Baptism: The Door of the Church

The Sacrament of Baptism is often called “The door of the Church,” because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. It is the first of the three Sacraments of Initiation, the other two being the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Traditionally, the rite (or ceremony) of baptism was held outside the doors of the main part of the church, to signify this fact.​
Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: “Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian, because it brings us into new life in Christ.

The Form/Minister of the Sacrament of Baptism

While the Church has an extended rite of Baptism which is normally celebrated, which includes roles for both parents and godparents, the essentials of that rite are two: the pouring of water over the head of the person to be baptized (or the immersion of the person in water); and the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Since the form of baptism requires just the water and the words, the sacrament, like the Sacrament of Marriage, does not require a priest; any baptized person can baptize another. In fact, when the life of a person is in danger, even a non-baptized person—including someone who does not himself believe in Christ—can baptize, provided that the person performing the baptism follows the form of baptism and intends, by the baptism, to do what the Church does—in other words, to bring the person being baptized into the fullness of the Church. In both cases, a priest may later perform a conditional baptism.

In the Catholic Church today, baptism is most commonly administered to infants. While some other Christians strenuously object to infant baptism, believing that baptism requires assent on the part of the person being baptized, the Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and other mainline Protestants also practice infant baptism, and there is evidence that it was practiced from the earliest days of the Church.

​Since baptism removes both the guilt and the punishment due to Original Sin, delaying baptism until a child can understand the sacrament may put the child’s salvation in danger, should he die unbaptized.

​Adult converts to Catholicism also receive the sacrament, unless they have already received a Christian baptism. (If there is any doubt about whether an adult has already been baptized, the priest will perform a conditional baptism.) A person can only be baptized once as a Christian—if, say, he was baptized as a Lutheran, he cannot be rebaptized when he converts to Catholicism.

While an adult can be baptized after proper instruction in the Faith, adult baptism normally occurs today as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and is immediately followed by Confirmation and Communion.

​The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

​1. The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).

2. The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).

3. The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.

4. Becoming a part of Christ.

5. Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.

6. Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.

If you are looking to have your child baptized in St. Mary’s / St.Bernard’s parish, there are a few important things to consider. The normal conditions for the request of baptism in these cases are as follows:

​1. Parents should live within the geographical boundaries of St. Mary’s / St. Bernard’s parish

2. Parents should regularly attend Holy Mass at St. Mary’s / St. Bernard’s each weekend

​​If the above conditions have been met, a request should be made by parents to Fr. Travers, the Parish Priest, in good time so that arrangements can be made. When arrangements have been finalised, parents should meet with one of the priests before the baptism. Parents are also normally required to attend a brief pre-baptismal meeting, held in the Chapel House usually on the second Tuesday of the month (7.00pm) in which the baptism is due to take place. Generally, baptisms in St. Mary’s / St.Bernard’s take place on the last Sunday of each month, usually with several children being baptised at the same time.

​One Sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex. Both Sponsors must be baptised. One, however, may be admitted as a Christian Witness if baptised in another Christian community. (Re. The Code of Canon Law, nn. 873, 874)

Holy Communion: Our Life in Christ

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the third of the Sacraments of Initiation. Even though we are required to receive Communion at least once per year (our Easter Duty), and the Church urges us to receive Communion frequently (even daily, if possible), it is called a sacrament of initiation because, like Baptism and Confirmation, it brings us into the fullness of our life in Christ.
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In Holy Communion, we are eating the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, without which “you shall not have life in you” (John 6:53).

​Preparing for the Sacrament of Holy Communion

Because of the intimate connection of the Sacrament of Holy Communion to our life in Christ, we must be free of any grave or mortal sin before receiving it, as St. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. Otherwise, as he warns, we receive the sacrament unworthily, and we “eateth and drinketh damnation” to ourselves.

​If we are aware of having committed a mortal sin, we must participate in the Sacrament of Confession first. The Church sees the two sacraments as connected, and urges us, when we can, to join frequent Confession with frequent Communion.

Making a Spiritual Communion

If we cannot receive Holy Communion physically, either because we cannot make it to Mass or because we need to go to Confession first, we can pray an Act of Spiritual Communion, in which we express our desire to be united with Christ and ask Him to come into our soul. A spiritual communion is not sacramental, but prayed devoutly, it can be a source of grace that can strengthen us until we can receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion once again.

The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Communion

Receiving Holy Communion worthily brings us graces that affect us both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, our souls become more united to Christ, both through the graces we receive and through the change in our actions that those graces effect. Frequent Communion increases our love for God and for our neighbour, which expresses itself in action, which makes us more like Christ.

The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is another sacrament of initiation and can be received daily if desired. It is the central rite of Catholic worship. A baptized child’s First Communion is usually celebrated around age seven or eight and is preceded by their first confession (the sacrament of Reconciliation).

During the mass the priest consecrates bread and wine, the elements of the Eucharist, which are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ. As a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and in a reflection of his Last Supper with his disciples, the congregation then shares in the sacred meal. Special lay ministers (i.e., non-priests) are trained to bring the consecrated elements to the ill or otherwise homebound so that all Catholics can participate.

Confirmation as the Perfection of Baptism

In Scotland confirmation is usually received as a teenager, several years after making First Communion. The Catholic Church considers it the second of the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism being the first and Communion the third). Confirmation is regarded as the perfection of Baptism, because, as the introduction to the Rite of Confirmation states:

“by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed”.

The Form of the Sacrament of Confirmation

Many people think of the laying on of hands, which signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit, as the central act in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The essential element, however, is the anointing of the confirmand (the person being confirmed) with chrism (an aromatic oil that has been consecrated by a bishop), accompanied by the words “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit” (or, in the Eastern Catholic Churches, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”). This seal is a consecration, representing the safeguarding by the Holy Spirit of the graces conferred on the Christian at Baptism.

The Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, “The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop.” Each bishop is a successor to the apostles, upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost—the first Confirmation. The Acts of the Apostles mentions the apostles imparting the Holy Spirit to believers by the laying on of hands (see, for example, Acts 8:15-17 and 19:6).

The Church has always stressed this connection of confirmation, through the bishop, to the ministry of the apostles, but She has developed two different ways of doing so.

The sickness and incapacity of any member of the Church is not a matter only of private interest.
The Church is the Body of Christ and we are all members of that Body:

​‘If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured all rejoice together with it.’
– I Corinthians 12.26

​At the same time people have a right to a certain amount of privacy. It will always be a matter for each person concerned to agree to what and how information about their condition is made available to, for example, the Parish priest and how widely that information might be shared – for example in public prayers in the parish.​ The Church desires to accompany any of her members through the trials of sickness with the comfort and encouragement that can be offered by prayer and the sacraments.

Three sacraments in particular are regularly celebrated with the sick:

​1. The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament was formerly known as Extreme Unction and celebrated as close as possible to the time of death, but now a sacrament which is celebrated as soon as serious illness begins and repeated as necessary during the illness;

2​. The sacrament of Penance. Often the experience of serious illness, as well as the experience of having time on One’s hands means that people have the opportunity to reflect on their lives. Sometimes this will encourage them to seek the forgiveness of God for what has been sinful in their lives, and to know his faithfulness and mercy in the celebration of this sacrament;

​3. The sacrament of the Eucharist. Sometimes Mass might be celebrated in the home of the sick person. More commonly Holy Communion will be brought from the parish celebration of Mass and ministered to the sick person (and sometimes also to Catholic members of the family or friends) by the priest or commissioned ministers of Holy Communion.

Precisely how the priest and the parish will respond to the sickness of any member of the parish will depend on the resources they have to draw on, and the circumstances of the person concerned. However the following notes will give a guide.

​If someone is seriously ill but can confidently expect to be well within two or three weeks ask for prayers to be said for them. The parish may have the practice of including the names of sick people in the Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers) or have a Prayer Requests board in the church. The priest may be able to visit, but more commonly visits will be paid by the sick person’s personal friends within the community.

​If it is not possible for the person to attend Sunday Mass then a request may be made for Holy Communion to be brought to their home. For someone who has had the practice of taking part in daily Mass arrangements for more frequent reception of Holy Communion at home might also be possible.
​If someone is seriously ill and/ or is housebound for more than two or three weeks, in addition to the points noted above:

​1. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament for anyone whose health is seriously impaired, not only for the dying. It is a sacrament that is commonly ministered a number of times during an illness, sometimes because the illness worsens, or because the sick person would benefit from the spiritual encouragement it gives them.

​2. The Sacrament of Penance (Confession/ Reconciliation) can be celebrated in the home. The experience of sickness can often prompt in the person who is incapacitated the desire to make confession and receive absolution. The topic will often be best first raised by the priest during his visit, rather than by friends or family members.

​In addition to the need for the sacraments and prayer, someone who is ill and house-bound will often value other forms of pastoral care – perhaps the opportunity of a visit and a chat and cup of tea with another parishioner, perhaps some help with shop- ping or the care of the garden. Organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Knights of St Columba and Legion of Mary have a proud tradition of offering this sort of support.
​If someone is seriously ill and in hospital or a nursing home, in addition to the points noted above:​

It is important that any desire to see a Catholic chaplain is made known to the administrators of the hospital/nursing home. Current regulations mean that this information cannot be given by the hospital/ nursing home to a chaplain without the explicit permission of the patient. This is a matter that should be addressed as part of the admission procedures, but if it has been overlooked at that time it can be dealt with later.

​In a hospital the ministering of the sacraments (e.g. Holy Communion, Penance or Anointing of the Sick) is the responsibility of the chaplain. Ministers from elsewhere (priests or commissioned ministers of Holy Communion) should ask permission of the chaplain before agreeing to celebrate the sacramental rites.

​If someone is dying
In many cases, by the time death is imminent the sick person will have received the sacrament of Anointing several times and will have been receiving Holy Communion weekly. So no longer do the ‘Last Rites’ have the same significance they had previously. That said the Church urges that those who are dying should receive Holy Communion as viaticum, and this will often be accompanied by a final celebration of Penance and Anointing of the Sick. Viaticum, food for the journey, may be received more than once, according to the needs of the dying person.

​I was sick and you visited me
It is God who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every ill everyone of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.

-Psalm 102

​A Guide to Pastoral Care of the Sick
​The Church’s ritual books, Pastoral Care of the Sick and In Sure and Certain Hope, contain a selection of prayers and readings both for the Commendation of the Dying and for Prayers after Death.

Jesus our Lord, we ask you to have mercy on all who are sick. Give them your strength and love, and help them to carry this cross with faith. May their sufferings be one with yours, overcome the power of evil, and lead others to our Father in heaven. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer, for you are Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
​
In the event that your loved one dies you should contact the local priest immediately to make formal arrangements for a Funeral Liturgy.

​The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1989 the Division. This resource was provided by The Liturgy Office of ENGLAND &WALES, with contributions from: The Office of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Psalm 102 © 1963 The Grail (England). Texts and layout prepared by the Liturgy Office © 2005 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources

Organising your Wedding

If you wish to marry at St Mary’s / St Bernard’s there are a number of things to do in preparation.

​Contact the Parish Priest Fr. Travers with details of the proposed date and time for your wedding.

When you come for that meeting please bring along the following:

For those who are Roman Catholics:

A) An up-to-date copy of your Baptism certificate from the parish where you were baptised;
B) An up-to-date copy of your Confirmation details from the parish where you were Confirmed;
C) A letter from the parish where you were baptised to state that you are free to marry. This is called a “Letter of Freedom”.

All these can be obtained by contacting the priest of the parish where you were baptised/confirmed.

For those who are not Roman Catholics:

If you are baptised: Please bring some evidence to show when and where you were baptised. Several days before the wedding, there would normally be a practice run.
At the practice, the following should attend:

1. The bride and groom,
2. The two legal witnesses (normally the best man and bridesmaid),
3. Readers.

Christian Marriage: a call to love and to serve

The whole Christian faith is about love in the richest meaning of the word, involving the real giving and sharing of oneself in selfless sacrifice. God is such love in its fullness, and the source of all real love. He seeks to draw humanity together into a deep unity within his own life. He does this in many ways, but human friendship, affection and love are his most ‘natural’ human way of doing so. God makes holy all that is truly human, including all true forms of love.

​Friendship is a gift from God, a blessing to be cherished (Ecclesiasticus 6:14-17). Deep spiritual friendship between Christians can be a great support in their life as disciples, especially if they pray and worship together.

​The intimate friendship of a man and woman in love is also something rooted in God and blessed by him. The Scriptures often compare God’s relationship with us to the love between bridegroom and bride, husband and wife (e.g. Isaiah 62.4-5). All real love is about self-giving, and the special bond of marriage involves two people giving themselves totally to each other until they are parted by death.

​Christian marriage is not just an agreement to live together as husband and wife. It is a vocation, a calling from God to a special ‘two-some’ kind of discipleship. Their union is a sacrament, a living symbol of the holy wedding or ‘covenant’ of God with us, his Bride. The married couple in their joyful life of mutual love are meant to be the Good News come alive, a kind of visual aid of the intimacy God longs for with us (Ephesians 5:25-33). The Lord will use their love as an instrument to others of his own loving presence.

​Christian marriage is no easy calling. It is a Gospel commitment, and like any form of discipleship it is a tough, demanding vocation which involves renouncing oneself and taking up the cross of Christ. It is also a calling filled with the joy of Easter.

Marriage involves the totally free, unreserved, unconditional giving of two people to each other. It is founded not just upon mutual feelings, but upon a promise of commitment. It is God who joins together their lives. Because their union is a sacrament of God’s faithful and never-ending love, any real marriage is permanent, even if one partner is unfaithful, just as the Lord remains totally faithful to us even if we turn our back on him. Jesus himself said, ‘What God has joined together, let no person put asunder’ (Matthew 19:6). There can be no divorce when a marriage is truly sacramental and consummated. Christian marriage is for life, till death us do part.

​There are couples who are not really married in the first place, perhaps because they were not seriously committing themselves on their wedding day to all that Christian marriage involves, or because they were personally incapable of giving themselves totally to each other with the degree of commitment required. In such cases, the Church can declare that no marriage actually existed at all (an ‘annulment’). This is not the same as divorce, which is the putting asunder of two people who are truly married.

Marriage is a complete giving of two people to each other, a commitment to be totally faithful. This obviously includes sexual faithfulness. Adultery is a very grave failure to live the meaning of marriage, striking deep at God’s work of ‘at-one-ment’.

​This especially intimate unity, which only comes about on the wedding day when the couple give themselves totally to each other in a new way, is wonderfully expressed and deepened in the union of bodies involved in God’s holy gift of sexual intercourse. Bride and groom leave their parents, and become one flesh: ‘They are no longer two, therefore, but one body’ (Matthew 19:5). This is why sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a serious misuse of God’s great gift. It is only when a couple have reached the stage of final, no-turning-back commitment in marriage that sexual intercourse becomes the God-filled joy it is meant to be. The complete bodily union of husband and wife is the final sealing of the weaving together of their lives, the supreme physical expression of the deep and total love between them.

​God’s creative work flows from uniting what he has already created. He brings forth new human life through the loving union of two of his beloved creatures. Permanently to refuse to allow God to work through their union is to shut their life to his creative love. Marriage involves a couple being responsibly but unselfishly open to God’s own life-making work through their love-making.

​Christian marriage is a call to serve together within the Church, not just a personal agreement between a couple. A Catholic therefore must be married in the presence of the Catholic community, in a Catholic church, unless the Bishop gives permission to do otherwise.

Ordination, or Holy Orders, is a sacrament that is available only to men who are being ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops. As with Baptism and Confirmation, the sacrament is said to convey a special indelible “character” on the soul of the recipient. During the rite, which typically occurs during a special Sunday mass, a prayer and blessing is offered as a bishop lays his hands on the head of the man being ordained.

In the case of the ordination of priests and bishops, this act confers the sacramental power to ordain (for bishops), baptize, confirm, witness marriages, absolve sins, and consecrate the Eucharist. Deacons can baptize, witness marriages, preach, and assist during the mass, but they cannot consecrate the Eucharist or hear confessions. With the exception of married deacons, an order restored by the Second Vatican Council, all ordained men are to be celibate.