SacramentsBAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION

Recap•Questions?

Sacraments: Recap•Sacraments and

Sacramentals.•Sacraments: Ex opere

operato•Sacramentals: Ex opere

operantis.

A good analogy. •A tap: as long as it is

turned on, water willflow.

Meaning•Water will flow. It does not

matter if the person whoturns it on has dirty hands oris a bad person.•That is ex opere operato.

Meaning•If you do not bring a

container, you will notbe able to hold thewater.•That is ex opere

operantis

Sacramentals…•The woman with a

haemorrhage. (Mk 5: 25 or Lk8:43)•She wanted to touch the fringes

of Jesus’ cloak.•Go your faith has saved you.

A thin red line…•Between•A Sacramental•A Charm or an Amulet

Today…•We deal with 2

Sacraments.•They are arranged

correctly in theirorder 1, 2.

CCC 1322…•Our baptismal covenant with God is sealed

in Confirmation•The two sacraments go together like Easter

and Pentecost.

CCC1322•Received as third, the Holy

Eucharist is then seen as thesummit of initiation.•“The Holy Eucharist

completes our Christianinitiation” (#1322).

Current Practice: 1, 3, 2•Recipe for disaster.•Confirmation taught as

Sacrament ofGraduation….•has become the Sacrament

of Farewell.

Sacrament of Farewell•The pre-adolescent, in receiving the sacrament of

Confirmation, formally concludes the process ofChristian initiation.•But from that moment virtually abandons

completely the practice of the faith.

Introduction…•If you are going for baptism, what

do you think is an effect ofbaptism?•What happens after baptism?

Terminator Genisys.

What happens after baptism?•Terminator: How is he?•Sarah Connor: Still breathing.•T: Good, then you should be able to mate with

Kyle Reese in this timeline.

What happens after baptism?•SC: Okay, we’re not having this conversation

again.•T: We know that your son will be John Connor

and that the machines cannot be defeated withouthim. I do not see a choice.

What happens after baptism?•SC: Story of my life. Look, and it’s not just

mating. I’m supposed to fall in love with him.•T: My files do not deal with love.

What happens after baptism?•SC: Shocker there.•T: You’re being emotional.•SC: This is my life. I wouldn’t mind being

consulted once in a while about how it’s gonnago.

What drives her philosophy?•There is a strong sense of self.•It is almost individualistic…•Not just hers but ours as well.•Our idea of the self is often placed over and

above everything else.

Remember•“Selfie” as the ultimate self-

worship?•We are talking about grace

and Baptism as a response.•A little side-track.

Side-track: Pelagianism.•Pelagius in broad stroke.•All you need is yourself.•Pull your socks up and

you can go to heaven.

Meaning•Original sin is just bad

example…•You are not affected by it.•No need of baptism for

salvation.•Pelagianism alive and well.

For example…•Whitney Houston.•I look to you.•Try it on my own.

Main story. What happens after Baptism.

An effect of Baptism.•Baptism makes us members of the Body of

Christ:•"Therefore . . . we are members one of another.“

I believe in the Communion of Saints•Baptism

incorporates usinto the Church.

Different parts, One Body.•From the baptismal fonts is born the one

People of God of the New Covenant, whichtranscends all the natural or human limits ofnations, cultures, races, and sexes: "For byone Spirit we were all baptised into onebody."

What does it mean?•A lot more than we

realise…•And it is usually more

than we bargain for.

Life of Saints.•How many of you read the

lives of saints?•This is an image of the 124

martyrs of Korea.

The Cross…•Into the horizon of

the reasons that youseek baptism, youmust count the cost:the Cross.•Its shadow is long.

Worried?•Not always RED

martyrdom.•Generally

WHITEmartyrdom.

Do not worry.•Do not worry about the fact that we suffer, or find

it hard work to suffer joyfully.•Our inability to bear suffering well is in fact part

of the process of purification.•If we bear it too easily, it would cease to be

suffering.

Our Model•Our Lord in the Garden

asked for the cup to betaken away from Him—that is, He did notwant to suffer.

Our Model•But, He accepted His

suffering insofar as itwas the will of theFather.•He is our model.

Suffering and Delusion•Martha and

Martyr.•Not all suffering is

the will of God.

Why is this important to note?•No one is baptised to be

alone…•We are baptised into a

community and the road toheaven leads through thecommunity (Church).

Otherwise we might promote•Credit card

Christianity.•Thrill first

and onlycount costlater.

Do you know what we have lost?•Protestantism’s myth of the pristine past.•A desire to recover a pure history empties

Baptism of its sacramental content.•Catholic system of the Sacraments rests on

sacramentality.

Recap…•So far, I have spoken on 1 effect of baptism.•There are others.•Before we go into them.•Why do we need baptism?

Scriptural Precedence•Etymology: The word “baptise” means to plunge

or immerse; the “plunge” into the watersymbolises the catechumen’s burial into Christ’sdeath, from which he rises up with Him as a“new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Prefigurement…•Baptism was prefigured several places in the Old

Testament. The Church Fathers saw itsymbolised:•In creation, where water was overshadowed by

the Holy Spirit (Gen.1:2)

Prefigurement…•In the Flood of Noah, where he and his family

“were saved through water” (1 Pet. 3:20). “Thewaters of the great flood you made a sign of thewaters of Baptism, that make an end of sin and anew beginning of goodness”.

And more Scriptural Basis.•Exodus 14: Crossing the Red Sea.•Joshua 3: Crossing the Jordan into the Promised

Land.•2 Kings 5: Naaman the Leper.

Finally, Christ’s own baptism.•He did not need it but submitted to it.•Identification with humanity even though He was

sinless.•Inaugurates His mission.

Why was Christ baptised?•St Ambrose: The Lord was baptised, not to be

cleansed himself but to cleanse the waters, so thatthose waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christwhich knew no sin, might have the power ofbaptism.

St Ambrose•Whoever comes,

therefore, to the washingof Christ lays aside hissins" (Commentary onLuke 2:83, A.D. 389)

•The law of prayer is the law of belief.•As we worship, so we believe.•Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi.•As we worship, so we believe, so we live.

Easter Vigil: Blessing of water.•… (y)ou also made water the

instrument of your mercy: forthrough water you freed yourpeople from slavery andquenched their thirsts in thedesert;

Easter Vigil: Blessing of water•Through water the

Prophets proclaimedthe new covenant youwere to enter uponwith the human race;

Easter Vigil: Blessing of water•And last of all, through

water, which Christ madeholy in the Jordan, you haverenewed our corruptednature in the bath ofregeneration.

Preface: Birth of John the Baptiser.•And to make holy the

flowing waters, hebaptised the very authorof Baptism…

Go make disciples…•Baptise them•In the name of the

Father and of theSon and of theHoly Spirit.

Gateway•The 3 sacraments of initiation lay the foundations

of every Christian life.•There is an imprint upon the soul which cannot

be erased. It is called the sacramental seal.•We put on Christ.

Side-track: Sociologically…•Why initiation?•Not only are we hopelessly sacramental.•That we need a ceremony to mark our entrance

into a community.

Social Capital•Meaning social ties, norms of reciprocities and

trustworthiness—social strengths that make acommunity work.•But, social capital also requires moral capital.

Moral Capital•Meaning interlocking values, norms, practices,

identities, mechanisms that regulate “selfishness”and make cooperation possible.

Membership has a price…•And moral and social cohesion are maintained

through shared expectations of what it means to bea member and what it requires of you.•In other words: Nobody wants to be a member of an

organisation so “inclusive” that membership meansnothing.

Costly Religious Rituals•are actually one of the crucial elements of

building and sustaining moral capital.•Moral communities are fragile. Easier to destroy

than to create.•Eg: Moral capital is what allows British cops to

be unarmed.

Supply-chain economy.•Food to your table…•System is there.•But what enters the system?

Dumbing down any ceremony•Does not make for good numbers… the more you

make it easier to enter a community, the fasterwill the exit also be.

Today we want•To take…•But unwilling to give back…

How is it celebrated?•Essential rite consists in immersing the candidate

in water or pouring water on his head, whilepronouncing the invocation of the Most HolyTrinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Effects of Baptism.•The primary purpose of Baptism is “for the

forgiveness of sins”.•Baptism “washes away” both original sin, and all

actual sins.

Effects of Baptism.•At Baptism, a person becomes the adopted child

of God through the merits of Jesus Christ. Thesoul is infused with sanctifying grace.•The baptised is “born again” of water and the

Spirit (John 3:7).

Effects of Baptism•If an adult is being baptised, the promise to

follow Christ is made in the presence of thecongregation.•When infants are baptised, since they have no

actual sins, only original sin is taken away.

Effects of Baptism•Their parents and godparents make baptismal

promises on their behalf. This entails a seriouscommitment to raise the child in the saving truthof the Catholic faith.

Effects of Baptism•The Catholic Church recognises the Baptisms

that take place in some other Christiandenominations.•The invocation of the Holy Trinity, the use of

water, and the intention of doing what the churchintends to do validate the sacrament.

Non-Valid Baptisms•Baptisms in Non-Trinitarian churches such as the

Mormons or the Jehovah’s Witnesses are notrecognised as valid.

In cases of valid baptism, why notrebaptism?•Sacramentum Tantum•Res et Sacramentum•Res Tantum

Effect of Baptism•Christ’s baptism reveals what occurs spiritually

every time a Christian is baptised.• When we come to the Holy Font, the heavens are

opened, the Spirit descends, and the Fatherpronounces, “You are my beloved son.”

Effect of baptism.•St. Aphrahaat says, "From baptism we receive the

Spirit of Christ. At that same moment in which thepriests invoke the Spirit, heaven opens, and hedescends and rests upon the waters, and those whoare baptised are clothed in him” (Treatises 6:14:4,A.D. 340).

Types of Baptism.•The Church traditionally recognises 3 types of

baptism. Two of them substitution•1. Baptism of Water: the sacramental

incorporation into the mystery of Christ dead andrisen.

Substitution for Baptism by Water•2. Baptism of Blood: incorporation into Christ by

witness of martyrdom for Christ)•3. Baptism of desire: incorporation into Christ by

the desire or longing for sacramental baptism).

Confirmation•Associated with the

giving of the Holy Spirit.•Sent by the Father and

the Son to give life andpower to the Church.

Confirmation•Through the reception of the Spirit we are

empowered to live the graces imparted atbaptism.•The plenitude of the Spirit was poured out on

Christ, and through Him to the Church.

CCC1288•From that time on the apostles, in

fulfilment of Christ’s will,imparted to the newly baptised bythe laying on of hands the gift ofthe Spirit that completes the graceof Baptism.

Tradition• For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the

doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on ofhands is listed among the first elements ofChristian instruction.

Tradition.•The imposition of hands is rightly recognised by

the Catholic tradition as the origin of thesacrament of Confirmation, which in a certainway perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in theChurch.

Scriptural Basis.•Act 8:14-17: after the Samaritan converts

had been baptised by Philip the deacon,the Apostles "sent unto them Peter andJohn, who, when they were come, prayedfor them, that they might receive the HolyGhost…”

Scriptural Basis•Acts 19:1-6: St. Paul "came to

Ephesus, and found certaindisciples; and he said to them:Have you received the HolySpirit since you believed…

Acts 19: 1-6•Having heard these things, they

were baptised in the name of theLord Jesus. And when Paul hadimposed his hands on them, theHoly Spirit came upon them…“

Scriptural Basis•1 John 2:20 "Let the

unction [chrisma],which you havereceived from him,abide in you.“

Scriptural Basis•Hebrews 6:1-4: "leaving the word of

the beginning of Christ, let us go onto things more perfect, not layingagain the foundation . . . of thedoctrine of baptisms, and impositionof hands…”

Scriptural Basis•2 Cor. 1:20, 21: "He that

confirmeth us with you in Christ,and hath anointed us, is God,who also hath sealed us, andgiven us the pledge of the Spiritin our hearts…"

How is it done?•Latin rite, "the sacrament of Confirmation is

conferred through the anointing with chrism on theforehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand,and through the words: 'Accipe signaculum doniSpiritus Sancti' [Be sealed with the Gift of the HolySpirit.]."

Minister of Confirmation•The original minister of

Confirmation is the bishop.•In this way the link between the

confirmed and the Church inher apostolic dimension ismade manifest.

Laying on of Hands, Anointing.

Extraordinary Minister…•When a priest confers this sacrament the

link with the bishop and with the Churchis expressed by the priest who is thecollaborator of the bishop and by theSacred Chrism, consecrated by thebishop himself.

East and West•Discipline.•In the East: Ordinary Minister is the priest.•In the West: Ordinary Minister is the Bishop.•Priest = Extraordinary Minister…

1. CCC1303 Effects of Confirmation•Roots us more deeply in the

divine filiation (beingadopted as Sons andDaughters of God theFather) which makes us cry,“Abba! Father!”

2. Effects of Confirmations.•Unites us more

firmly to Christ.

3. Effects of Confirmation•Increases the

gifts of theHoly Spirit inus

Seven Gifts•Wisdom,

Understanding,Counsel, Fortitude,Knowledge, Pietyand Fear of the Lord.

Fruits of the Holy Spirit.•Moral life is sustained by the gifts of the Holy

Spirit.•Permanent dispositions which make man docile

in following the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Fruits of the Holy Spirit•Perfection the Holy

Spirit forms in us asthe first fruits ofeternal glory.•Tradition lists twelve

of them.

Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit.•Charity, Joy, Peace,

Patience, Kindness,Goodness, Generosity,Gentleness, Faithfulness,Modesty, Self-Control,Chastity.

4. Effects of Confirmation•Renders our

bond with theChurch moreperfect.

5. Effects of Confirmation•Special strength to spread and

defend the faith by word andaction as true witnesses ofChrist, to confess the name ofChrist boldly, and never to beashamed of the Cross.

Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit•Gifts are freely given.•Fruits are results of growth.•With spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit gives.•With spiritual fruits, the Holy Spirit gets.

Limbo Rock….•Question of Ordinary Means vs Extraordinary

Means of Salvation…

Universal Salvific Will of God•To save all. (1 Tim 2: 4)•The necessity of baptism for salvation.•“Necessity” seems to limit God’s salvific reach.

The meaning of necessity of Baptism•It is necessity in the second order.•Necessity of first order?•Absolute necessity of God's saving act through

Jesus Christ for the final salvation of everyhuman being

St Augustine•Justice of God assigned those unbaptised to hell.

Mediaeval Theologians•Infants are deprived of beatific vision.•Those who die in mortal sins and those who die

with original sin only receive differentpunishments.

St Thomas Aquinas•Supernatural grace enables us to know Beatific

Vision.•Those who have no supernatural grace cannot

know what they are missing. They cannot be saidto be suffering.