Beginning with the Apostles' Evangelization (hearing the "Good
News" about Jesus), Conversion (coming to a belief in this person,
Jesus, as the Savior) led persons to ask to be Baptized which they had
heard was the way one became a Christian. These adults were baptized,
received first Eucharist and became full members of the Church. As the
first centuries passed, Christian adults began to ask that their
children also be baptized soon after birth and before they had reached
the "age of reason" when they were capable of making their own decision
after evangelization and conversion.
This is the custom today in
most Christian churches. It has led to minimizing the power of Baptism
and the impact it should have in our lives. We have thousands of
Baptized but uncatechized (never evangelized or converted to a personal
relationship with Jesus, if they even know who he is!)
I was
baptized as an infant but the evangelization and conversion part of my
faith journey were not missing. I attended parochial schools from Grades
one through twelve taught by dedicated Sisters of St. Joseph. During my
elementary (grades l - 8) years the evangelization was by way of daily
catechism classes while every part of the school day contributed to
conversion and establishing a living personal relationship with Jesus.
We "blessed" each hour of the school day by saying a brief prayer at the
beginning of the hour. We were taught formal prayers like the Our
Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be as well as to pray quietly and
spontaneously when we needed help or just to praise the Lord. We were
taken to Church for special weekly feast days and for developing
devotions like the Rosary and Stations of the Cross.
Finally, and
most importantly, my parents and their children worshiped together
weekly. Staying out late on Saturday night in High School was not
accepted as an excuse to miss Mass on Sunday morning.
The Effects of Baptism
When
we were baptized as infants, original sin (the sin of Adam and Eve) was
forgiven as it is for adults. In Addition Baptism for Adults also
forgives all personal sins which infants are incapable of committing.
Born Again
Baptism
by immersion is the clearest sign of being united with Christ in his
death - buried with him when the water covers us and rising to new life,
born again as we emerge from the font. However, Baptism by the
sprinkling or pouring water over the head is equally valid.
We are
baptized with the words given to us by Jesus himself when he instructed
his apostles to go forth baptizing in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We are born again as adopted children
of the Father who immerses us in his own Son's death and resurrection.
He washes us clean and gives us his Holy Spirit to empower us to live in
righteousness, free from sin and death.
At Baptism our
relationship with Jesus becomes a bond of love that is strengthened by
daily prayer, seeking the Lord and unwrapping the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, that keep our lives focused on Jesus as we continue our
Conversion Journey.
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