Faith of Our Fathers

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 1, 5 January 1922, Page 33

Faith of Our Fathers

[A Weekly Instruction for Young and Old.] Second Article;. Baptism considered in its Administration.

9. Two things relate, the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism: the subject to be baptised, and the manner in which the baptism must be conferred on him. TO. (1) Subject.—The subject of baptism is the adult or the child. The adult must bring with him certain dispositions, namely, tho~ desire to receive baptism; faith, accompanied by proper instruction; repentance of his actual sins; and the resolution to lead a Christian life.

The child brings no obstacle- to baptism, and on account of the necessity %of this Sacrament the divine mercy dispenses him from any positive disposition of which he is incapable.

This necessity is so absolute, that children dying without baptism, though innocent of all actual sin, are excluded for ever from heaven, on account of the original stain which they bear upon their souls. Therefore our Lord has permitted them to be baptised as soon as they are born, and has given the utmost facility to the administration of so indispensable a Sacrament.

11. (2) Administration. The administration of baptism may be either simple or solemn. The former takes place in cases of necessity; the latter in ordinary cases. In case of necessity'any person may baptist*. It suffices for him to have the intention of giving the baptism according to the rite of the Church ; to take natural water and pour it on the head or forehead of the child, whilst he pronounces the words, “1 baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

In ordinary cases baptism must be administered solemnly—that is, by a Driest in the church, with baptismal water, and with all the ceremonies prescribed by the Church.

12. The ceremonies observed in baptising are many and beautiful. Some precede, some accompany, and others follow the baptismal ablution. The chief of them are as follows :

(1) Preliminary Ceremonies.- — In the first place, the catechumen is stopped at the church-door, to signify that baptism is to open it for bis admission. A saint's name is given to him, because be is about to be inscribed in the number of tin* saints and children of Rod. The priest breathes in his face, to signify that be will be purified from the unclean spirit by the virtue of the Holy Ghost, who comes to breathe a new life into him. He is signed with the sign of the cross on the forehead and breast, in order that, being made a Christian, he may carry the sign of his crucified Master with love and courage. Blessed salt is put into his mouth — the symbol of incorruptibility and wisdom—to teach him that he must preserve himself from the corruption of sin, and live according to the wisdom and faith of Jesus Christ. His ears and nostrils are touched with spittle, to point out to him that he must henceforward listen to the voice, of (tod, and love the good odor of Christian piety.

(2) Accompanying ceremonies. — Having been admitted into the church and reached the font or place where be is to be baptised, the catechumen renounces Satan, and all his works, and all his pomps, and gives himself over to Jesus Christ, by asking for baptism. He renounces Satan, namely, the service of the prince of darkness; all his works, namely, sin; and all his pomps, namely, the vanities of the world and the occasions of sin. These are the promises; or vows of baptism. In baptism there is a kind of contract entered into between God and . man. God grants to man all the advantages of His adopted children; and man, on his side, engages to live as a true Christian, according to the precepts of faith and the example of Jesus Christ. The godfathers and godmothers contract these engagements on behalf of the infants for whom they stand sponsors, they being unable to do it for themselves. And the sponsors thereby become guarantees for the promises of their godchildren, and are bound afterwards to watch over their Christ an education .

The catechumen then makes his profession of faith by reciting the Credo. He is anointed with holy oil on the breast and shoulders (this oil is called the oil of catechumens), that he may he strong and valiant in the service of Christ, and lovingly bear the sweet yoke of his divine Master.

Next comes the sacramental ablution, which is given by pouring the blessed water over the head of the child in the form of a cross three separate times, to signify the death of our Lord and His resurrection on the third day. (3) Ceremonies which follow the ablution. Again the person baptised is anointed; but this time it is with chrism on the top of his head, which signifies that he has become a Christian-—that is, the anointed of the Lord— that he has received the invisible unction of the Holy 'Spirit, by Which he is made partaker in the royal Priesthood of Jesus Christ. He is then clothed with a white garment, , the symbol of baptismal innocence, which he is to preserve unstained, till death, then to present it to Jesus Christ, as be has received it in baptism. A lighted taper is put in bis band, to teach him that he must not only preserve faith, hope, and charity in his heart, but that he must moreover evenly profess these virtues, and practise them ).v his works. Finally, the priest dismisses him with these words, “N.. go in peace; and the Lord be with you.”