Hi Anna. Yes, those entering the Church who have reached the age of reason do make a profession of faith. Basically they must agree with the Apostles Creed. The desire for Baptism (a profession in itself) and the understanding of the effect of Baptism must preceed the sacrament. While the Catholic Church accepts Baptism from any denomination (as long as it is done in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit and water is used) the difference in understanding of the purpose and effect of the sacrament is very different. From what I have heard, most Protestant denominations treat the Baptism as a proclamation of their acceptance of Christ into their lives. In other words, it is a statment of faith by the recipient rather than an action of God’s grace with real effects. We believe that our sins are truly washed away (in the case of infants, original sin, rather than actual sin) and that supernatural life is infused into our soul.
Most Protestant denominations do treat Baptism as purely symbolic; and it follows the “Sinner’s Prayer.” I was Baptized, at the age of 7, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, the Baptist Church does not teach that Baptism carries any grace or real effects. For Baptists, Baptism does serve as a public profession of faith in Christ. Otherwise, it is purely symbolic.
I am realizing that Baptism does impart certain graces, including the forgiveness of sin. I met with the Episcopal Priest, yesterday (I’ve been visiting a conservative Episcopal Church.) His explanation of Baptism was very similar to yours, both for adults and for infants; and seems much in line with the quotes you gave from CCC.
The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer describes the “inward and spiritual grace in Baptism” as “the union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit.”
The Priest explained that just as circumcision was performed when an infant was 8 days old, Baptisms were performed on the 8th day as well. Circumcision was done under the Old Covenant. Baptism is done to bring one into the New Covenant. Would you agree?
This is finally making sense to me, especially in light of Colossians 2, where the “circumcision made without hands” is connected to Baptism.
Colossians 2: 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him,
having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Padrej: you made a good point about the one verse that says Baptism saves a person. You pointed to the “good conscience toward God,” as being a profession of faith. However, in Colossians 2:13-14 (quoted above) could also be seen as a connection between Baptism and forgiveness. Maybe I am misinterpreting. Not sure.
. . . . .The one and ONLY reference in the Bible that says specifically that Baptism saves the person comes from 1 Peter 3 : 21. . . . .HOWEVER, notice that it mentions that it is the “answer of a good conscience towards God” so it still boils down to the profession of faith first as claimed by the early church and handed down to us. . . .
**1 Peter 3: **18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
21
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body
but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
In Romans 6, we find more descriptions of the graces of Baptism. These are important passages that I have overlooked in the past. I am finally seeing them in “new light.”
Romans 6: 3 Do you not know that all of us
who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be
united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our
old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Yes, they must profess all that the Catholic Church teaches. But the sacrament is much more than a simple profession of faith; again there are real effects through the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The primary action is on the part of God. The recipient only acknowledges and accepts these gifts which will strengthen them.
Maybe I need to read through these posts more closely. Is someone saying that there isn’t a profession of faith required? Anyway, as I said above, yes a profession of faith is involved. Before any adult receives any of the sacraments of initiation they must complete at least two years of study (that may vary according to the particular diocese) so that they understand very well what they are doing in order to make their profession. Without going into the entire “rite” of Christian initiation, sufice it to say that there are several professions of faith before you ever receive the sacraments.
I know many Catholics who think that in Confirmation they are giving their final “yes” to God and are becoming “adults” in the Catholic Church. That is not what the sacrament is about. It is about receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit which is a free gift of God. The gifts are given but it is up the the person receiving them to use them. There are a lot of Catholics with unopened gifts laying around. Professions of faith are made, but that is not the primary purpose. I’ve probably totally confused you at this point. I’ve taught Confirmation classes for about ten years now so I’m pretty familiar with the various understandings of most Catholics prior to the classes.
I wish I had my Catechism handy. It always explains things better than I. I may follow up on this if I find something I missed.
Hope all is well with you Anna. God bless.
The Episcopal Priest said pretty much the same thing, as you are saying about confirmation.
Anna, here is a better explanation of sacraments as a whole, why they are primarily an act of God, rather than an act of persons.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church
:
“Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify. They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he wo baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies. The Father always hears the prayers of his Son’s Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit. As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to its power.” (CCC par.1127)
“This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato
(literally: ‘by the very fact of the action’s being performed’), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once, for all. It follows that ‘the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God.’ From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them.” (CCC par. 1128)
That’s what I meant to say
Great quotes from CCC. Thank you.
On Baptism
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml#art1
On Confirmation
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art2.shtml
On the Eucharist
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art3.shtml
Crazzeto,
Thanks for the links.
So, do we all agree that for an adult, some form of profession of faith is necessary prior to Baptism?
Anna
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(I’m a little jealous. We need people like you in our Church). Honestly, there is little doctrinal difference and it sounds like you have a very competent priest (obviously because he agrees with me).
I submitted my formal resignation to the Baptist Church in the last part of January, this year. I haven’t heard a word from the Church. I think they were glad to see me go. I had too many questions about Baptist Doctrine.