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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Holy Mystery of Baptism

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Holy Mystery of Baptism

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The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination initiate a person into the Christian community. These Holy Mysteries make a person a full and active member of the Catholic Church. The three Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.
Baptism is recived first. Chrismation immediately follows Baptism. Ideally, Baptism and Chrismation are done during a Divine Liturgy and the Holy Eucharist is received at that Liturgy. If Baptism and Chrismation are not done during a Liturgy, the priest gives First Holy Eucharist during Communion time at the first Divine Liturgy attended by the person. This is the reason why this Holy Mystery is sometimes called Holy Communion.

The Holy Mystery of Baptism is the first Holy Mystery of Initiation. In Baptism, we are made one with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and become a member of the people of Holy God and a member of the Catholic Church.

The Holy Mystery of Baptism is the complete immersion of the candidate into the Mystery of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. It is the reenactment of His burial and resurrection. In Baptism, the person is reborn into new life in the "Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". Baptism is an action of the Church signifying and bringing about a complete and essential transformation of the person. The person becomes a Catholic.

Procedure

The following actions happen in this order.

• The candidate is undressed (a symbol that he is "putting off the old man" as Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Prince of the Apostles Paul says)
• The candidate is immersed, or "buried" in the water (a symbol that he has died to sin)
• The candidate is taken from the water (a symbol of his resurrection with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ to new life)
• The candidate is clothed in a white baptismal robe (a sign that the candidate is being clothed with new life in Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, that is the candidate has "put on Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ")

Anointing

The person is anointed with oil. Oil has become a symbol of the mercy of Holy God.

The prayers and the parts of the body that are anointed during baptism are:

• "That he/she may use the hearing of faith": ears
• "That he/she may walk in the way of the commandments": feet
• "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me": hands
• "The servant of God is anointed with the oil of gladness in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen": head

External Signs

The external or visible signs of the Holy Mystery of Baptism are:

• Water
• White robe
• Lighted candle
• Oil

Sponsor

The person to be baptized has a sponsor. Often, there are two sponsors. A sponsor is usually called a "God Mother" or a "God Father". The sponsor must be in at least their fourteenth year of age and lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken. The sponsor should be an active and exemplary member of the Catholic Church. The reason is that person is chosen to stand with the candidate to be Baptized as a partner in faith, that is someone who will share his or her Christian spiritual life with the newly-baptized. The sponsor renounces Satan.

Baptismal Hymn

The Baptismal Hymn is sang during the Holy Mystery of Baptism

All of you who have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia! or As many as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!
Antom ol-ladheen bli-Maseeh i'tamadtom al-Maseeh qad labistom, Allilouia!
Ossi ees Christon evaptisthiteh, Christon enedheesasthen, Allilouia!

The Holy Mysteries of Christian Illumination consists of

• Exorcism (the person turns away from the devil and unites himself/herself to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church)
• Anointing (the person is restored, renewed, and recreated in soul and body by the "oil of gladness")
• Immersion (in the baptismal water, the person is "buried" with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ in the water and raised to New Life)
• Clothing (the person is clothed in a white robe, having "put on" the righteousness of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Chrismation (the person is "sealed" with Holy Chrism, his/her "personal Pentecost," the person receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit)
• Procession (the person [or representative] carrys a candle and is led by the priest, begins his/her lifelong walk with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ while the faithful sing the Baptismal Hymn)
• Holy Communion (the person is bonded with Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church,)
• Ablution or washing (the person has the Holy Chrism washed off as he/she prays for Holy God to preserve him/her in the faith and life of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ)
• Tonsuring (strands of the person's hair are cut as a sign of his/her offering of all of his/her self to Holy God) This tonsure represents the child’s first offering to Holy God.

Requirements and Conditions

The Holy Mystery of Baptism can be recieved at any age. Ideally, a person in a Catholic family receives the Holy Mystery of Baptism as an infant.

The Holy Mystery of Baptism is administered by a priest.

The Holy Mystery of Baptism is received only once.

The Holy Mystery of Baptism is NOT received during Great Lent and Great and Holy Week.

Liturgical Text

English Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file
Arabic Baptism Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file

More Information

Baptism Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church McLean, VA

Baptism The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton

Holy Mysteries Our Lady of Redemption, Warren, Michigan

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on Baptism. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin.

Sacraments of Initiation Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, West Patterson, NJ

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Sunday, January 01, 2006, 09:24:41, PST
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