L.O. To link the symbols of Baptism to everyday life.

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L.O. To link the symbols of Baptism to everyday
life.
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SYMBOLS OF BAPTISM

• SIGN OF CROSS
• PRAYERS
• OIL
• PROMISES
• WATER
• WHITE GARMENT
• CANDLE
• NAME
• EASTER CANDLE
• BLESSINGS

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The sign of the Cross
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• At the door, the priest asks the parents and
  God-parents if they are willing to bring up the
  child as a Christian. When they say 'Yes' the
  priest welcomes and names the child and says, "I
  claim you for Christ our Saviour by the Sign of
  his Cross".
• The priest then traces the sign of the cross on
  the child's forehead and the parents and
  God-parents do the same. The sign of the cross is
  a symbol that the child now belongs to God.

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• PRAYERS
• After a reading from the Gospel, there are
  prayers. The prayers are for the baby and for the
  parents and God-parents to help them in their job
  of bringing up the child.

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OIL

• Oil of catechumens-strength and protection
• Oil of Chrism this is olive oil mixed with
  balsam, a sweet-smelling perfume. The candidate
  is crowned as a new Christian. It is used to
  anoint Kings and Queens
• Chrism is also used at confirmation, another
  sacrament of initiation.

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Oil

• The child is anointed with holy oil twice during
  baptism.
• By using oil, the church dramatises its prayer
  that this child will be strengthened by God and
  by the prayer of the whole community.

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Anointing

• The cross is traced upon the child's tiny
  forehead, to mark him out for Gods service.
• The oil of catechumens is a sign of strength and
  healing.

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Promises are made
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Water

• Water This is for cleansing and is a sign that
  our sins are washed away..

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WATER

• The water used in Baptism reflects 3 aspects of
  belief
• Cleansing the washing away of sins
• Death to die a way of life that is not
  pleasing to God
• New Life living a life pleasing to God
• It is poured 3 times during the ceremony

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• Baptism is the rite by which a baby or adult is
  welcomed into the Catholic faith.
• The use of water is symbolic of belonging to the
  family of God.

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A name is given
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White Garment

• The baby is clothed with a white garment, often a
  shawl, as a sign of being clothed in Christ.

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White Garment

• This garment is a relic of the new clothes worn
  by Christians after baptism in the first
  centuries. It is a sign of innocence and the new
  life or resurrection.

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CANDLE

• The candle is lit from the Paschal candle
• Receive the light of Christ
• Jesus is the light of the world
• It is entrusted to the parents and godparents to
  keep the flame of faith alive in his/her heart.

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Light

• The candle symbolises Christ - The Light of the
  World. The baptismal candle is lit from the
  Easter candle, which stands near the altar at
  Easter as a sign of the risen Christ. The
  baptismal candle reminds us that the light of
  Christ has entered the child's life and its
  flame symbolises the flame of faith which will
  burn through the life of the child.

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Blessings

• At the end, the Lord's prayer is said. Then the
  priest blesses the mother and father and all the
  people in the church.

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• Remember that symbols can be objects, words and
  actions.
• Remember the symbols representing human needs
  that you have explored

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Think about how the symbols of Baptism relate to
everyday life

• HUMAN NEED
• water
• oil
• fire
• light
• food
• clothes
• words

• SYMBOLS of BAPTISM
• sign of the cross
• name
• promises
• oil
• water
• new garment
• prayers
• Easter candle
• baptismal candle
• blessings.

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Activities
Gp 1 Draw each symbol of Baptism and relate its
use in everyday life. Gp 2 In groups, use the
worksheet to match the symbols of human need to
the symbols of Baptism. Gp 3 Drama Act out a
Baptism using a doll- use the video camera to
record. Worksheet to link the Baptism symbols
with the human need.