411 Springfield Pike • Wyoming, OH 45215 • (513) 948­­–1218

Home

History

Staff

Commissions

Calendar

Announcements

Links

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. It is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from Original sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in Her mission. From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered this sacrament. According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him. Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized. It, along with Confirmation and Holy Orders are the only sacraments that may be received only once. The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop, priest and the deacon. In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

 

The essential rite of the sacrament:

Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate's head.  The only valid form of baptism is: "I baptize thee (or This person is baptized) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" while pouring the water. This was the form given by Christ to His Disciples in the twenty-eighth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel.  

The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized.

The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ," has risen with Christ. The candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In him the baptized are "the light of the world."

 

The effects of Baptism:

The Remission of All Sin, Original and Actual - St. Paul in the fifth chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians beautifully represents the whole Church as being baptized and purified (5:25 sq.): "Christ loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it: that he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of water in the word of life: that he might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Remission of Temporal Punishment - Baptism not only washes away sin, it also remits the punishment of sin. This was the plain teaching of the primitive Church. We read in Clement of Alexandria of baptism: "It is called a washing because we are washed from our sins: it is called grace, because by it the punishments which are due to sin are remitted." And St. Augustine says plainly: "If immediately [after baptism] there follows the departure from this life, there will be absolutely nothing that a man must answer for, for he will have been freed from everything that bound him." Lastly, the Florentine decree states: "No satisfaction is to be enjoined upon the baptized for past sins; and if they die before any sin, they will immediately attain to the kingdom of heaven and to the vision of God."

Infusion of Supernatural Grace, Gifts, and Virtues - Another effect of baptism is the infusion of sanctifying grace and supernatural gifts and virtues. It is this sanctifying grace which renders men the adopted sons of God and confers the right to heavenly glory.

Conferral of the Right to Special Graces - Theologians likewise teach that baptism gives man the right to those special graces, called sanctifying grace which are necessary for attaining the end for which the sacrament was instituted

Impression of a Character on the Soul - Baptism, once validly conferred, can never be repeated. The sacrament is said to impress an ineffaceable character on the soul, a spiritual and indelible mark.

 

Is Baptism necessary to enter heaven?

The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude.

The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament. For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. Regarding children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allows us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.

 

Baptism