Christian History
Sacraments and Traditions
of Catholicism

The Sacrament of Baptism

Definition

"Baptism is, therefore, the sacrament by which we are born again of water and the Holy Ghost, that is, by which we receive in a new and spiritual life, the dignity of adoption as sons of God and heirs of God's kingdom." Catholic Encyclopedia

Form of Baptism

"The requisite and sole valid form of baptism is: I baptize thee (or This person is baptized) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost ... Three forms of ablution have prevailed among Christians, and the Church holds them all to be valid because they fulfill the requisite signification of the baptismal laving. These forms are immersion, infusion, and aspersion.” Catholic Encyclopedia

In all of the Christian history given in the Bible, there was not one lost soul baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - they were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. When Jesus told His disciples to evangelize the world in Matthew 28:19, He assuredly knew that He is the Father, He is the Son and He is the Holy Ghost and that His disciples would only call on one name, the name of Jesus, just as they actually did throughout the Book of Acts. Go to In Jesus Christ is the Fullness of the Godhead for a full discussion on this subject.

With regards to baptism by infusion and aspiration (or pouring of water over heads as described in "baptism of infants" below), there is not one time that this happened in the Christian history given in the Bible. When this level of detail is discussed in the Bible, the lost souls were immersed in water. The word "baptize" in the Greek means to submerge or immerse. For the Apostolic Christian baptismal formula, please go to Apostolic Christian Doctrine

Infant Baptism and Its Tradition

"The infant now, through its sponsors, makes a declaration of faith and asks for baptism. The priest, having meantime changed his violet stole for a white one, then administers the threefold ablution, making the sign of the cross three times with the stream of water he pours on the head of the child, saying at the same time: N___, I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Catholic Encyclopedia

"The tradition of Christian antiquity as to the necessity of infant baptism is clear from the very beginning. We have given many striking quotations on this subject already, in dealing with the necessity of baptism. A few, therefore, will suffice here.

• St. Augustine (Serm. xi, De Verb Apost.) says of infant baptism: This the Church always had, always held; this she received from the faith of our ancestors; this she perseveringly guards even to the end.

• St. Cyprian (Ep. ad Fidum) writes: From baptism and from grace . . . must not be kept the infant who, because recently born, has committed no sin, except, inasmuch as it was born carnally from Adam, it has contracted the contagion of the ancient death in its first nativity; and it comes to receive the remission of sins more easily on this very account that not its own, but another's sins are forgiven it." Catholic Encyclopedia

Sacrament of Confirmation

Definition

"A sacrament in which the Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ." Catholic Encyclopedia

In the discussion "Sacrament of Baptism" given above, we learned that one is born again of water and the Holy Ghost when baptized, but the definition of the Sacrament of Confirmation teaches that the Holy Ghost is given at confirmation. This seems at best to be contradictory statements. The Bible teaches that baptism is for the remission of sins and that God gives you the gift of the Holy Ghost upon repentance.

The Ceremony

At the beginning of the ceremony there is a general imposition of hands, the bishop meantime praying that the Holy Ghost may come down upon those who have already been regenerated: "send forth upon them thy sevenfold Spirit the Holy Paraclete." He then anoints the forehead of each with chrism saying: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Finally, he gives each a slight blow on the cheek saying: "peace be with thee". A prayer is added that the Holy Spirit may dwell in the hearts of those who have been confirmed, and the rite closes with the bishop's blessing." Catholic Encyclopedia

Throughout the Christian history in Acts, it is true that many times God chose to fill the recepient when the apostle prayed and layed hands on the recepient. Other times though, for example, the gentiles in Acts 10, God filled them with the Holy Ghost when the Apostle Peter was preaching. The truth is that God - Jesus Christ, looks at the heart of the recepient to see if it is "right with God", and if it is, He then fills the recipient with the Holy Ghost. God then gives the recipient a receipt for this bessing, the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

The Recipient

In the early ages of the Church, confirmation was part of the rite of initiation, and consequently was administered immediately after baptism. When, however, baptism came to be conferred by simple priests, the two ceremonies were separated in the Western Church. Further, when infant baptism became customary, confirmation was not administered until the child had attained the use of reason. This is the present practice, though there is considerable latitude as to the precise age. The Catechism of the Council of Trent says that the sacrament can be administered to all persons after baptism, but that this is not expedient before the use of reason; and adds that it is most fitting that the sacrament be deferred until the child is seven years old, "for Confirmation has not been instituted as necessary for salvation, but that by virtue thereof we might be found well armed and prepared when called upon to fight for the faith of Christ, and for this kind of conflict no one will consider children, who are still without the use of reason, to be qualified." (Pt. II, ch. iii, 18.) Catholic Encyclopedia

It is extremely contradictory that the "use of reason" is invoked at confirmation but not baptism. The Bible declares,

...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).

Sponsors

"The Church prescribes under pain of grievous sin that a sponsor, or godparent, shall stand for the person confirmed. The sponsor should be at least fourteen years of age, of the same sex as the candidate, should have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and be well instructed in the Catholic Faith. From this office are excluded the father and mother of the candidate, members of a religious order (unless the candidate be a religious), public sinners, and those who are under public ban of interdict or excommunication. Except in case of necessity the baptismal godparent cannot serve as sponsor for the same person in confirmation. Where the opposite practice obtains, it should, according to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Council, 16 Feb., 1884, be gradually done away with. The Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (1866) declared that each candidate should have a sponsor, or that at least two godfathers should stand for the boys and two godmothers for the girls." Catholic Encyclopedia

It is absolutely necessary to be "born of the Spirit" to be saved, but it is God that gives the gift of the Holy Ghost to the lost soul! This only happens if He accepts the person's repentance. A "sponsor" cannot make this decision for the lost soul, only Jesus Christ knows a repentant heart and only His Spirit can produce the evidence,

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us (Acts 15:8)

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8).

The Sacrament of Penance

Definition

"Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. This whole procedure is usually called, from one of its parts, "confession", and it is said to take place in the "tribunal of penance", because it is a judicial process in which the penitent is at once the accuser, the person accused, and the witness, while the priest pronounces judgment and sentence. The grace conferred is deliverance from the guilt of sin and, in the case of mortal sin, from its eternal punishment; hence also reconciliation with God, justification. Finally, the confession is made not in the secrecy of the penitent's heart nor to a layman as friend and advocate, nor to a representative of human authority, but to a duly ordained priest with requisite jurisdiction and with the "power of the keys", i.e., the power to forgive sins which Christ granted to His Church." Catholic Encyclopedia

Jesus instructed us to pray to the Father in secret, not through a priest or pastor,

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:6).

The Apostle Peter gave the same instructions,

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee (Acts 8:22).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

In the following text from the Catholic Encyclopedia, the writers see that they are trapped in the errors of their tradition and attempt to make amends for this sacrament,

"No Catholic believes that a priest simply as an individual man, however pious or learned, has power to forgive sins. This power belongs to God alone; but He can and does exercise it through the ministration of men. Since He has seen fit to exercise it by means of this sacrament, it cannot be said that the Church or the priest interferes between the soul and God; on the contrary, penance is the removal of the one obstacle that keeps the soul away from God." Catholic Encyclopedia

Sacrament of Extreme Unction

Definition

"A sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ to give spiritual aid and comfort and perfect spiritual health, including, if need be, the remission of sins, and also, conditionally, to restore bodily health, to Christians who are seriously ill; it consists essentially in the unction by a priest of the body of the sick person, accompanied by a suitable form of words." Catholic Encyclopedia

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3)

The Pope

Definition

"Ecclesiastical Latin papa from Greek papas, a variant of pappas father, in classical Latin pappas -- Juvenal, Satires 6:633".

The title pope, once used with far greater latitude (see below, section V), is at present employed solely to denote the Bishop of Rome, who, in virtue of his position as successor of St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the whole Church, the Vicar of Christ upon earth. Catholic Encyclopedia

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Vicar of Christ - A title of the pope implying his supreme and universal primacy, both of honour and of jurisdiction, over the Church of Christ. It is founded on the words of the Divine Shepherd to St. Peter: "Feed my lambs. . . . Feed my sheep" (John 21:16-17), by which He constituted the Prince of the Apostles guardian of His entire flock in His own place, thus making him His Vicar and fulfilling the promise made in Matthew 16:18-19. Catholic Encyclopedia

Proof that the Apostle Peter was the First Pope

The proof that Christ constituted St. Peter head of His Church is found in the two famous Petrine texts, Matthew 16:17-19, and John 21:15-17.

MATTHEW 16:17-19
In Matthew 16:17-19, the office is solemnly promised to the Apostle. In response to his profession of faith in the Divine Nature of his Master, Christ thus addresses him:
Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

JOHN 21:15-17
The promise made by Christ in Matthew 16:16-19, received its fulfilment after the Resurrection in the scene described in John 21. Here the Lord, when about to leave the earth, places the whole flock -- the sheep and the lambs alike -- in the charge of the Apostle. The term employed in 21:16, "Be the shepherd [poimaine] of my sheep" indicates that his task is not merely to feed but to rule. It is the same word as is used in Psalm 2:9 (Septuagint): Thou shalt rule [poimaneis] them with a rod of iron." Catholic Encyclopedia

The Apostle Peter knew exactly what Jesus meant when Christ said to him,

....upon this rock I will build my Church ... And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:17-19)

...and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37)

.... said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Peter then went on "to feed" Christ's sheep. He was sent to Samaria, by the leadership of the church, with the Apostle John to assist Philip in growing the church,

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 8:14-17.

Peter was then sent by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord ....(Acts 10:44-48).

The terms "Pope" or "Vicar" are not a Biblical concepts as these words are not found in the Bible. In fact, the word "vicar" is Latin in origin and means "one serving as a substitute or agent" (Webster's). This indicates that man, and not God, made the Pope "the chief pastor of the whole Church, the Vicar of Christ upon earth".

The Catholic Encyclopedia, as shown above, states that the Apostle Peter was "the first Pope" of "the whole Church". If Peter was "the first Pope", would the other Apostles have "sent" him to Samaria to assist Philip in the conversion of the lost?

Peter preached "baptism in the name of Jesus Christ" for the remission of sins. The Catholic religion does not call on the name of Jesus Christ when baptizing, it use the titles, "Father, Son and Holy Ghost". Peter knew and preached,

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

If in fact Peter was "the first Pope", Catholicism has a gaping hole in their plan of salvation, as they don't preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ the way Peter and the remainder of the Apostles did in the Acts of the Apostles.

If Peter was "the Vicar of Christ upon the earth", and practiced Catholicism, why didn't the lost always receive the gift of the Holy Ghost when they were baptized? Similarly, when the lost received the gift of the Holy Ghost when Peter was the "the first Pope", why did they speak in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.

Did Peter, "the first Pope" have a different rulebook than Popes do today? Of course, Peter the Apostle (not Peter "the first Pope") didn't use traditional theology that was invented and changed over time by man. Peter, Christ's humble servant, did exactly what Jesus instructed him and the other disciples to do,

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).