LESSON 2 (Week 2)

(Part 1)

LESSON TITLE: BAPTISM

Biblical Background
The Graces of Baptism
The Minister of Baptism

Opening Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God, Thank you for the gift of life that you gave me in the
sacrament of baptism. Bless me today as I begin a new lesson to study-the
Sacrament of Baptism. Give me the gift of understanding that I may fully
understand the meaning of my baptism.
Amen.

CONTENT OF THE LESSON: (Study the content of the lesson 2)

What is Baptism?- is the Sacrament institutes by Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of the
Original Sin, the Adoption as God’s Children, and the Incorporation in the Church.

The term “Baptism” originates from the Greek word Baptismos, meaning “Immersion,”
since the early centuries this Sacrament was mostly celebrated by submerging the
catechumens in water. Also Jesus was baptized by immersion in the Jordan River (cf.
Mathew 3:16).

Biblical Background of Baptism

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Baptism before the Ascension, when he announced
the Missionary Mandate to his Apostles: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all the
nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”(Matthew 28:19-20).
MISSIONARY MANDATE OF JESUS

GO make TEACH
disciples All that I
of all commanded
nations you
Since Christ’s resurrection, Baptism is essential for salvation, as he declared: “Unless a
man is born through water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3;5).
Fairly, there are three kinds of Baptism:

SACRAMENTAL BAPTISM: It BAPTISM OF BLOOD: It is BAPTISM OF DESIRE: It is

is acquired by those who
receive the Sacrament of
Baptism in the Catholic
Church; all efforts must be
done to baptize as many
persons as possible
received by the catechumens
who died as martyrs; or to
the non-baptized who suffer
death for the sake of Christ;
such as the Holy Infants of
Bethlehem.
granted to those who
followed God’s will written in
their conscience but, without
any fault of their own, never
heard of Christ and of the
Church.

 The maxim, “Outside the Church there is no salvation,” means that those who
know that the Church was founded by God, and still refuse to be baptized or to
remain in Her, will not be saves. As Jesus declared: “Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned”
 (Mark 16:16)

The Catholic Church is

like the Ark of Noah,
outside of which there
is no salvation

The Graces of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism confers four major spiritual graces
1. Forgiving the Original Sin: Baptism remits the Original Sin’s eternal punishment,
which is the damnation to Hell; but does not remove the concupiscence, or Man’s
inclination to evil.

2. ADOPTION AS GOD’S CHILDREN: Through Baptism we are reborn as God’s adopted

children; as St. Paul said: “You have received the Spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out:
“Abba, Father!’ (Romans 8:15).
3. INCORPORATION IN THE CHURCH: Baptism makes us members of the Church; as St.
Paul said: “Your bodies are members making up the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:15).

The Minister of Baptism

1. ORDINARY MINISTER: The Ordinary Minister is a Clergy; either a Deacon, Priest, or

Bishop. the Parish Priest has the obligation to prepare the families of the catechumens,
for the reception of the Sublime Sacrament.

2. EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER: The Extraordinary Minister of Baptism, who can baptize

only in emergency cases, such as in danger of death, is any person who intends to
baptize according to the intention of the Church.

Closing Prayer

We have discovered, Lord

And we will discover still more the joy and graces of our baptism.

Grant that we may not remain indifferent of our faith to you,

But give us the grace of patience and courage

to increase our knowledge and become closer to you. Amen.