The

Sacrament of
Baptism
Prof. Carlo Enrico C.
Tinio, M.A.L
 Objectives
1.Discuss the Liturgical
Theology and Celebration
of Baptism
2.Value Baptism as a grace
which sends us to mission
3.Reflect on ways on how to
live our vocation as
Baptized Christians
“The flesh, indeed, is washed,
in order that the soul may be
cleansed; the flesh is anointed,
that the soul may be
consecrated; the flesh is
signed (with the cross), that
the soul too may be fortified;
the flesh is shadowed with the
imposition of hands, that the
soul also may be illuminated by
the Spirit; the flesh feeds on
the body and blood of Christ,
that the soul likewise may
fatten on its God. ” (Tertullian)
Sacraments of Initiation
• “Lay the foundations of every Christian
life” (CCC, 1212)
• “The faithful are born anew by Baptism,
strengthened by the sacrament of
Confirmation, and receive in the
Eucharist the food of eternal life.” (Paul
VI, Divina Consortium Naturae)
• The purpose of the Sacraments of
Initiation is to make the faithful
conformed with Christ and enable them
to live their mission in the Church and
the world.
• The unity of these three sacraments
means that originally they were
celebrated one after another.
• Christian initiation in the early
Church had three important
periods:
1. Catechumenate
2. Easter Vigil
3. Mystagogical Deepening
• From these important periods
developed:
1. Lenten Season
2. Paschal Triduum
3. Easter Season
 The Sacrament of Baptism

“Baptism” came from the Greek word

“Baptizein” which means “to plunge” or to
“immerse” (cf. CCC, 1214).
Key Concepts for Understanding Baptism

1.Baptism and the Paschal Mystery

2.Baptism and the Bestowal of the Spirit of
Adoption
3.Baptism and Communion with the Church
4.Baptism, the Sacrament of Faith
 Baptism and the Paschal Mystery
• “Those who are baptized are engrafted in the likeness of
Christ’s death. They are buried with him, they are given
life again with him, and with him they rise again”
(Christian Initiation, 6).
• By offering his life as sacrifice on the cross, Christ
exercised his priesthood. Baptism engrafts us in Christ’s
death, in the exercise of his priestly act of worship; it
makes us a priestly people, sharers in the sacrifice of
Christ the priest.
“We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the
Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who
are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise
also with him to newness of life. We ask this through
Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Blessing of Baptismal
Water, A)
“Common Priesthood”: “The faithful, by virtue of
their royal priesthood, participate in the offering of
the eucharist. They exercise that priesthood too by
the reception of the sacraments, prayer, and
thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, abnegation,
and active charity” (Lumen Gentium, 10).
“The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's
faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be
there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary,
through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they
should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they
are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should
be instructed by God's word and be nourished at the table
of the Lord's body; they should give thanks to God; by
offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands
of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to
offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator, they should
be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God
and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.”
(Sacrosanctum Concilium, 48).
 Baptism and the Bestowal of the Spirit of Adoption

“Baptism recalls and effects the paschal mystery

itself” (Christian Initiation, 6).
• Baptism is an anamnesis of the paschal mystery.

By the power of God and through the ministry of

the Church the saving event of Christ’s death and
resurrection is made really present in the ritual act
Christ died and rose again in order
to send the Holy Spirit, hence, the
completion of the paschal mystery.
We can rightly assert, therefore,
that baptism is not only anamnesis
but also epiclesis.

Supplication for the bestowal of the

Holy Spirit.
In baptism, people not only die, are buried, and rose again
with Christ. They also receive the Spirit of adoption which
makes them God’s sons and daughters.

“Neophytes”: “new creatures” = we are not just “human” but

we are children of God.
In baptism we are forgiven and reconciled; we are made just in the
sight of God; and we are consecrated to the Trinity.

We share in the life of God as his adopted children, that we receive

the grace of adoption.

The same Spirit who effected the birth of Christ into the world from
the womb of the Virgin, continually effects the rebirth of men and
woman into eternal life from the font of baptism.
Since we are adopted sons
and daughters of God in
baptism, it implies that we
have to nurture the faith we
have received. Hence, the
role of parents and
godparents is serious.
Parents: “After baptism, it is the responsibility of the
parents, in their gratitude to God and in fidelity to the
duty they have undertaken, to enable the child to
know God, whose adopted child it has become,
to receive confirmation, and to participate in
the holy eucharist” (Baptism of Children, 5).

Godparents: Godparents should be “ready to help

the parents bring up their child to profess the
faith and to show this by living it” (Christian
Initiation, 8).
“On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up
in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives
them is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in
their hearts.” (Rite of Baptism, Renunciation of Sin and Profession of
Faith)
 Baptism and Communion with the Church

“Baptism is the sacrament by which men and women are

incorporated into the Church, built into a house where God lives, in
the Spirit” (Christian Initiation, 4).

Baptism is a visible act whereby we are incorporated into the Church:

having been visibly baptized we cannot disguise our identity, we
cannot walk through life incognito, we cannot remain silent when
there is a question of professing our baptismal faith.
MAGPAKATOTOO KA

MAGPATOTOO KA
“God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you
from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,
and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you
with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest,
Prophet, and King, so may you live always as members of
his body, sharing everlasting life. Amen.” (Rite of Baptism,
Anointing with Chrism)
 Baptism, the Sacrament of Faith

• “Baptism is, above all, the sacrament of that faith by which men
and women, enlightened by the Spirit’s grace, respond to the
gospel of Christ” (Christian Initiation, 3).
• Baptism sacramentalizes our faith in Christ. It gives sacramental
visibility to it. The total absence of faith invalidates, that is to say,
leaves baptism an empty ceremony.
• Faith involves conversion or a turning toward Christ, a
metanoia or radical change of values, way of thinking,
speaking, and behaving.
• Faith in Christ is primarily adherence to the person to
Christ and to what he represents.
• Catechesis is therefore important. When we say catechesis, it is not
merely passing on knowledge about Christ and Church discipline
but an instruction on how to commit one’s entire life to Christ and
his gospel.
• Catechetical instruction is essentially the preaching of the word. Its
principal book is the bible; its principal texts are the readings of the
word of God; its principal form is the liturgy of the word.

Faith is best communicated and

nourished not in the classroom but
in the atmosphere of liturgical
prayer and meditation.
 Reflection

In Baptism, every Christian is called to

“metanoia”. In my daily life, how does my
faith help me form a good conscience,
make decisions, and motivate my desires?