 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Doctrine: Confirmation | Eucharist | Matrimony | Anointing | Holy Orders | Reconciliation | Justification
Why One Baptism? We can only be born once spiritually.
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH LUMEN GENTIUM14. "This Sacred Council wishes to turn its attention firstly to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition, it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation. Christ, present to us in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism(124) and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved."PASTORAL VISIT TO GREAT BRITAIN HOLY MASS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE BAPTISMAL PROMISES HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II Wembley, 29 May 1982
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, 7 January 2007
PASTORAL VISIT TO GREAT BRITAIN HOLY MASS IN WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II London, 28 May 1982
INSTRUCTION ON INFANT BAPTISM By the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Approved by His Holiness Pope John Paul II October 20, 1980
Several Links. Baptism and Confirmation - Catholic Rites and Teachings.
Please see: "Faith Facts" by Catholics United for the Faith (CUF).
"If you have a question about Catholic teaching, Faith Facts provide a clear, accurate, and understandable explanation of what it is we believe as Catholics." --Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
The Sacrament of Baptism
By Frederick Pogorzelski
Holy Baptism is the first sacrament we receive and is one of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. It was explicitly instituted by Christ and is the means, by which we become adopted children of the family of God ( Mt 28:19 ) ( Jn 3:5 ) ( Acts 2:38 ). Baptism is like a first kiss from God. It produces in the soul an indelible spiritual mark or character; sanctifying us, and unites us to Christ and to his church; the mystical body of Christ ( Gal 3:27 ) ( 1 Cor 6:11; 12:13 ). Baptism is an outward sign of inward grace that frees us from the stain of original sin.
Baptism, a new birth of water and the Spirit, removes the barrier of original sin ( Jn 19:34 ) ( Rom 6:3-4 ) ( 1 Pet 1:23 ). It opens the door to Heaven with a bond of Fatherly love. The Christian faithful are saved by the water of Baptism and by holding fast to their faith, as one family of God inside the church; just as Noah and his family were saved from the flood by staying inside the ark ( 1 Peter 3:18-22 ). The ark being a type of church and the flood being baptismal waters; the church will prevail. We are saved in the church, and we have our Lords word "that the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it" ( Mt 16:18 ).
We look hopefully forward, towards an eternal family reunion, as divine sons and daughters of the Father. Baptism is the first step on our stairway to Heaven. It is the normative route God provided for us His creatures for we are not orphans left desolate. He will come to us ( Jn 14:18 ). Baptism is a loving gift of grace from the heart of the Father on our spiritual journey towards supernatural life.
Supernatural life, our hope; is a divine life and love to be shared with Him, and Mary our mother, and all the members of the family of God, forever ( 1 Cor 2:7-9 ) ( 2 Pet 1:3-11 ) ( Rom 8:18-19 ).
More Bible References: ( NO "SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE"!!! )
Genesis 7
Lev. 1:9
Isaiah 12:2-3
Ezek. 16:8-9
Ezek. 36:24-27
Matt. 3
John 3:5 and Mark 16:16
Gal 3:27 and 1 John 3:1-2
Matt. 28:19
Hebrews 10:21-23
Romans 6:3-5
Romans 2:27-28, 6:3-4
II Kings 5:14
1 Peter 3:21
Mark 7:4 washing (Greek: baptismous)
purify (Greek: baptisontai)
baptism (Greek: baptizo )
(baptism does not necessarily mean "to immerse" ) See excellent article: Page 16, Envoy magazine, volume 7.4.
Genesis 24
Genesis 21
Exodus 17:6
Acts 2:38
Acts 22:16
Acts 2:39 "your children"
Titus 3:5
John 4:14
Jeremiah 2:13
Col. 2:11-13 (remember: babies circumcised on 8th day)
When a parent comes to Faith they have the authority to bring the entire "household" to Faith. Acts 11:14, 16:15, 31,
1 Cor. 1:16
Baptism is the fulfillment of circumcision. Ephesians 4:5
1 Peter 3:20-21 "In the days of Noah, during the building of the ark . . . eight persons . . .
were saved through water. Baptism, which now corresponds to this, now saves you,
not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to
God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"