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JUBILEE TEACHING

Baptism, spiritual rebirth

JUBILEE TEACHING FOR JANUARY 13, 2008 | FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The church teaches that baptism is the portal to spiritual life and the gateway to other sacraments, a sacrament of purification and rebirth. Through baptism, Catholics become members of the church to share in the church’s mission.

Baptism, from the Greek baptizein, means to “plunge” or “immerse.” The immersion into the water is symbolic of death and rebirth: The baptized person dies in the water and is reborn in Christ, just as Christ himself died on the cross and was resurrected. The waters of baptism have a cleansing effect, as the soul of the baptized person is washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Baptism is also associated with spiritual enlightenment — those who receive baptism are enlightened in their understanding.

Many stories in the Old Testament seem to prefigure baptism: the story of the great flood, when the water drowned the wicked; the crossing of the Red Sea, which freed the Israelites from bondage; the crossing of the River Jordan into the Promised Land. In the New Testament, Jesus himself is baptized before beginning his mission. After Pentecost, the apostles began to baptize new converts to the faith.

In the early church, baptism was part of the sacraments of initiation, which also involved proclamation of the word, acceptance of the Gospel, profession of faith, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through confirmation, and admission to Eucharistic communion.

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JUBILEE TEACHING

Baptism, spiritual rebirth

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