Water Baptism Roman Catholic Church practices seven sacraments, and Baptism is by far one of the most important of them. The reason for this is that Holy Baptism in the Catholic Church is the door of spiritual life; for it we are made members of Christ and incorporated with the Church. And since through the first man death entered into all, unless we be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, we can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven (Williams, 1988).
Therefore, since Catholics believe that they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven and be truly saved unless they are baptized, baptism is the first among the seven sacraments. Baptism is clearly stated as being important in the Catholic religion, but what does it mean? Baptism derived from the Greek word bapto or baptizo, which is to wash, dip, or immerse. The Roman Catechism defines baptism thus: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration by water in the work (Barrett, 1982).
Catholics as well as many other Christians believe that when you are baptized you enter into the spirit of God; you are forgiven for your sins and become purified like water is pure. Water is the matter that is most fit for baptism, it is seen as being pure, clean, and helps in washing. It is believed that when one is baptized with water, the water washes away sin and makes one pure and right with God. It is faith that true and natural water is the remote matter of baptism (Erickson, 1993).
The remote matter of baptism can be used whether it is water from the sea, a fountain, lake, stream, or marsh. It can be hot, cold, fresh, or salty. Water that is in the form of rain, melted snow, ice, or hail is also considered valid to baptize with.
The Essay on The Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Churches
Churches For a long time the Catholic church was the only denomination available; life was centred there, and all were taught the same message, in the same environment, whether they liked it or not, as the punishment was hell: and the doom paintings reinforced the belief that hell was a horrible place that you’d spend eternity in. But in 1517 everything changed. Martin Luther was the first ...
The question is if water could not be obtained would invalid matter work in its place? Invalid matter is considered as oil, beer, wine, saliva, etc. Invalid matter can not be used for baptism unless remote matter can not be obtained. On the other hand it is never allowable to baptize with invalid liquid (Belcastro, 1963).
This is what is controversial; it is not allowed to baptize with invalid matter unless valid matter can not be obtained. Water is only one matter in which someone is baptized with; there is also a proximate matter. Proximate matter is how a person is baptized with water, such as immersion, infusion, or aspersion. Immersion is when the whole body is dipped in water like a bath.
This is the more ancient form of baptizing. In the 13th century infusion and aspersion became more popular, especially in the Western Churches. Infusion would be pouring water onto the body while aspersion is to sprinkle onto body. In the Latin Church infusion or aspersion must be administered by laving the water on the head of the person being baptized. To be valid, the water must not only touch the head but also must touch the skin and flow. However, baptism is not complete or valid by liquid matter or proximate matter. To complete baptism and make it valid and true, the form must also be performed.
The sole valid form of baptism is: I baptize thee in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost (Erickson, 1993).
The Catholic Church believes that the word baptize must be used to make this sacrament valid. I baptized thee, means I wash away your sin and make you spiritually pure and right with God. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, is considered as a whole and in this name baptism is valid. The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost are considered as the Holy Trinity and therefore united in the name of the Holy Trinity. So if one said I baptize thee in the name of the Holy Trinity this would still be considered valid.
The Essay on Baptism Baptized Christ Immersion
Naimoi, a good friend of mine, who lives in Bermuda did not consider baptism to be merely an option. She attended a seventh-day institution were they believe that by baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in the newness of life. For more than a year she had eagerly studied the Bible, and longed to become a ...
Therefore if the act, matter, and form of baptism are performed correctly, then there is no doubt that the ceremony is right and baptism is complete. The Oriental Church and Catholic Church perform the act of baptism correct and accurately while others such as the Quakers are not baptized at all. Baptism is very important and necessary in the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered necessary because Christ commanded his Apostles to Go and teach all nations, baptizing them (Hunter, 1983).
Jesus says in the New Testament (John 3:5-3:7) I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit. You must be born again. (Erickson, 1993) This is why baptism is a necessity in the Catholic Church and Christian religion.
A person is reborn through baptism and then allowed to enter into the kingdom of heaven. This sounds easy enough, but what happens to infants who die before being baptized? The Catholic Church is uncompromising on this point, that all who depart this life without baptism, be of water, or blood, or desire, are perpetually excluded from the vision of God (Hunter, 1983).
Theologians have really looked over this belief and questioned if children could be saved through the beliefs and practices of their parents. Some theories say yes while some theorize that it is not possible only through baptism. It is one of those questions that are very controversial. However, infants can not be guilty of actual sin only original sin, and according to Pope Innocent III, an infant will not suffer in hell because they have never committed actual sin. Original sin will deprive the infants soul from the vision of God and from entering into the kingdom of Heaven. (Hunter, 1983) This leads to the baptism of infants inside the womb in case of a difficult delivery. Roman Catholic Rituals confer that a child can not be baptized while inside the mothers womb because water can not directly touch and flow over the head of the infant. With modern technology this could be possible but not likely. If the infants life were truly in danger, then baptism could be performed while still in the womb but may not be considered valid.
If the infant were born and alive, baptism would be performed again to be sure the child is truly saved. The persons who may administer this baptism or any baptism can be an Ordinary Minister or Extraordinary Minister. An Ordinary Minister is first the bishop and second the priest. The bishop is the first ordinary minister because he is considered the successor of the Apostles. Christ commanded his Apostles to go and teach the nations and baptize them. Since the bishops are the successors to Christs Apostles, it is the bishops job to see this through and carry it out.
The Essay on Baptism Infant Church Christian
Baptism There are many positive and negative arguments about infant baptism in the Catholic Church. Baptism is a Christian. Baptism is the second biggest sacrament known to Christian religions. Baptism is a Christian sacrament marked by a ritual, which admits the recipient into the Christian community. In the Roman Catholic tradition baptism is celebrated by immersing a persons head with water. ...
The priests are the second ordinary ministers because they are the administrators of the sacraments. The ministers of this Sacrament are the priest, to whom it belongs to administer baptism by reason of his office (Hunter, 1983).
If it is necessary an Extraordinary Minster can also administer baptism. An Extraordinary Minister is any person whatsoever who observes the essential conditions, whether this person be a Catholic layman or any other man or woman, heretic or schismatic, infidel or Jew (Hunter, 1983).
Baptism is lawful and correct by either of these ministers as long as the act, matter, and form are used as well. The only other way a person may be baptized is by baptism of desire or baptism of blood. It is the teaching of the Catholic Church that when baptism of water becomes a physical or moral impossibility, eternal life may be obtained by the baptism of desire or the baptism of blood (Williams, 1988).
The baptism of desire is when a person devotes their heart and love to God. Jesus also declared justifying acts. He that loveth Me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him and manifest myself to him. If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him (Williams, 1988).
Baptism of blood is obtaining justifiable grace by suffering for the faith of Christ. St. Augustine said When any die for the confession of Christ without having received the washing of regeneration, it avails as much for the remission of their sins as if they had been washed in the sacred font of baptism (Hunter, 1983).
It is clearly stated that in the Roman Catholic Church, baptism is very important and necessary for eternal life.
Ordinary ministers and extraordinary ministers perform baptism with water in an act, matter, and form. Baptism can also be valid by faith, commitment, devotion, and confession to Christ. Because of baptisms importance, it remains the first among the seven sacraments. Words Count: 1,504.
The Essay on The Magic Barrel Love One Person
Most people spend much of their life looking for love. They look for love in many different people. Some people believe that love finds its way to where it needs to be, and some believe that love must be sought after. In Malamud's story, "The Magic Barrel" one of his characters says "Love comes with the right person, not before" (Malamud 49). This implies that when two people find the right ...
Bibliography:
Belcastro, J. The Relationship of Baptism to Church Membership.
St. Louis: Bethany, 1963. Barrett, David. World Christian Encyclopedia. Oxford: Oxford University, 1982. Erickson, Millard J. Evangelical Interpretation: Perspectives on Hermeneutical Issues.
Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993. Hunter, Harold D. Spirit-Baptism: A Pentecostal Alternative. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1983. Williams, J. Rodman. Renewal Theology: God, the World, and Redemption, vol. 1.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988..
