Each month the team working on this catechism presents you with two texts, and we hope that with your help and cooperation they will improve. Any suggestions you may have would be most welcome, as would ideas on subject matter.
We look forward to hearing from you.
THE INITIATION RITES
- As for all religions, there are stages to passing through and needs
to preparing to be a member of the Christian community. A progressive initiation
becomes necessary to enter into an unfamiliar world. The Christian initiation
rites are the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist .
- We have children or grand-children, we know adults who are baptized or not. We believe that God loves all of them without difference. God does not limit His gifts to the sacramental acts that the Church can perform. But if the Church baptizes, it is to exemplify and recognize what God is doing for humanity.
- To be baptize it is to be born like Jesus, for all the world, for the others and for ourselves. It is a new way of living. Jesus continues His life in us for a new birth.
- Baptism is a beginning. It gives the Holy Spirit to transform us into Christians and disciples of Jesus. It is the door step of the Church. And ones needs a whole life to make use of what we received one day.
- We have children or grand-children, we know adults who are baptized or not. We believe that God loves all of them without difference. God does not limit His gifts to the sacramental acts that the Church can perform. But if the Church baptizes, it is to exemplify and recognize what God is doing for humanity.
Easter of Jesus becomes ours. Progressively we understand that we have been baptized for humanity. It is why it is so important to make one's baptism a success and also to help the others to do so. Confirmation is following in the wake of Baptism. The Holy Spirit is going to accomplish for the baptized what was done for the Apostles at Pentecost day. It becomes like a strength to the confirmed one to testify about Jesus in all circumstances of life. Confirmation is Pentecost for all the life.
Baptism and Confirmation lead to Eucharist which is the Last Supper. A meal where Jesus gives himself to all human beings. He gives His life to give us the real life. Meal of Easter where Jesus offers himself to His Father for the salvation of the world. The Christians, baptized and confirmed, are invited to join the offering of Jesus, who gives up His life by love for humanity.
The sacraments of initiation are linked together even if they are received at different times. They are celebrated usually at Easter time and the adults received them altogether. They prepare themselves with other members of the community, they enter the Church and take their responsibilities. The Church is enriched by all these people coming from elsewhere and full of the culture of our time. Thanks to them the Church is renewed by receiving them.