Baptism

RELIGION ESSAY ~ Baptism

The Baptism ritual has been a symbolic part of our Christian faith. Throughout the centuries, Baptism has been performed as a sign of welcoming one to the Christian faith, as well as renouncing the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. But the Rite of Baptism has been altered and changed as it was performed from generation to generation. During the time of Priscilla, a convert who lived around 239 C.E., the rite of Baptism was performed, usually in public, by a deacon or deaconess. As well, there were many rites within the sacred ritual of Baptism during her time. Such rites were the Renunciation of Sin towards the West, and the public ritual of Baptism in a Baptismal Pool, instead of the baptismal font which we use today. But despite these differences between what was performed in the past versus what is performed today, the symbolism of Baptism is still present, with very similar ideals and values between what was done before and what is done now. The effectiveness of the way Priscilla was initiated into the church is no different than one who is initiated into the church today.

The Rite of Baptizing an individual with holy water symbolizes a spiritual cleansing of the soul and of the spirit, as well as a spiritual cleansing of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. During the time of Priscilla, she was brought, naked, into a baptismal pool, where her head is then moved under the water three times. The reason why this is done three times is because it symbolizes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all working as one to receive the individual into the Christian community. Today, we use the Baptismal Font and we, essentially, perform the same ritual as what was performed centuries ago. The symbolism when baptizing with water then is almost identically the same as what the symbolism represents today. Therefore, there was no relative effectiveness when we compare what is performed today to what was done centuries ago.

During the Baptismal rituals performed at the time of Priscilla, Deacons or Deaconesses were the ones responsible for overseeing and leading in the Baptism. Deacons usually participated in male baptisms, while Deaconesses were responsible for participating in female baptisms. This was done in this way so that the individual felt more comfortable during the baptism, since they are naked during the Water ritual, unless the individual was still a child. Today, a priest usually performs baptisms, and most are baptized while still an infant. If an adult chooses to be baptized, they must go through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or the RCIA, in order to prepare for baptism, as well as the Sacrament of Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation. This usually takes place during Easter Vigil. Also, the Baptismal font is used, and the individual being baptized is fully clothed. But the symbolism of renewal is still present in both ways. Both baptisms that were performed