Baptism: meaning and ritual

[Sr_Sally]

Interesting article in today’s Washington Post.

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601278.html

This church practices baptism every year “as a way for members to periodically wash away their sins”. They are encourged to be baptised if they have sinned in the past year. (Surely we all have!!)

Also, the baptismal water (from a fire hose!) is used as a sort of holy water. “She also brings an empty jug to be filled with consecrated water that she and family members will drink and rub on their bodies to help them heal when they are ill.”

Just so interesting how this sect is trying to re-create the sacrament of confession and a certain piety without actually going back to the real thing.

 

[chrysostom15]

Perhaps they would like to hear of Confession.

 

[Sr_Sally]

They probably would! I think it is also interesting that they talk about ‘sprinkling’ the water, which is why they use a fire hose and not immersion in the river. I will pray that Catholics nearby to them see the same parallels and begin to share with them.