Catholicism
In the sacraments of Christian initiation we are freed from the power of darkness and joined to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. We receive the Spirit of filial adoption and are part of the entire people of God in the celebration of the memorial of the Lord’s death and resurrection. The three sacraments of Christian initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist closely combine to bring us, the faithful of Christ, to his full stature and to enable us to carry out the mission of the entire people of God in the Church and in the world.
Baptism
Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people. This first sacrament pardons all our sins, rescues us from the power of darkness, and brings us to the dignity of adopted children, a new creation through water and the Holy Spirit. Hence we are called and are indeed the children of God.
Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit frees us from sin and join us with Christ. We become part of Chrits’s Body, the Church.
What they had to learn (parents)
When parents approach a priest to request baptism for their child, he will often invite them to join a brief preparation course for parents. This will help parents understand better the meaning of Baptism and especially the importance of their role in handing on the faith to their child.
What they had to wear
The child is clothed in a white garment
Who was there
The people who attended the mass were usually parents, grandparents, godparents and other close family members and friends, also, the priest was there along with the rest of the community.
What happened during the Sacrament
At Baptism God comes to live in us in a special way, bringing us love, holiness and true human freedom. When parents approach a priest to request baptism for their child, he will often invite them to join a brief preparation course for parents. This will help parents understand better the meaning of Baptism and especially the importance of their role in handing on the faith to their child. The actual Baptism ceremony is often part of a parish Mass. Sometimes it is celebrated in a separate ceremony.
The different symbols and actions used in the Sacrament
Sign of the Cross: This is a sign that the Christian community has claimed the child for Christ.
Baptismal Water: Through this essential sign Te Wairua Tapu brings death to sin and new life in Christ.
The Oil of Chrism: Anointing with this is a sign that the child now lives as a member of Christ’s body, sharing everlasting life.
White Garment: This is worn as a sign of Christian dignity and shows that the child has ‘put on Christ’.
The Lighted Candle: Lit from the Easter candle this is a sign that the child carries the light of Karaiti.
ACTIONS
Reception: The priest welcomes the baby, its family and Godparents. He asks the parents some questions to make sure that they understand the purpose of Baptism and what their responsibilities are. The priest, parents and Godparents trace the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead to show that the Christian community is claiming the child for Karaiti.
Celebration of God’s Word: The Scripture are read and the priest explains the readings. After the Prayer of the Faithful, the saints are called upon to pray for the child.
Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing Before Baptism: The priest prays that Te Atua will free the child about to baptised from the spirit of evil and the slavery of sin. He then anoints the child on the chest with the oil of catechumens.
Blessing of the Baptismal Water: The priest blesses the water that will be used to baptise the children. We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life.
Profession of Faith: The parents and godparents reject sin and renew their own Baptismal promises.
Baptism: The priest performs the Baptism by immersing the child or by pouring water upon its head three times while saying: I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Anointing with Chrism: The priest anoints the child on the head with the sacred oil of chrism. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting.
Clothing with White Garment: The child is clothed in a white garment. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring the dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
The Lighted Candle: The child’s candle is lit from the Easter candle: Receive the light of Christ. Parents and Godparents, this light is to be entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of the light.
The Prayers over the Ears and Mouth: The priest touches the ears and mouth of the child with his thumb. This is to ‘open’ them so that they may receive God’s word and proclaim his faith.
Lord’s Prayer: All say the Our Father together.
Blessing: The Rite of Baptism finishes with a blessing.
Baptismal Water: Through this essential sign Te Wairua Tapu brings death to sin and new life in Christ.
The Oil of Chrism: Anointing with this is a sign that the child now lives as a member of Christ’s body, sharing everlasting life.
White Garment: This is worn as a sign of Christian dignity and shows that the child has ‘put on Christ’.
The Lighted Candle: Lit from the Easter candle this is a sign that the child carries the light of Karaiti.
ACTIONS
Reception: The priest welcomes the baby, its family and Godparents. He asks the parents some questions to make sure that they understand the purpose of Baptism and what their responsibilities are. The priest, parents and Godparents trace the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead to show that the Christian community is claiming the child for Karaiti.
Celebration of God’s Word: The Scripture are read and the priest explains the readings. After the Prayer of the Faithful, the saints are called upon to pray for the child.
Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing Before Baptism: The priest prays that Te Atua will free the child about to baptised from the spirit of evil and the slavery of sin. He then anoints the child on the chest with the oil of catechumens.
Blessing of the Baptismal Water: The priest blesses the water that will be used to baptise the children. We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life.
Profession of Faith: The parents and godparents reject sin and renew their own Baptismal promises.
Baptism: The priest performs the Baptism by immersing the child or by pouring water upon its head three times while saying: I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Anointing with Chrism: The priest anoints the child on the head with the sacred oil of chrism. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting.
Clothing with White Garment: The child is clothed in a white garment. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring the dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
The Lighted Candle: The child’s candle is lit from the Easter candle: Receive the light of Christ. Parents and Godparents, this light is to be entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He/she is to walk always as a child of the light.
The Prayers over the Ears and Mouth: The priest touches the ears and mouth of the child with his thumb. This is to ‘open’ them so that they may receive God’s word and proclaim his faith.
Lord’s Prayer: All say the Our Father together.
Blessing: The Rite of Baptism finishes with a blessing.
How they celebrated afterwards
Parents of children who have just been baptised, usually go to a restaurant to celebrate. If not, they have a special meal and celebration at home.
Confirmation
By signing us with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation makes us more completely the image of the Lord and fills us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear witness to him before all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible.
The Sacrament of Confirmation seals us with the sign of the Spirit and completes the grace of Baptism. Confirmation is our own Pentecost. At Confirmation we are filled and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom, understanding, Right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, and the wonder and awe in the presence of God, give us mana (spiritual power) to become better Christians.
What they had to learn
Candidates attend a preparation course before being confirmed. They learn about the sacrament, their faith and Christian responsibilities. It helps the candidates to have a proper understanding of how to live as a follower of Christ.
How they were dressed
They wore a white gown. This is worn as a sign of new life and purity.
Who was there
Friends and family, and the parish community.
What happened during the Sacrament
Those who wish to be confirmed are brought forward to the Bishop.
The Bishop explains the readings and leads those present to a deeper understanding of the mystery of Confirmation.
The Bishop invites the candidates to affirm their faith by asking them a series of questions to which they reply, “I do.”
The Bishop extends his hands over the candidates and prays for the sending of the Holy Spirit: “Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide.”
The Bishop makes the sign of the cross on the candidate’s forehead with the oil of chrism saying: “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” While he does this, the sponsor stands beside the candidates shoulder.
The gathered community prays for the newly confirmed and the needs of the Church.
The Bishop explains the readings and leads those present to a deeper understanding of the mystery of Confirmation.
The Bishop invites the candidates to affirm their faith by asking them a series of questions to which they reply, “I do.”
The Bishop extends his hands over the candidates and prays for the sending of the Holy Spirit: “Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide.”
The Bishop makes the sign of the cross on the candidate’s forehead with the oil of chrism saying: “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” While he does this, the sponsor stands beside the candidates shoulder.
The gathered community prays for the newly confirmed and the needs of the Church.
The different symbols and actions used in the Sacrament
The two essential signs in Confirmation are the laying on of hands and the anointing with the oil of chrism along with the words: “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Eucharist
The Third sacrament of Initiation, the Eucharist, is the ‘Sacrament of Sacraments,’ the source and summit of Christian life. It is a memorial and sacrament of Christ’s sacrifice in which we can join in offering ourselves to God the Father. “Through him, with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.” In this sacrament, Christ is really present as the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation nourishing us on our pilgrim journey. The Eucharist completes the Christian Initiation, in the Eucharist, Christ is truly present among us, especially through the change of the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. By sharing in the body and blood, we are united more deeply with Christ and become his presence in the world.
What they had to learn
Children prepare for their first Holy Communion for about six weeks and receive the Risen Lord at their First Communion Mass. Believers did not join in the celebration of the Eucharist until they had been through the other stages of Christian initiation – Baptism, the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.
How they were dressed
Like the other two sacraments, the person initiated usually wore white.
Who was there
The whole community gathered to receive the Body and blood of Jesus Christ with the newly added members to the community, family and friends come by to celebrate their completion of the Initiation sacraments.
What happened during the ritual
The Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion. At the meal Jesus ate bread and wine and instructed his disciples to do the same in memory of him.
The people taking part drink a sip of wine (or grape juice) and eat a tiny piece of some form of bread, both of which have been consecrated.
The people taking part drink a sip of wine (or grape juice) and eat a tiny piece of some form of bread, both of which have been consecrated.
The different symbols and actions used in the Sacrament
Four important signs of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist are:
- The People
- The Priest
- Scripture
-Especially the consecrated Bread and Wine
- The People
- The Priest
- Scripture
-Especially the consecrated Bread and Wine
How they celebrated afterwards
The special liturgy is usually followed by a parish or family celebration. There are usually meals and gifts for the person who just received their first holy communion and they are congratulated for having completed the sacraments of Initiation and for fully being part of the Catholic family.
The Importance of Initiation in Catholicism
As Catholics we have a close link to the sacraments in our everyday life, because these rites mark our life from birth to death. In our Church liturgy we constantly thank Christ for the love that he demonstrated for us in leaving the sacraments as a means of strengthening us on our journey to eternal life in God's presence. All the sacraments of the Church, particularly the sacraments of initiation, have been created to turn our attention to our own human experiences, but in a new way. For each participant to truly encounter God in the sacred rituals they must first treasure their own humanity and mortal experiences. To assist us the rituals use only the simplest of items to signify the mystery of who we are. It is through the use of water, bread, wine, oils and hands that we can experience God's presence with us. We bless the ordinary things of life and sanctify the common things, and although we are expected to change we are not asked to turn our backs on the world or our human experiences. We are expected, instead, to meet these realities in a new way.
Key beliefs and facts of Catholicism
Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.
Catholics follow and obey the rules of the 10 Commandments:
1) I am the lord your God, yo shall not have any strange gods before me
2) You shall not take the name of your lord God in vain
3) Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
4) Honor you father and mother
5) You shall not kill
6) You shall not commit adultery
7) You shall not steal
8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9) You shall not civet your neighbor's spouse
10) You shall not covet your neighbors goods
Catholics follow and obey the rules of the 10 Commandments:
1) I am the lord your God, yo shall not have any strange gods before me
2) You shall not take the name of your lord God in vain
3) Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
4) Honor you father and mother
5) You shall not kill
6) You shall not commit adultery
7) You shall not steal
8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9) You shall not civet your neighbor's spouse
10) You shall not covet your neighbors goods
- Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- Christians believe that God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins.
- One of the most important concepts in Christianity is that of Jesus giving his life on the Cross (the Crucifixion) and rising from the dead on the third day (the Resurrection).
- Christians believe that there is only one God, but that there are three elements to this one God: God the Father God the Son The Holy Spirit
- Christians worship in churches.
- Their spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers.
- The Christian holy book is the Bible, and consists of the Old and New Testaments.
- Christian holy days such as Easter and Christmas are important milestones in the Western secular calendar