Syllabus:

• The key features of one religious ritual or practice

Will come up in the exam as a source analysis or short answer

Religious practice

Religious practices are a recognised way of doing something religious. It refers to a broad range of experiences that relate to religious life and its aspects. Religious practices include ways of praying, styles of religious worship, and at set times and in specific places religious ways of doing things

Religious rituals

Religious rituals use symbolic actions, such as movement, gestures and words to express and promote the importance of faith. They are communal celebrations that express a sense of belonging to a community and call for participation, not observation

Important Catholic rituals: Sacraments

Through the use of rituals, each of the Seven Sacraments (Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick) helps people experience the mystery of God in their life and deepens their faith as disciples of Jesus.

The Seven Sacraments are important ways in which the mystery of Christian faith is celebrated by Catholics. Participation in the sacraments are foundational to a relationship with God and strengthens people for the challenges of living their faith as committeddisciples of Jesus.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church recognises the existence of Seven Sacraments instituted by the Lord. Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier.

The Purpose of the Sacraments

• 7 sacraments enable people to receive God’s grace

• graces can come in the form of God’s forgiveness, His healing, His strength and so forth.

  • e.g. Baptism washes away original sin and turns the person into an adopted son/daughter of God

• graces of the sacraments come from the death and Resurrection of Jesus

• power over sin and death that Jesus possesses shows all people that they too are called to overcome sin in their own lives (made possible through the graces God gives to them in the sacraments)

• graces that come through the sacraments provide for people’s spiritual needs

The Origins of the Sacrament of Baptism

Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan like many others before and after him, by John [the Baptist], Jesus’s cousin. Even though Jesus had no sin, he allowed Himself to be baptised to set an example for us so we would do the same. After Jesus was baptised by John, God descended from heaven and proclaimed that Jesus was his beloved son.

Jesus built upon John’s ‘baptism of repentance’ and established it as a sacrament which Catholics receive today (gives grace). The Sacrament of Baptism would require two parts:

1. “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5)

2. Matthew 28:18-20 reads: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age”.

Both ‘water’ and the words ‘I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’ are necessary for Sacramental Baptism.

Ritual steps of the Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism

The key features of the Sacrament of Baptism include:

• Form and Matter

• Minister

• Sign and Symbol

Form and Matter

The ‘form’ (the ‘how’) involves the minister saying the words “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

The ‘matter’ (the ‘what’) required for the proper administering of the Sacrament of Baptism is water. The person being baptised either:

• is immersed in water three times

• has water poured over their head three times

The action with the water occurs at the same time the form is pronounced.

Minister

In addition to correct form and matter, each sacrament also requires the correct intent on the part of the minister in order for the sacrament to be considered valid. The ordinary ministers of the Sacrament of Baptism include:

• Bishop

• Priest

• Deacon

However, Canon 863 states that “the baptism of adults, at least of those who have completed their fourteenth year, is to be referred to the Bishop, so that he himself may confer it if he judges this appropriate”.

In a life-threatening emergency situation where no ordained minister is present, any person may perform the baptism as long as they use the correct form and matter with the right intentions.

Sign and Symbol

Sign: Water

Symbol: Jesus washes away original sin and, through the cleansing, they are given new life in the family of God. They become an adopted son/daughter of God where the Holy Trinity now dwells within them (they now live in a ‘state of grace’).

Sign: Fire

Symbol: The baptismal candle is lit from the Easter candle which signifies that Christ enlightens the newly baptised person, who, in turn shines out the line of Christ before men and women.

Sign: Anointing with Oil

Symbol: Celebrant anoints the person being baptised with oil on the forehead and on the chest with the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of Chrism.

The anointing with the Oil of Catechumens symbolises strengthening for the struggles of life ahead, whilst the anointing with the Oil of Chrism symbolises the sealing with the gifts of the Holy Spirit (faith, hope, charity, etc)

Sign: White garment

Symbol: The white clothing of the baptised person symbolises the taking away of the shame of sin or guilt and being clothed in Christ.