Two Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church

Baptism & Confirmation Year 9

BAPTISMbeginnings

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.

As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water and suddenly heaven opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down upon him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. My favour rests on him.’

Jordan River

John baptises

Jesus

Jordan River today

He told the apostles

‘Go out to all nations.

Baptise them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit…’Matthew 27: 19

The commission …

BAPTISM

Gift of God’s great love

Our personal history began in the heart of God long before our parents came together. God knew and loved each of us long before we were conceived.

‘Before you were knit together in your mother’s womb, I knew you!’

God speaks through the prophet Isaiah

To God, each of us was always a loved and wanted child …

‘I held you in the palm of my hand.

You are precious. You are honoured in my sight and I love you….’ God speaks through Isaiah

No other person will ever be loved by God the same way as you or me!

Just as no finger prints are ever the same, so God loves each of us uniquely.

Do you really believe

God knows you intimately

and loves you immensely ?

At last, the day came for which God had waited…

my BAPTISMwhen God embraced me as a beloved daughter

‘This is my beloved daughter. I delight in her.’

The ceremony of

Baptism

Age = 1 weekborn June 17, 2003

Mary Sophia’s story

At 7 weeks – her Baptism at St Michael’s Remuera

At our Baptism some things happen which can be seen and heard

other wonderful things happen which are not

visible except to the ‘eye of faith’.

The SACRAMENT (sacred sign)

What do we SEE ?

What do we HEAR ?

The Sacred Sign of Baptism

WATER (poured on the head)

I BAPTISE YOU

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON

AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT(words spoken aloud)

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Why did Jesus choose WATER as the sign of Baptism ?

water is a sign of LIFE

I BAPTISE you i.e. plunge you into water

in the name of God the FATHER

God the SON

God the HOLY SPIRIT.

All 3 Persons of the Holy Trinity are involved at our Baptism!

WORDS

Other Baptismal signs

1

Anointing with SACRED CHRISM on the crown of the head

CHRISM is the perfumed oil used to consecrate persons and things. It is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE.

2

Light

From the PASCHAL CANDLE representing Jesus, Risen and the Light of the World …..

baby’s baptism candle is lit and passed to the parents

“This light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. Your child has been lit up by

Christ. May she always walk as a child of the light. May she keep the flame of faith alive in

her heart. One day may she go out to meet Christ with all the Saints in the Kingdom of

Heaven”

To parents and Godparents the priest says

Godparents of Mary Sophia

Who are YOUR Godparents ?

Why do we have Godparents?

Where were you Baptised?

When did this happen?

Do you know who baptised you?

What do you know about your own Baptism Day?

Many adults are baptised into the Catholic Church after a time of preparation

At your Baptism, what wonderful things happened to you which NO ONE COULD SEE ?

Jesus calls GOD, “ABBA” - “Dearest Father”

What did “ABBA” do for you at your Baptism ?

St Paul tells us GOD

ADOPTED each of us

as His own child!

The DOVE is a special symbol of the Holy Spirit.

What did the Holy Spirit give you at your Baptism ?

The Holy Spirit is

‘God’s love, poured into our hearts’ - St Paul

What did Jesus Christ do for you at your Baptism ?

He became your Brother, your Saviour, your Lord, your Dearest Friend.

He made you His follower - one who bears His own name, ‘CHRISTian’

You belong to His family, the Church.

‘I am the vine, you are my branches’

Jesus uses the image of a vine and its branches to describe the amazing way He wishes to relate to us …

Sacrament of Initiation

2

CONFIRMATION