B A P T I S MBY

Fr. Cornelius T. (Neil) Mc Quillan, C.S.Sp., Psy.D.Pastor

Our Lady of the Valley ParishHemet, CA

Prologue

This presentation is offered to help divide pre-baptism classes into three sessions. It is a work in progress and your constructive criticisms are welcome.

Three sessions are believed necessary so as to have time for the participants to get to know one another and to build a sense of community between them.

Introduction

First Class: Church is the sacrament of Christ

Class Two: Benefits of Baptism

Third Class: Baptism is Commitment.

The Church is the sacrament of Christ

Difference between symbol and sign

Definition of Sacramento:Instituted by ChristGiven to communicate divine life (grace)

Does what it signifies

Part I

Jesus the center and foundation of all

Jesus

is the mirror image of the Father has two nature, Divine and Human In his person unites us to God Founded a Church which has a mission Instituted the Sacraments Is our teacher, Model, Intercessor, Savior,

Redeemer, Brother, King and Lord

Church

• Is the Body of Christ. made up of each member

• Was given a mission by Christ• Was given the magisterial authority to preach

His Gospel• Each member has the same mission• Jesus called Apostles and gave them the

ministry of governing the Church.

Definition of Sacrament:

Instituted by Christ

Given to communicate divine life (grace)

Does what it signifies

Seven Sacraments

Three of Initiation (Baptism of Adults in receiving all three at once):

Baptism – reborn in ChristConfirmation – Sent by the ChurchEucharist - Sustained by Christ

Seven Sacraments

Two Sick:

Penance – through which we are reconciled to God and the Church

Anointing of the Sick - Prayer of the Church for those physically ill as well as forgiveness of sin.

Seven Sacraments

Two of Vocation:

Marriage – by which the couple give witness to the fidelity of God to his people

Holy Orders – by which a minister is consecrated to God as a Deacon, Presbyter or Bishop.

Sacraments have

A MinisterForm (or prescribed words)

Matter

Minister

The Bishop who has the plenitude of the Priesthood of Christ, is a successor of the apostles and therefore can administer any of the Sacraments.

Minister

Any baptized person can administer the Sacrament of Baptism, but must use the Form given my Christ Himself:

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

said while washing the candidate with Water which is the matter or sign of baptism.

Minister

• The ordinary minister of Baptism is a Deacon or Priest.

• The ministers of Marriage are the couple themselves.

• Only a Bishop can ordain a Deacon or a priest.• A Bishop is ordained usually by three bishops• The Bishop is the ordinary minister of

Confirmation. A pastor may confirm in special cases and any priest in an Emergency.

Minister

• A priest is the ordinary minister of the Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick.

• A priest or Deacon are the ordinary official witnesses of the Sacrament of Marriage.

• The ordinary minister of Baptism is a Priest or Deacon.

Matter or Sign

• Baptism - Water & Holy Chrism (oil)• Confirmation – Laying on of hands & Oil• Eucharist – Bread & Wine

• Penance – Sin to be forgiven & Repentance• Anointing of the Sick – Oil & Laying on of Hands

• Marriage – The Exchange of Vows• Ordination – Laying on of Hands & Oil (for priests)

Form or Prescribed words

• Baptism: “N. I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

• Eucharist: “This is my Body which is given up for you,” & “This is the Chalice of my Blood of the New and Eternal Covenant poured out for you and for many. Do this in memory of me.”

• Confirmation: The Bishop prays a prayer of Consacration over the candidates.

Form

• Anointing of Sick: (While anointing the head) “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his

Love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

(While anointing the hands) “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you

and raise you up.”

Form

Penance:(While making the sign of the Cross)

“God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Form

Marriage:

(While holding hands,)

I, N, take you N. to be my wife (husband), I promise to be true to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

Or

Words they themselves compose that include the promise of fidelity, love and respect until death.

Part II

Benefits of Baptism

Benefits of Baptism

Cleanses us of Original SinGives us a share in God’s life: GraceMakes us adopted Children of God

and therefore heirs of his KingdomMakes us Temples of the Holy SpiritMakes us members of the Church, Christ’s body, with the right of full participation.Gives us a share in Christ’s life as a King, Prophet and Priest.

Cleanses us of Original Sin

Our ancestors (Adam & Eve) lost Original Grace that God gave them and therefore could not pass it on to us. One cannot give what one doesn’t have.We are made to love, serve and adore God for all eternity, but our rebellion against God’s Supreme authority caused us to lose his divine life within us.We are reconciled with God and made His Friend.

Cleanses us of Original Sin

• At the Incarnation God’s Son, the Eternal Word, took on our human nature and therefore rejoined divine nature with human nature making salvation possible for us by joining oneself to Christ.

Gives us a share in God’s life: Grace

All creatures are temporalGod is by nature eternal and timeless.Grace, or God’s life enables us to live for eternity.Grace is a Gift of God to those He loves.Gifts have to be accepted and cared for.We accept God’s Grace in Baptism which comes to us through the Church.

Children of Godand therefore heirs of His Kingdom

Our human nature is created and therefore limited.By Baptism we are adopted by God and given the life of our Father which is Grace. His divine life, which we receive, capacitates us to live eternally.By Adoption we are made a part of the Family of God, the Holy Trinity, as well as the Saints, that is the community of believers.

Gift of the Holy Spirit

At Baptism the Holy Spirit makes his abode within us making us His Temple

The Holy Spirit seals and consecrates (marks) us illuminates and councils usTeaches usGuides UsMakes us Holy and transforms usGives us His Seven GiftsGives us His Fruits.

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Fortitude Patience Wisdom Knowledge Counsel Piety Fear of the Lord

12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit

charity, joy, peace patience,

kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness,

faithfulness, modesty, self-control,

chastity.

Makes us members of His Church

Through the Church we find SalvationWe are perfected by means of the SacramentsWe have the rights of membersIn the Church we learn to live in CommunityThe others are strong where we are weakThe Church coaches us on the way to sanctity.The Church guards and protects our faithIn unity we are strong

Part III

Baptism is Commitment

Baptism of Jesus

Jesus is Sent by the Father, to Proclaim the Good News of Salvation.

Jesus accepted his mission at his Baptism where he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and declared loved by the Father who said we should listen to him.

The Mission

Jesus Mission is to save the world by trying to convince us of God’s Love and Forgiveness.

He knew that He and his message would be rejected by the majority and He himself Crucified

And yet he accepted to give up his life for us.

Like Jesus we commit ourselves

As Jesus was sent, He sends us.In Baptism we promise to live as Jesus taught knowing that a truly Christian Life we lead to our being rejected by the majority.In Baptism we accept to be modern day prophets who announce God’s will for them and denounce all injustice,

Priest

Jesus prayed for mankind, that we all may be one, as He and His Father are one.

The Church is a prayer community which prays that God’s will be done here on earth.

When we pray or offer sacrifice for the salvation of others we exercise our common priesthood.

Kingship

Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and life.

When we defend the truth of Christ we do so with his authority, because we are sent to Evangelize the world.

By Baptism and Confirmation we are authorized to speak in the name of the truth.

Members have obligations

Members commit themselves to Christ Law of Love.

The commit themselves to forgive their enemies.

The renounce evil and put their trust in God.They are faithful to the Church By fulfilling its precepts.

Precepts of the ChurchMembers:

Participate fully in the Mass on the Lord’s Day and Holy Days.

Confess their sins

Receive the Eucharist frequently

Support the Church by tithing

Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from eating meat on those days and Fridays throughout Lent.

Marry only in the Church.