Baptism for Infants
-By Julia Luu-
What does 'Sacrament' mean within the Catholic tradition?
History Of Baptism
It is said to be that the origin of baptism could be found in the book of Leviticus. The Levite priest were commanded to a symbolic cleansing in water before and after fulfilling their priestly duties.
Different meanings of 'Baptism'
In the Catholic Church, parents make the decision of when they want to have their child baptised. However, in the Roman catholic Church, they consider that baptism is so important that even infants are to be baptised within the first few weeks. They believe that if the infant is in danger of death, the infants is the to be baptised without any delay. They declare that "The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church."
In ancient Catholic Churches, they insist that infants should be baptised as soon as in practicable after birth. For them, they believe that baptism is not just a symbol, but conveys grace. They also believe that baptism is a sacrament as it is an 'instrument' instituted by Jesus Christ to impart grace.