Baptism is very different to the way it was performed in Jesus’ time, however the underlying meanings behind the actions carried out are relatively unchanged. Baptism in the Bible is explained as a ritual during which a person is fully immersed in water to rid them of their sins and to welcome them as sons of God, through faith (Blank, 1998). In the Gospels we read of a particular man, John the Baptist, who was known for the Baptism rituals he performed on many people of his time, including Jesus himself.
Over thousands of years Baptism has been a tradition in the Church and Christian communities all over the world. However, between Jesus’ time and 2012 the ritual itself has been altered significantly to become what is practiced in our Christian churches today. The Baptismal Ceremony today is a modified version of the original Water Baptism and is generally performed when the recipient is an infant. The ritual is performed in a church of choice by a priest who has been ordained into the faith (TCLL, 2000). A number of objects are integrated into the ceremony as religious symbols that are considered important when entering the Christian community.
Over thousands of years Baptism has been a tradition in the Church and Christian communities all over the world. However, between Jesus’ time and 2012 the ritual itself has been altered significantly to become what is practiced in our Christian churches today. The Baptismal Ceremony today is a modified version of the original Water Baptism and is generally performed when the recipient is an infant. The ritual is performed in a church of choice by a priest who has been ordained into the faith (TCLL, 2000). A number of objects are integrated into the ceremony as religious symbols that are considered important when entering the Christian community.
Basic Baptismal Ceremony (Infant/Child)
1. Sign of the Cross
The sign of the cross is traced on the child's forehead by both the priest and the chosen godparents at the beginning of the Baptismal ceremony. This symbolizes that the child belongs to Christ and it is a reminder of the love Jesus has for them. 2. Baptismal Promises Based on the Apostles Creed, the Baptismal promises are those made by the parents of the child who is being baptized. The priest, parents and child gather around the Baptismal font (the bowl that holds the Baptismal water) as the priest asks of the parents what they want for their child. The parents ask for Baptism and then continue on to make the promises on behalf of their child. Basically, the Baptismal promises address these questions:
These promises are renewed at the child's first Communion. 3. Anointing Two oils are used during the anointing; the Oil of Baptism (or Catechumens - someone who is preparing to enter the Christian faith) and the Oil of Chrism (SJEC, 2010). The priest anoints the child with the oils using his thumb in the sign of the cross to symbolize that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. 4. Baptism with Water This section of the Baptism ceremony relates directly to the water Baptism that John the Baptist performed on Jesus. The priest pours water over the head of the child (rarely they immerse the child in water) and says "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." By doing so the priest is symbolically cleansing the child of all sin and welcoming them into their new spiritual life (Delaney, 2005). 5. Candle The child's Baptismal candle is a symbol of new life and is considered the light of Christ as it is lit from the Easter candle. It is usually the father or godparent who lights the candle and stands beside the child. |
6. White Garment
The white colour of the garment symbolizes the recipient being clothed in Christ and also purity (Delaney, 2005). Many parents purchase special gowns or sash's for their children to wear when being baptized. They often have religious symbols such as a cross as a sign of Christ. 7. Baptismal Certificate / Register At the completion of the ceremony the parents are asked to sign a Baptismal register which is evidence that their child has been baptized into the Christian Church. |