Baptism is often thought of as a cleansing ritual, consisting of being either immersed in water or having water poured on your head.
Since Catholics hold purity in such high regard, do Catholics get baptized?
Yes, Catholics get baptized. One of the most long-standing and important traditions of the Catholic religion consists of the holy Sacraments, which most Catholics will complete by the end of their life.
The first sacrament any Catholic person is required to complete to continue their Catholic faith is baptism.
Baptism holds a very special significance for those who practice the Catholic faith, and this sacrament must happen for a person to grow up in the Catholic faith following traditional protocols.
The Origins Of Baptism
When Jesus was born, he was born with original sin as a human. This meant that he would be susceptible to the same temptations that any other human would be.
The intention was to set an example that a person could live a holy life by choice and avoid sin.
As an adult, he accepted being baptized by St. John the Baptist, who was also his cousin.
Accepting baptism meant that he would be absolved of any sin, and would be able to step forward living a faithful life.
The Symbolism Of Baptism
Since people are also born with original sin thanks to the mistakes of Adam and Eve, there is still the potential that a person could be tempted into a life of sin according to the Catholic faith.
The sacrament of baptism is meant to be a chance to start over; a person can be freed of any sin and can start their life in a pure way.
It’s believed that a person is able to be cleansed of any evil and has the ability to begin a new life in the church.
In the event that a person wants to convert to Catholicism, they can be baptized in the church as an adult as well.
The Baptism Ceremony
Baptism typically occurs when a person is still an infant or a toddler. It is the first sacrament within the Catholic faith and must happen before a person can receive their first communion.
Baptisms are held in a church, where a child has holy water poured on their forehead above a baptismal font.
The ceremony is completed by a priest, usually in the company of family and friends.
Since an infant is not able to make the choice to get baptized, parents will choose godparents for their child.
The godparents essentially promise to assist the parents in raising the child within the church and are making a promise to be a consistent presence in the child’s life as they grow up.
Why Children Get Baptized
Baptism is not only a ritual that is believed to purify a child so they can begin a fruitful life in the church but it is also believed to be a way to protect the soul of a young child.
While it is a grim thought, it’s said that a child who passes away without having been baptized would not be able to enter heaven.
Instead, it is believed that the soul of a child who hasn’t been baptized would enter what’s known as a state of limbo.
This is somewhat similar to the concept of purgatory, where the soul is neither damned to hell nor ascended to heaven.
When a child reaches adolescence, they can undergo the sacrament of confirmation.
This sacrament is a commitment to continue life in the church as a person who is able to make the choice. This will occur after the first communion, typically around the time, a child becomes a teenager.
There are vows that a child takes when they are baptized, though these vows are accepted on their behalf by parents and godparents.
During confirmation, the person who is being confirmed will recommit to those vows and are making a promise to continue life in the church.
Final Thoughts
Baptism is one of the most sacred and important sacraments in the Catholic religion, though this religion is not the only one who appreciates baptism and what it represents.
It’s a necessity in the religion for someone who wants to live their life according to Catholic principles and hopes to achieve what the Catholic faith promises.
