Baptism, the foundational sacrament of the Church, is the first of three sacraments of initiation. It is the source of a full and invigorating Catholic life and begins the Christian journey. In Catholic history and theology, Baptism washes away the burden of original and personal sin, dresses one in Christ's pure love, prepares one for the work of building the kingdom of justice and peace, and inserts one into the communion of believers stretching through the centuries (5).
Baptism is at once transforming, purifying, reconciling and uniting.
Baptism is a true sacrament instituted by Christ, it is administered by washing with natural water and at the same time invoking the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (3). When we think about the biblical origins of Baptism, most of us think of John the Baptist (6). In reality, a variety of ritual acts existed in the time of the Old Testament, which provided a rich pool of symbols, rituals and practices from which the Catholic community later drew (4).
For the Hebrews, a people living in a parched land, water was a powerful symbol of life. It was basic to cleansing and was often used in the Hebrew rites of purification (5). The Hebrews did not think in terms of body and soul split; instead physical purification rites like the washing of hands or the cleansing of sacred utensils were understood as a sign of an interior purification if performed in the right attitude (4).
In late Judaism (after 100 BC) we can identify a "baptism" movement consisting of a variety of sects, which employed frequent ritual baths as a means of preparing for the imminent 'Day of the Lord'. At this time we find indications of the practice of "proselyte baptism" (5). This process is where Gentiles, as such, were considered impure and therefore needed to undergo a ritual purification. For males this was followed by circumcision as the essential part of their initiation into God's chosen people (5).
Baptism can also be related directly to excerpts in the Old Testament of the Bible.
In the Old Testament, eight people were saved from the great flood of God's judgement. Peter pointed out that the water of the flood "symbolizes Baptism that now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21). The Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and David also used water as an external symbol for internal cleansing (Isaiah 1:16, Ezekiel 36:25, Psalms 51:2).
John the Baptist obviously drew from much of this tradition in his own ministry. John's basic message was one of repentance and conversion in preparation for the coming Messianic Kingdom (6). For those who heard John, his baptism provided a concrete sign of their acceptance of his preaching. It is a firm gospel tradition that it was John's Baptism of Jesus that marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (6). Most scholars see this key event as a proclamation that the Kingdom for which John was the herald had indeed arrived, in the person of Jesus (6).
Overall, behind the symbol of Baptism is the substance of Baptism, which is the blood of Jesus Christ removing our sinfulness.
As water cleanses the outer man from soil and sweat, so the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the inner man from the stain of sin (5).
Baptism is at once transforming, purifying, reconciling and uniting.
Baptism is a true sacrament instituted by Christ, it is administered by washing with natural water and at the same time invoking the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (3). When we think about the biblical origins of Baptism, most of us think of John the Baptist (6). In reality, a variety of ritual acts existed in the time of the Old Testament, which provided a rich pool of symbols, rituals and practices from which the Catholic community later drew (4).
For the Hebrews, a people living in a parched land, water was a powerful symbol of life. It was basic to cleansing and was often used in the Hebrew rites of purification (5). The Hebrews did not think in terms of body and soul split; instead physical purification rites like the washing of hands or the cleansing of sacred utensils were understood as a sign of an interior purification if performed in the right attitude (4).
In late Judaism (after 100 BC) we can identify a "baptism" movement consisting of a variety of sects, which employed frequent ritual baths as a means of preparing for the imminent 'Day of the Lord'. At this time we find indications of the practice of "proselyte baptism" (5). This process is where Gentiles, as such, were considered impure and therefore needed to undergo a ritual purification. For males this was followed by circumcision as the essential part of their initiation into God's chosen people (5).
Baptism can also be related directly to excerpts in the Old Testament of the Bible.
In the Old Testament, eight people were saved from the great flood of God's judgement. Peter pointed out that the water of the flood "symbolizes Baptism that now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21). The Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and David also used water as an external symbol for internal cleansing (Isaiah 1:16, Ezekiel 36:25, Psalms 51:2).
John the Baptist obviously drew from much of this tradition in his own ministry. John's basic message was one of repentance and conversion in preparation for the coming Messianic Kingdom (6). For those who heard John, his baptism provided a concrete sign of their acceptance of his preaching. It is a firm gospel tradition that it was John's Baptism of Jesus that marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (6). Most scholars see this key event as a proclamation that the Kingdom for which John was the herald had indeed arrived, in the person of Jesus (6).
Overall, behind the symbol of Baptism is the substance of Baptism, which is the blood of Jesus Christ removing our sinfulness.
As water cleanses the outer man from soil and sweat, so the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the inner man from the stain of sin (5).