FAQs

The history of the Catholic Church is traced by the Catholic Church back to apostolic times and thus covers a period of nearly 2,000 years,[1] making it one of the world's oldest institutions. The history of the Catholic Church is an integral part of the history of Christianity and of Western civilization.

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ, its spiritual head. Catholic doctrine asserts that it is the continuation of the Church that was founded at the Confession of Peter. It interprets the Confession of Peter as Christ's designation of Apostle Peter and his successors in Rome to be the temporal head of his Church. Thus, it asserts that the Bishop of Rome has the sole legitimate claim to Petrine authority and the primacy due to the Roman Pontiff. The Catholic Church claims legitimacy of its bishops and priests via the doctrine of apostolic succession and authority of the Pope via the unbroken line of popes, successors to Simon Peter.

The authority of the Apostle Peter and his successors is thus viewed as a continuous history from Jesus Christ. The institution of the papacy as it exists today developed through the centuries. Church tradition records that Peter became the first leader of Christians in the Imperial capital of Rome. The Apostles and many Christians traveled to northern Africa, Asia Minor, Arabia, Greece, and Rome to found the first Christian communities. Christianity spread quickly through the Roman Empire, and by the second century there were many established bishoprics within the Empire including Northern Africa, France, Italy, Syria, and Asia Minor, and twenty bishoprics outside the empire, mainly in Armenia. Irenaeus (d. 202) defended the apostolic tradition.

In 313, the struggles of the Early Church were lessened by the legalisation of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine I. In 380, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire by the decree of the Emperor, which would persist until the fall of the Western Empire, and later, with the Eastern Roman Empire, until the Fall of Constantinople. During this time (the period of the Seven Ecumenical Councils) there were considered five primary sees according to Eusebius: Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, see also Pentarchy.

After the destruction of the western Roman Empire, the church in the West was a major factor in the preservation of classical civilization, establishing monasteries, and sending missionaries to convert the peoples of northern Europe, as far as Ireland in the north. In the East, the Byzantine Empire preserved Orthodoxy, until the massive invasions of Islam in the mid-seventh century. The invasions of Islam devastated three of the five patriarchal sees, capturing Jerusalem first, then Alexandria, and then finally in the mid-eighth century, Antioch.

The whole period of the next five centuries was dominated by the struggle between Christianity and Islam throughout the Mediterranean Basin. The battles of Poitiers, and Toulouse preserved the Catholic west, even though Rome itself was ravaged in 850, and Constantinople besieged.

In the 11th century, already strained relations between the primarily Greek church in the East, and the Latin church in the West, developed into the East-West Schism, partially due to conflicts over Papal Authority. The fourth crusade, and the sacking of Constantinople by renegade crusaders proved the final breach.

In the 16th century, in response to the Protestant Reformation, the Church engaged in a process of substantial reform and renewal, known as the Counter-Reformation.[13] In subsequent centuries, Catholicism spread widely across the world despite experiencing a reduction in its hold on European populations due to the growth of religious scepticism during and after the Enlightenment. The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s introduced the most significant changes to Catholic practices since the Council of Trent three centuries before.

“Why does the priest keep his index fingers and thumbs together after consecration?” It’s no doubt a question that some Catholics are asking themselves as an increasing number of priests return to this traditional liturgical practice.

The answer is simple. They do it out of love for Our Lord. They do it to prevent the loss of Eucharistic particles through carelessness. And while the rubrics for the new Mass do not require it, more priests are embracing the historical practice which is required in the traditional Mass.

Answering this very question a few years back, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (blogger Fr. Z) explained that:

…what the priest is doing, by keeping his index and thumbs together, is consistent with what priests have been required by the rubrics to do during Mass after the consecration. Priests are still, in the Extraordinary Form, required to keep index and thumbs pressed together at the “pads”, as it were, lest any recognizable particle that might have adhered to the fingers were to fall some place outside the corporal (the square linen cloth spread out on the altar on which the chalice and Hosts rest). This is also why, after the consecration, the priest was to keep his hand as much as possible over the corporal.

Fr. Z continues by explaining a practice which I recently discussed in another Liturgy Guy post:

This is also why it is good during Mass when the chalice is uncovered for the priest gently to rub his fingers and thumbs together over the chalice, for the sake of letting particles fall into the chalice rather than elsewhere. It becomes habitual and it takes no effort or delay to do it.

Bottom line: when you see a priest keeping his index fingers and thumbs together after consecration, and until purification (following the distribution of Communion), he is doing so to prevent the loss of particles. He is doing so out of love.

This is also why it’s imprudent for priests to pat childrens heads, or make the sign of the cross on someone’s forehead with an index finger, when they come up during Communion. By keeping the pads of his fingers together he can still impart his blessing without risking profanation of the Eucharist.

Returning to Fr. Z, he explains that while these gestures are not required by the rubrics of the Novus Ordo:

It is a good thing to do anyway.

First, it makes sense. Second, it’s what priests do.

Some will object that this practice seems fussy or even – gasp – scrupulous.

I respond saying that recognizable particles remain the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of the Lord. I think the Eucharist deserves our care and attention.

He concludes with this compelling argument:

I am a sinner, but when I come before the Lord for His judgment He won’t tell me I was careless with the Him during Mass. Shame on those priests who are careless.

Let us hope that more return to this venerable practice. Protecting the Eucharist from profanation should be something that all priests practice, regardless of form or Rite. 

Have you made a visit to the nativity scene or crib as a way to deepen your devotion in the season of Christmas? If you have not, then you are missing something.

This pictorial representation of the birthplace of Jesus assumes a significant place by reminding us of the humble, lowly, poor and quiet way the Son of God was born. Thus, no matter how exotic the design of the crib, it has never failed to retain features of simplicity of the Word-made-flesh.

In a world where many people tend to believe that it is worthless to be humble or submissive and everyone seems to be in a rat race, we are reminded that the Son of God was born in a manger, without any splendour or royalty. Jesus subjected himself to the nature of man.  

The crib also takes us back to the Garden of Eden, a state of innocence that reveals the Creator in the midst of his creatures. It is where heaven and earth again meet, and God mixes with his people. 

This ordinarily “despised” place was the first home of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In our time, any family living in that kind of condition is usually of low or no reckoning. Little wonder that such family is considered wretched – the scum of the earth. Now, the crib occupies a place of pride in human history as the form that our God took to save us.

In the crib, the concept of power is reversed. Power does not mean residing in the best of places and God used the lowliness of the manger to overcome the pride of man, and its quietness to overcome the noise of the world.

Even from the manger, the Son of God wields so much influence. We are always reminded that he went the way of the manger for our sake. He really wanted us to have access to him, not being driven away by his all-powerful might. According to St Leo the Great, “if God had not come down to us by this humility, no one could have come to him by any merits of his own.”

The crib also shows how material wealth and wisdom can be deceptive.  Most times, they are not really what they portray. True greatness does not lie in them. Herod was disturbed by the greatness of the new-born King to the extent of committing infanticide. Herod knew he did not actually have the true greatness so he tried to eliminate Jesus. Today, ambitious people such as Herod still struggle for positions and power and they sometimes maim or kill or do both to realise their ambitions. Often, they call or arrogate to  themselves what they are not.

Let us not feel that we lose something by being humble. The general impression is that humility allows others to ride roughshod on the humble. This is not correct. That one does not blow one’s trumpet or assert one’s authority does not mean one is weak. No. The humble rather gains something great; he or she gains God’s approval for true greatness consists in what God thinks about him or her. It is not what the person says or what others acclaim.  Also, humility costs nothing but buys all.

Similarly, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist, among many other biblical figures, exhibited the virtue of humility in spite of their greatness. Indeed, true greatness lies in humility and humility is the way of God. Christmas, thus, remains a special moment to celebrate the humility of the Son of God who became man in order to save humanity.

Following is a partial list of members of our catholic family who are in Heaven and who continue to love us and help us especially in times of difficulty and danger.

Adopted Children                     St. Clotilde, 474-545                                                Alcoholism                              St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, 

Bachelors                                St. Benedict Joseph

Blindness                                St. Raphael, archangel

Charitable Societies                 St. Vincent De Paul, 1581- 1660

Childless                                 St. Julian the Hospitable, middle ages

Children                                  St. Nicholas of Myrab, C -345

Choirs                                     St. Cecilia

Converts                                 St. Helena, 249 -330

Convulsive Children                  St. Scholistica, 470 -547

Deacons                                  St. Stephen

Deafness                                 St. Francis De Sales, 1566- 1622

Death of Children                     St. Elizabeth of Hungary; 1207- 1231

Desperate Situations                St. Simon & Jude, apostles (N.T.)

Difficult Marriages                    St. Elizabeth of Portugal 1271- 1336

Doctors                                   St. Luke

Dying                                      St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus

Ecologists                                St. Francis of Assisi

Epilepsy                                  St. Willibord, .658- 739

Expectant Mothers                   St. Gerald Majeila, 1726- 1755

Eye Diseases                           St. Lucy, virgin martyr. -304

Examination                            St. Joseph of Cupertino, 1603- 1663

Falsely Accused                       St. Matilda, 895- 968

Fire Protection                         St. Catherine of Siena, 1347- 1380

Handicapped                            St. Henry, 972- 1024

Happy Meetings                       St. Raphael, archangel

Headache Sufferers                  St. Theresa of Avila. Virgin, 1515- 1582

Heart Patients                          St. John of God, 1495- 1550

Husband                                  St. Joseph

Invalids                                   St. Roch, 14^th century

Jealousy                                  BlHedwig, holy woman, 1371-1399

Justice                                    St. Msartin de Porres

Learning                                 St. Ambrose, 340-397

Lovers                                    St. Valentine

Mental Illness                          St. Benedict Joseph Labre, 1748-1783

Monks                                     St. Anthony

Mothers                                  St. Monica

Nurses                                    St. Senan

Orphans                                  St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, 1850-17

Priests                                    St. Jean Vianney

Rheumatism                            St. James the greater, apostle, (N.T)

Schools                                   St. Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274

Searches of Lost Items             St. Anthony of Padua. 1195- 1231

Separated Spouses                  St. Edward, 1002- 1065

Sickness                                 St. Michael, Archangel

Single Laywoman                    St. Margaret of Cortona, 1247- 1297

Students                                St. Jerome & St. Katerine of Egypt

Teachers                                St. John Baptiste de la Salle

Throat Diseases                      St. Blaise, martyr, C.316

Travelers                                St. Christopher, martyr, third century

Victims of Betrayal                  St. Oswin, king and martyr, C 615

Victims of Child Abuse             St. Germaine Cousin, virgin,c. 1579- 1601

Victims of Jealousy                  St. Elizabeth of Portugal, queen c1271 -1336

Victims, Physical Abuse            St. Fabiola, c. 400

Victims of Rape                       St. Mara Goretti, virgin, martyr 1890-1902

Victims of Torture                    St. Edmund, king and martyr,c. 841-870

Victims of Unfaithfulness          St. Fabiola

Widows                                   St. Frances of Rome,

Widowers                                St. Thomas More, martyr, c.1478- 1535

Wives                                     St. Martha

Women in Labor                      St. Anne, mother of B.V.M., 1^st century B.C

Workers                                 St. Joseph

Young Brides                          Bl. Hedwig the Queen, 1371- 1399

Young Groom                         St. Louis IX, king & confessor

Youths                                   St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

PLACES OF WORSHIP: Basilica is a church which has been given special privileges by the Pope.

CATHEDRAL: The special church of a Bishop in a diocese.

CHURCH: A house set apart where the worshipping community meet for mass and prayer.

CHAPEL: Small church or a side chapel of a larger church.

ORATORY: A private little church in a convent or house.

SHRINE: A big area set aside to honor Mary or some saints.

GROTTO: Usually a small area with a statue of Mary or poplar saints under a canopy.

*The 7 Sacraments (The Holy Mysteries):*

1. Baptism 

2. Confirmation (Chrismation)

3. Eucharist 

4. Penance (Confession, Reconciliation)

5. Matrimony 

6. Holy Orders 

7. Extreme Unction (Annointing of the Sick

*The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy:*

1. To feed the hungry

2. To give drink to the thirsty 

3. To clothe the naked 

4. To shelter the homeless 

5. To visit the sick 

6. To visit the imprisoned 

7. To bury the dead

*The 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy:*

1. To counsel the doubtful

2. To instruct the ignorant

3. To admonish the sinner

4. To comfort the sorrowful

5. To forgive all injuries

6. To bear wrongs patiently

7. To pray for the living and the dead 

*The 3 Eminent Good Works:*

1. Prayer

2. Fasting

3. Almsgiving 

*The 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost:*

1. Wisdom 

2. Understanding 

3. Counsel 

4. Fortitude 

5. Knowledge 

6. Piety 

7. Fear of the Lord

*Class of Gifts of the Holy Ghost known as Charismata:*

1. Gift of speaking with wisdom

2. Gift of speaking with knowledge

3. Faith

4. Grace of healing

5. Gift of miracles

6. Gift of prophecy

7. Gift of discerning spirits

8. Gift of tongues 

9. Gift of interpreting speeches 

*The 12 Fruits of the Holy Ghost:*

1. Charity

2. Joy 

3. Peace

4. Patience 

5. Benignity 

6. Goodness 

7. Longanimity 

8. Mildness 

9. Faith 

10. Modesty 

11. Continency 

12. Chastity

*The 3 Theological Virtues:*

1. Faith 

2. Hope 

3. Charity 

*The 4 Cardinal Virtues:*

1. Prudence

2. Justice 

3. Fortitude 

4. Temperance 

*The 7 Capital Sins:*

1. Pride

2. Greed

3. Lust

4. Anger

5. Gluttony

6. Envy

7. Sloth

*The 6 Sins against the Holy Ghost:*

1. Presumption 

2. Despair 

3. Resisting the known truth 

4. Envy of another’s spiritual good 

5. Obstinacy in sin 

6. Final impenitence 

*The 4 Sins that Cry Out to Heaven:*

1. Willful murder

2. The sin of Sodom

3. Oppression of the poor

4. Defrauding laborers of their wages

*Conditions for Mortal Sin:*

1. Grave matter

2. Full knowledge

3. Deliberate consent

*The 9 Ways We Participate in Others' Sins:*

1. By counsel 

2. By command 

3. By consent 

4. By provocation 

5. By praise or flattery 

6. By concealment 

7. By partaking 

8. By silence 

9. By defense of the ill done 

*The 10 Commandments:*

1. Thou shalt not have other gods besides Me

2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain 

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day 

4. Honor thy father and thy mother 

5. Thou shalt not murder

6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 

7. Thou shalt not steal

8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor 

9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods

*The 2 Greatest Commandments:*

1. To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. 

2. To love thy neighbor as thyself. 

*The 3 Evangelical Counsels:*

1. Voluntary poverty

2. Perpetual chastity

3. Entire obedience. 

*The 6 Precepts of the Church (The Duties of a Catholic):*

1.To go to Mass and refrain from servile work on Sundays and holy days

2. To go to Confession at least once a year (traditionally done during Lent)

3. To receive the Eucharist at least once a year, during the Easter Season (known as the "Easter duty") 

4. To observe the days of fasting and abstinence 

5. To help to provide for the needs of the Church according to one's abilities and station in life

6. To obey the marriage laws of the Church 

*The 3 Powers of the Soul:*

1. Memory

2. Intellect

3. Will 

*The 4 Pillars of the Catholic Faith:*

1. The Apostles Creed

2. The Seven Sacraments

3. The Ten Commandments

4. The Lord's Prayer 

*The 3 Pillars of the Church's Authority:*

1. Sacred Scripture

2. Sacred Tradition

3. Living Magisterium 

*The 3 Munera (Duties of the Ordained):*

1. Munus docendi (duty to teach, based on Christ's role as Prophet)

2. Munus sanctificandi (duty to sanctify, based on Chris's role as Priest)

3. Munus regendi (duty to shepherd, based on Christ's role as King) 

*The 3 Parts of the Church:*

1. The Church Militant (Christians on Earth)

2. The Church Suffering (Christians in Purgatory)

3. The Church Triumphant (Christians in Heaven) 

*The 4 Marks of the Church:*

1. Unity

2. Sanctity

3. Catholicity

4. Apostolicity

*The 12 Tribes of Israel 

In order of their birth:*

1. Reuben

2. Simeon

3. Levi

4. Judah

5.Zabulon

6. Issachar

7. Dan

8. Gad

9. Asher

10. Naphtali

11. Joseph (Menasseh and Ephraim)

12. Benjamin 

*The 8 Beatitudes:*

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. 

3. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted 

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill 

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy 

6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God 

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God 

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

*The 14 Stations of the Cross:*

1. Jesus is Condemned to Die 

2. Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross 

3. Jesus Falls the First Time 

4. Jesus Meets His Mother

5. Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross 

6. Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face 

7. Jesus Falls the Second Time 

8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 

9. Jesus Falls the Third Time 

10. Jesus is Stripped 

11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross 

12. Jesus Dies on the Cross 

13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross 

14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb 

*The 20 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary & When They are Prayed:*

*Joyful:*

1. Annunciation

2. Visitation

3. Nativity

4. Presentation

5. Finding Jesus in the Temple

*Sorrowful:*

1. Agony in the Garden

2. The Scourging

3. Crowning with thorns

4. Carrying of the Cross

5. Crucifixion

   *Luminous:*

1. Baptism of Jesus. 

2. Manifestation of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana. 

3. Proclamation of the kingdom of God. 

4. The Transfiguration. 

5. The institution of the Holy Eucharist  

*Glorious:*

1. Resurrection

2. Ascension

3. Pentecost

4. Assumption

5. Crowning of Mary

Mondays: Joyful

Tuesdays: Sorrowful

Wednesdays: Glorious

Thursdays: Luminous

Fridays: Sorrowful

Saturdays: Glorious

Sundays in Advent

*Christmastide & Epiphany:* 

Joyful Sundays in Eastertide & Time After Pentecost: Glorious

All of Septuagesima & Lent: Sorrowful

*The 9 Choirs of Angels

In ascending order:*

1. Angels

2. Archangels

3. Principalities

4. Powers

5. Virtues

6. Dominions

7. Thrones

8. Cherubim 

9. Seraphim

*The 3 Levels of Reverence:*

1. Dulia: the reverence we give to Saints

2. Hyperdulia: the reverence we give to Mary as the greatest of Saints and Mother of God

3. Latria: the reverence and worship we give to God alone 

*The 14 Holy Helpers:*

1. St. George, Martyr, April 23

2. St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, February 3 

3. St. Pantaleon, Martyr, July 27 

4. St. Vitus, Martyr, June 15 

5. St. Erasmus (Elmo), Bishop and Martyr, June 2 

6. St. Christopher, Martyr, July 25 

7. St. Giles, Abbot, September 1 

8. St. Cyriacus (Cyriac), Martyr, August 8 

9. St. Achatius, Martyr, May 8 

10. St. Dionysius (Denis), Bishop and Martyr, October 9 

11. St. Eustachius (Eustace), Martyr, September 20 

12. St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr, November 25 

13. St. Margaret of Antioch, Virgin and Martyr, July 20 

14. St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr, December 4 

*The 7 Last Words of Christ:*

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) 

2. Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.  (Luke 23:43) 

3. Woman, behold thy son. . . .Behold thy mother. (John 19:26-27) 

4. Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? (My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?) (Matthew 27:46, ref. Psalm 21) 

5. I thirst. (John 19:28) 

6. It is consummated.(John 19:30) 

7. Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46, ref. Psalm 30:6) 

*The 4 Last Things (The Novissima):*

1. Death

2. Judgement

3. Heaven

4. Hell

DO YOU MIND COMMENTING ON THESE CHRISTIAN BASIC.

So many questions surround the Catholic Baptism. Be it infant or Adult Baptism. These questions spring most times from our separated brethren.

Some Catholics are not also sure if they are baptized or not especially when such baptisms are done at infancy, some even doubt if they were ever baptized especially when they were not immersed in a river or sea.

Experience has shown that 80 - 90% of Catechumens preparing for Holy Communion, when asked, 'have you been baptized?' They become mute, not sure. This is because neither their parents nor God parents ever talked about it when they were growing nor are there picture evidence to show the celebration, but you will always have pictures for "Isomoloruko" (naming ceremonies or church thanksgiving of the new born). Pastors should emphasize the importance of these photographs as evidence and encourage parents and God parents to talk about the Sacrament once the child attains the age of understanding.

Many Catholics, when they encounter some Pentecostals on this issue they get even more confused in their lack of understanding; these people put before them questions like: Are you born again?, have you been baptized of water and the Holy Spirit? Were you baptized by immersion? And so on.

These questions have led many Catholics out of the church and those who leave request to be re-baptized.

This short write up is meant to clarify some misconceptions people have about baptism and put us as Catholics in the right path when questioned on this matter.

WHAT IS BAPTISM? Put simply, Baptism is a Sacrament that washes/cleanses us from original sin, makes us Christians, children of God, members of the church.

WHAT IS ORIGINAL SIN? The church's teachings make us understand that original sin is the sin we inherit from Adam and Eve. This is attested to in Psalm 51:7 "For I have been guilt-ridden from birth, a sinner from my mother's womb" Ref: (Christian Community Bible).

A further biblical pointer to this fact of original sin is found in Romans 5:12 "Now sin entered the world through one man and through sin, death and later on death spread to all mankind, because all sinned.

Furthermore Romans 5:15 reflects "Multitudes die because of the fault of one man (Adam), but how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he granted reaches the multitudes, from this unique man Jesus Christ".

"The disobedience that brought condemnation was of one sinner, whereas the grace of God brings forgiveness to a world of sinners" Vs 17. If death reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person how much more will there be a reign of life for those who receive the grace and the gift of true righteousness through the one person, Jesus Christ. -Vs 18. Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so too, one rehabilitation brought pardon and life to all - Vs 19 and as the disobedience of only one man made many sinners, so the obedience of one person allowed a multitude to be made just and holy.

It is a known fact that Baptism like every other Sacraments gives grace, as we have discovered from Romans 5:15, the grace of God spreads when the gift He granted reaches the multitudes from the unique man, Christ and to be baptized is to have a life in Christ who is the gift of God to all humanity. The question then is: Why should an infant be excluded from this gift, from this grace?Knowingfully well that the infant from what we see in Psalm 51:1 also has a share in the sin of Adam and Eve from conception.

Let me also at this point remind us that when we talk about Sacraments, we should bear in mind their inward grace and external signs, character. Now the focus of those who criticize the Sacrament of Baptism in particular is mostly on external signs forgetting that Jesus Himself completes the mysterious way of granting the Grace to a well-disposed individual.

If Sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace ordained by Jesus Christ by which grace is given to our souls, Baptism as a Sacrament does same, and this justifies the fact that every soul whether of an infant or an adult again requires baptism, after all babies also have souls, the same soul an adult has. This in a way gives an answer to those opposed to infant baptism

Now, to the question of immersion and how one is baptized with special focus on lowering the individual in water which symbolizes dying with Christ and lifting or raising the individual, still from the same water symbolizing rising with Christ. Again, I will safely say, these are still external signs of inward grace. If we are to take this literarily too, we must be talking of physical death and physical resurrection. Now 1 Peter 3:18-22 clarifies this confusion about  water  with  this beautiful piece:

Christ himself died once and for all for sins

The upright for the sake of the guilty to lead us to God, in the body, He was put to death, in the Spirit he was raised to life and in the Spirit, He went to preach to the Spirits in prison.They refused to believe long ago, while God waited patiently. To receive them in Noah's time when the ark was built, in it only a few that is eight souls were saved through water.it is the baptism corresponding to this water  which saves you now - not the washing off of physical dirt, but the pledge of a good conscience given to godthrough the ressurection of  Jesus  Christ…..

From the above it is an obvious  fact  that  the  water  is an  essential  part of Baptism but  not  the  quantity used or the  bathing  of  the  entire body. This again  alludes to external  sign of  inward  Grace. The emphasis here is the inward transformation of human person.

Dear  readers, I want to draw your attention to the several uses of the words:

All Mankind - (in the quotation from Romans 5:12)

Multitudes - (In the quotation of Romans 5:15)

Al - (in the quotation of Romans 5:18)

And even Psalm 51:5 which clearly depicts that even from the womb, we are sharers in the sin of disobedience of Adam.

The word all mankind, multitude, all all inclusive and the Psalms implies no one is spared in as much as we are human beings and we have souls, hence the question of why baptize a baby will put a question mark on the humanity of the baby. Is a baby a human being? YES! Is he/she categorized among all mankind, multitude, all? Yes! Does an infant have soul? Yes! If that is the case, how then will people question  baptizing  an infant. Of course if  we are to take census of a nation, we definitely will count  babies,  they  will  not be left out, so  why do we think they should be excluded from the  life  of Grace. The same soul in a  baby  is  in an adult, the same salvation the adult seek, the baby also requires, why the discrimination in the life of grace.

One can be plunged in and out of  sea  yet  no life of grace or transformation.

I believe these few lines should help us, convince us of the validity of the baptism of infants and other related issues.

(Rev.  Fr Clement  Emerue is the Director of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Ibadan.)