Baptism is the first and fundamental sacrament. He is the "door" because through him we become members of the Church, the community of Christ's followers. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." Jesus said (Mk 16:16). Without baptism, we are beyond the reach of the grace that Jesus Christ earned for us through his death and resurrection. Only after baptism do we become candidates for other sacraments.

Baptism is a visible sign that we become similar, "conformed" to Jesus Christ, similar to Him in his death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, the first Christians gladly celebrated baptism on the holy Easter night, when the Church celebrates Christ's transition from this world to the Father after his death and resurrection. Just as he came through death to the glory of resurrection, so the baptized person comes to a new life in Christ through the water of baptism. This similarity comes to the fore especially when the baptized person is immersed in water.

In the sacrament of baptism, as in all other sacraments, faith is important. In the rite, the baptized person expresses his faith and his desire to be baptized. When children are baptized, parents and godparents express this wish on behalf of the baptized person. The child is baptized according to the religion of the parents and godparents.

Who can baptize?

The regular baptismal ministers are the Bishop, priest and deacon. In case of emergency, anyone can baptize, even an unbaptized person, only on the condition that he has the necessary intention to do what the Church does in baptism, and that he applies the prescribed formula:

And... , I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

When a child is baptized in an emergency, if he survives he should be brought to the church where the priest will complete the rites.

Godfathers

The godfather is determined by the baptized person or his parents. In order for someone to be a godfather, it is necessary to:

• that he has reached the age of sixteen.
• that she received Holy Communion and Confirmation.
• that he lives an orderly Catholic life and that there are no legal obstacles. Here comes the painful question of those who are married only civilly. Unmarried people cannot be godparents.
• parents cannot be godparents to their children.

A baptized person who is not of the Catholic faith is only allowed to be a witness to the baptism with a Catholic person (Canon 874 § 2).

Celebration of the sacrament of baptism in our parish

Baptism should be announced at least two weeks in advance, so that we can meet for instruction, and often also to get to know the parents and godparents.

We perform baptisms regularly on Saturdays at the agreed time.

Rite of the Sacrament of Baptism

At the very beginning, the baptizer asks the parents:

Baptist:Parents, what will you name your child? or, what name did you give your child?

Parents:They say the child's name...

Baptist:What are you asking the Church of God forAND…?

Parents:Baptism.

Baptist:You are asking for baptism for your child. With this, you undertake to raise him in faith so that he lives according to God's commandments, loves the Lord and his neighbor, as Christ taught us. Are you aware of that?

Parents:We are.

Baptist:Godparents, are you ready to help the parents of this child with their homework?

Godfathers:We are.

Baptist:AND…, the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In her name I mark you with the sign of the cross, and after me your parents and godparents will mark you with the same sign of Christ the Savior. (After that, the baptizer can ask the parents and godparents to make the sign of the cross on the child's forehead)

Now follows the service of the word, a short exhortation (sermon), then the prayer of the faithful, then the prayer of consecration, and then the blessing of the water.

The baptized express their conversion and faith by RENUNCIATING SATAN - they reject evil and the Evil One (devil), sin and superstition - and by CONFESSION OF FAITH by which they irrevocably commit themselves to God in Jesus Christ.

Baptist:Do you renounce satan?

Baptist:I renounce.

Baptist:And all his works?

Baptist:I renounce.

Baptist:And all his glory?

Baptist:I renounce.

Baptist:Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?

Baptist:I believe.

Baptist:Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

Baptist:I believe.

Baptist:Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

Baptist:I believe.

Baptist:That is our faith

Baptism

Baptist:Do you want to?AND…receive the cross in the faith of the Church, which we all confessed together now?

Parents and godparents:We will.

Baptist:AND…I baptize you in the name of the Father (and pours the baptized or immerses him)
and the Son (pours or immerses the baptized a second time)
and the Holy Spirit (pours the baptized or immerses him a third time)

Rituals after washing with water

• Anointing with chrism means that the baptized person becomes an anointed one with Christ the Anointed (Messiah), a collaborator in his "prophetic", "priestly" and "royal" service.
• The white dress is a sign of the newly baptized person's dignity, because by baptism we become "God's children" and a sign of his baptismal innocence after the forgiveness of sins - but also a sign of his obligation to live unsullied from now on, following the example of Jesus Christ who committed no evil.
• The Easter candle that burns at baptism marks the presence of Jesus Christ - the Risen One. He is the light and guide for the new life of the baptized and the source of everything that is given to us through baptism. That is why the baptismal candle is lit on the Easter candle.
• The rite of "Ephetas", i.e. the ritual opening of the baptized person's ears and mouth, symbolically shows that the baptized person has entered into a new relationship with God: from now on, his life will be constant and close listening to God's word and ready response to that word.

Final rites

The Baptist introduces those present to the mystery of baptism and invites them to pray the Lord's Prayer together. After the Lord's Prayer, he blesses the mother with the child in her arms, the father and everyone present, and the ceremony is over.