What is it that makes the baptism “Catholic” vs a valid non-Catholic Christian baptism? The jailer cries out, “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul and Silas reply, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31). The feast that we celebrate today, the Baptism of Jesus gives us the answer to the above question. In the Roman Catholic Church, most believers are baptized by pouring (also known as infusion). Any prayers I will need to say to the priest etc? God and Creation – Primer Catechism. Yes, to use the protestant terminology, we are “born again” at our baptism, whether it is when we are an infant, or when we are 90. As you posed the question, the answer is “Yes.” Presuming the second - that the child somewhere along the line decides (0r the parents decide ) that the child will join the Catholic Church, there will be no second “baptism” - presuming the normal formula was observed. It is not very difficult to demonstrate that they believe physical actions and religious ceremonies can be useful for salvation—otherwise why have evangelistic rallies with emotional music and altar calls? Besides the normal ritual baptism of water and invocation of the Holy Trinity, the Church has also accepted two other forms of baptism a baptism of blood and a baptism of desire. The fact that water is used for baptism signifies that there is a true cleansing that takes place. This suggests that baptism of desire may also extend to those who have pre-Christian faith or to non-Christians who have faith according to the level of their knowledge, but have never heard the Christian gospel. “Jesus answered [Nicodemus], ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ After this [conversation] Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized” (John 3:5, 22). Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic … So I’m wondering what actually happens at a Catholic baptism and anything I should know before I actually go to the church. The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in priority since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. John the Baptist was a contemporary of Christ who was known for evangelization and his baptizing of Jesus Christ. And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Col. 2:11-13). Therefore they believe when Jesus refers to “water and the Spirit,” he is referring to physical birth and spiritual rebirth. I was born in Argentina, and I was baptized Catholic. 2:5) and the Hebrew children were baptized “into Moses in the cloud and the Red Sea” (1 Cor. See more ideas about baptism, catholic baptism, catholic. I lived in England for 25 years and had little contact with Baptists. The Sacraments. By virtue of our Catholic baptism, we become Catholic and are obliged to follow certain rules that are not binding on baptized non-Catholic Christians, for example to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days and to marry according to Catholic form. First, consider baptism by blood. Two other clear accounts are Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, and Peter’s immediate baptism of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. If they can see that God uses their preaching and their traditions and religious rituals to bring people to salvation, then it is not too much of a leap for them to see that the Catholic rituals are another physical and active way for individuals to accept the gift of salvation. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him'” (Acts 2:38-39). The baptism does not need to be performed by a priest; any baptized Christian (even a non-Catholic) can perform a valid baptism. “Baptism,” the couple replies, giving an even more meaningful answer. He will bring up the good thief on the cross. However, the theory doesn’t stand up in practice. I have never been a Godparent before, but now I have been asked to I am a bit nervous! http://www.catholic.comTim Staples is Director of Apologetics and Evangelization here at Catholic Answers, but he was not always Catholic. Of course, the sacraments are more than a practical, man-made religious tool. He must will it because He said, “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me.” (Matt. I was asked this question and I don’t have an answer. Baptism is not just a symbol, as so many Evangelicals claim. Mark Giszczak (“geese-check”) was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. 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