Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

My dear Parishioners,

Peace! There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the Sacrament of Baptism. The following is a reflection on article 1278.

Each of the sacraments have that which is particular to them. An example from the Eucharist would include the necessary matter of wheat bread and wine vinted from the grape. This is called the ‘matter’ of the Eucharist. These words are the ‘form’ of the Eucharist. Besides the necessary bread and wine, there must also be a validly ordained priest to pronounce the words of consecration “this is My body… this is My blood…” in order for the transubstantiation to occur.

Holy Baptism also has it’s essential matter and form: water and the Trinitarian formula. Without these, the intention to baptize, and an unbaptized person who is willing – either personally or through proxies (parents and godparents), to be baptized, there is no Baptism. The specific matter and form of Baptism are our concern here.

The proper matter for Holy Baptism is water into which the candidate is either plunged or has poured out especially on the head. The natural cleansing properties of water are carried over to the spiritual sphere. Instead of dirt, grass stains and the like we are cleansed in saving Baptism from the stains of Original Sin, which we inherit, and from the sins we have actually committed, mortal (serious, grave) or venial (committed without full knowledge, full consent, less serious).

The proper form for Holy Baptism is the pronounced invocation of the Most Holy Trinity with the effective utterance being either “N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” or “N., be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” An ‘effective utterance’ in civil matters or worldly concerns is discernable when a Sheriff’s Deputy or Police Officer says “you are under arrest” we are in fact, under arrest. Or when the judge says “you are free to go” we are in fact, free to go. These examples of ‘effective utterances’ are not unrelated to the form of the sacraments. When the saving waters are poured and the invocation is pronounced, we are baptized. When the words of consecration are spoken by the priest at Holy Mass the bread and wine are changed into Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity.

Some people, trying to be more clever than Mother Church, thought it would be good to change the words, the form, of Baptism. Rather than invoking “the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” these folks (heretics) invoked “the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier.” This is not in conformity with either Jesus’ specific instructions or with the requirements of the Church. These “baptisms” were and are invalid. Each of the Divine Persons of the Trinity are active in creation, redemption and sanctification, not just one or another.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr