Lesson 4

“New Life”
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: NATURE, RITES & MEANING
“…no one can enter the Kingdom of God
without being born of water and the Spirit.”
(John 3:5)

GRACES TO BEG FOR:

Creed/Aral: Explains the effects of the Sacrament of Baptism

Identifies the symbols and rites of the Sacrament of Baptism
Code/Asal: Becomes living witnesses of Christ in words and deeds
Cult/Dasal: Prays and renews the baptismal promises

III. EXPOSITION

Enumerating the Sacraments always stars with the first of the seven, which is Baptism. It is the first
because it has something to do with our initial step in belonging to God’s family. Others prefer to say, “the
entrance to His family.” Logically, we must accept Christ first and be ready to follow Him. When we do so, we
are given the gift of adoption as God’s children. We are practically baptized into Christ’s life and fully benefit
from its life-giving system. They lyrics of the song “New Life” reflect what this means.

Christ is source of new life.

He is fountain of all life.
He is the source of our great joy.

Why do we say, “New Life”? It is because in baptism, we share in Christ’s dying and rising which also
includes the forgiveness of original sin and all our personal sins. In short, we are now incorporated into the
Christian Community, Christ’s Body (cf. CFC 15).

The core of baptism is new life in Christ. It is a “new birth” a birth unto hope, which draws its life from
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; a birth to an imperishable inheritance (cf. CFC 1604).

EFFECTS OF BAPTISM
 New life in Christ. Baptism unites the baptized with Christ, their Risen Lord through the symbol of
water and God’s Spirit and by sharing in Christ’s “baptism” of his Paschal Mystery (cf. CCC 1217). It also
includes the forgiveness of original and personal sins. It means that in Baptism, we are freed from the
guilt and eternal punishment of the original sin. However, our human nature remains subject to
concupiscence and incline to sin.
 Incorporation into the Church, Christ’s Body. Baptism unites us with others as members of Christ’s
Body, the Church (cf. CCC 1267-1270). “The body is one and has many members but all the members
many through they are, are one body, and so it is with Christ. It was in one Spirit that all of us were
baptized in one body. All of us have been given to drink of the one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:12f). Thus, Baptism
confers a sharing in Christ’s very mission particularly in His three-fold office as priest (offers spiritual
sacrifices/prayer), prophet (bears witness to Christ), and king (serving God and others).

 Sharing in the Trinitarian divine life. From this new life in Christ and being united in His Body, the
Church, Baptism is the effective symbol of our sharing in the divine life. We become a “new creation”
(cf. 2 Cor. 5:17), sharers in the divine nature (cf. 2 Peter 1:4)-not simply creatures anymore, but children
of God (cf. 1 Jn. 3:1), through THE SON, Jesus Christ, (cf. Gal. 4:4-7) in the Holy Spirit, who dwell within
us (cf. 1 Cor
THE MINISTER
The ordinary minister of Baptism is the bishop, the priest, and the deacon . The extraordinary
minister, who can baptize only in emergency cases, is any person who intends to baptize according to the
intention of the Church, and who baptizes with water in the name of the Holy Trinity.

THE MATTER
The matter of Baptism is clear and fresh water, clear as opposite to dirty, and fresh as opposite to
salty. The baptismal water, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gives death to the old man corrupted by the
Original Sin, and gives life to the new one, who is born again in Jesus Christ.

THE FORM
The form of Baptism are these words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit.”

THE MEANING OF THE GESTURES AND WORDS IN THE CELEBRATION (cf. CFC 1234-1245):

o The sign of the Cross- marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and
signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross.

o The Proclamation of the Word of God- enlightens the candidates and the assembly with the revealed
truth, and elicits the response of faith, which is inseparable from Baptism.

o Anointing with oil of catechumens or laying hands on the candidate- to liberate him from the
instigator the devil and so he is prepared and explicitly renounce Satan and then to confess the faith of
the Church.

o Baptismal water- The Church asks God that through his Son, the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent
upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it, may be born of “water and the Spirit.” (Jn
3,5)

o The anointing with sacred chrism- perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the
Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian… incorporated into Christ who is
anointed priest, prophet and king.

o The white garment- symbolizes that the person baptized has “put on Christ”, has risen with Christ.

o The candle- lit form the Easter candle signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte. In Him, the
baptized are the “light of the world.” (Mt 5, 14)

o The solemn blessing- concludes the celebration of Baptism.

INTEGRATION
The meaning of Baptism is a beautiful truth about our identity, as God’s children and members of His
one, big, universal Family. We should be conscious being Children of God, a new creation, a member of the
Body of Christ, temple of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is a call to Christlikeness especially in the sharing of his Paschal Mystery. So, it is very helpful
to practice our fraternal relationship and promote this spirit within the Church not only in our BECs but also
conscious of our universal solidarity with the rest of God’s family all over the world.