Baptism and ConfirmationOLM Liturgy and Sacraments

Fr. Llane BrieseUnit #4

Christian Initiation at a Glance

Up until now, we have discussed the Eucharist which makes present the work of our salvation accomplished by Christ. (Cf. “Footprint Handout”)

Now, we glance at the other two Sacraments of Initiation:Baptism: Brings Christians to new life in Christ through

the power of the Holy Spirit. (Birth)Confirmation: Seals Christians with Christ’s

“Messiahship” and the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Maturity)

Eucharist: Makes us present to Christ’s Paschal Mystery and feeds us with the Body and Blood of Christ, giving us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. (Eternity)

Biblical FoundationsSection One

Old Testament Antitypes: WaterGen 1:1-3 — “In the beginning, when God created

the heavens and the earth-- 2 and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters-- 3 Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.”

Gen 6–9: The Great FloodThe Exodus: The Waters of the Red SeaCrossing the Jordan (Josh 3:14-17): Israel enters

the Promised Land.Notice that water is a symbol of both life and

death!

Old Testament Antitypes:The Anointing of the SpiritThe Promised Messiah: 2Sam 7:4-17

Messiah = Anointed = Christ (same word)Anointing of KingsIsaiah 11:1-3a—“But a shoot shall sprout from

the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. 2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, 3 and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.”

A Critical PassageEzekiel 36:24-28: Read at the Easter Vigil (when all

readings are proclaimed) and originally directed by the prophet to a people in exile because of their sinfulness: I will take you away from among the nations, gather you

from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. 25 I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. 28 You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Christ the MessiahIsaiah 61:1— “The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners […]”

Luke 4:14-21– “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and […] went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read [….] and found the passage where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.“ […] 21 He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

The Baptism of the LordMark 1:9-11— “It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.“”

St. Paul on BaptismRomans 6:3-11— “Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. 5 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. 7 For a dead person has been absolved from sin. 8 If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”

The Epistle to the HebrewsHebrews 6:1-6— “Therefore, let us leave behind the

basic teaching about Christ and advance to maturity, without laying the foundation all over again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And we shall do this, if only God permits. 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt.”

Historical and Doctrinal TeachingsSection Two

The Necessity of BaptismFrom ancient times, Christians have baptized even the

youngest members of their families.Indeed, it was the practice of infant baptism that led

to the development of the Church’s teaching on original sin.Psalm 51:7—“Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother

conceived me.”Council of Trent: Original Sin is passed on “by

propagation, and not imitation.” (“Decree on Original Sin”, c. 3)

Parents have an obligation to ensure their children are baptized “in the first few weeks” after birth. (CIC, c. 867.1)

Excursus: Development of the Doctrine on Grace

The Church’s teaching on the necessity of Baptism, grace, and original sin is the result of much debate:Pelagianism: An ancient (4th-5th century) heresy which

held that humans could merit salvation on their own.St. Augustine argued strongly against this heresy and

held a very strong view on the power of sin and need for grace.

Over a millennium later, the debate over merit would become central in the debate between Lutherans and Catholics during the Protestant Reformation. Both claimed to be faithful to the teaching of Augustine.

The Effects of BaptismIn Baptism, the recipients:

Are washed clean of all sin (original and actual).Become children of God, able to call him “Father” (Divine

Filiation).Are united to Christ in his threefold mission as priest, prophet,

and king. Excursus: Difference between the common priesthood and the

ministerial priesthood.Enlightened by Christ.Made temples of the Holy Spirit.Made members of the Pilgrim Church, the Mystical Body of

Christ, and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.Are infused with the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and

charity) and given the responsibility to ensure that they mature.Are called to be “dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus”.

(Rom 6:11)

The History of ConfirmationConfirmation was traditionally celebrated immediately after

Baptism. (This remains the practice in the Eastern Churches.)

In the West, however, as the Church grew, priests and deacons celebrated most of the Baptisms, and Confirmation was deferred until the Bishop would come and celebrate it.

Over time in the West, Confirmation came to take on more of the connotation of maturity.

CIC c. 891: “The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion [= about 7 years old] unless the conference of bishops has determined another age.”

Key Point: Confirmation is NOT a Catholic bar mitzvah!

The Effects of ConfirmationCCC 1303: Confirmation brings an increase and

deepening of baptismal grace: it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which

makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"it unites us more firmly to Christit increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in usit renders our bond with the Church more perfectit gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to

spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

The Liturgical Celebration of Baptism & ConfirmationSection Three

Rite of Baptism for ChildrenReception of the ChildLiturgy of the WordPrayer of Exorcism and Anointing before BaptismBlessing and Invocation of God over Baptismal WaterRenunciation of Sin and Profession of FaithBaptismExplanatory Rites

Anointing with ChrismClothing with White GarmentLighted CandleEphphetha (Prayer over Ears and Mouth)

Conclusion: Lord’s Prayer and Blessing/Dismissal

Rite of ConfirmationIntroductory RitesLiturgy of the Word (with homily)Renewal of Baptismal PromisesImposition of Hands with PrayerChrismatio:

Bishop: N., be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Newly Confirmed: Amen.Bishop: Peace be with you.Newly Confirmed: And with your spirit.

Prayer of the Faithful

Rite of Christian Initiation of AdultsPeriod of Evangelization and PrecatechumenateStep #1: Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens

Typically celebrated in the Fall.Step #2: Rite of Election and Preparation

Celebrated for the entire Archdiocese at the Atlanta Civic Center every year on the First Sunday of Lent.

The Scrutinies follow on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. 3rd Sunday of Lent: John 4—Woman of Samaria 4th Sunday of Lent: John 9—Man Born Blind 5th Sunday of Lent: John 11—Raising of Lazarus

Preparation Rites on Holy Saturday Morning

Rite of Christian Initiation of AdultsStep #3: Easter Vigil—The Baptismal Liturgy

On Holy Saturday night, at the greatest celebration of the liturgical year in which the Church celebrates the Resurrection of the Savior, the Elect become participants in his death and resurrection (Baptism), gift of the Spirit (Confirmation), partake of the foretaste of heavenly glory (Eucharist).

During the Easter Season follows a period of postbaptismal catechesis, also known as mystagogy.