Before reading St Cyril's "Baptism as a Symbol of Christ's Passion and Resurrection" and "The Anointing with the Holy Spirit: Chrism, the Oil of Gladness" I had a different view on the purposes of sacraments, and specifically Baptism. I believed that sacraments were merely rites of passage in which believers participate in the religion. I realize that there is a certain deeper meaning for each sacrament, but this is my general notion. Specifically, I believed Baptism to be important because it purifies, and makes one a member of Christianity. I did not understand the deeper meaning of Baptism aside from cleansing of original sin before this reading.
St. Cyril's readings explain how Baptism is symbolic of Christ's suffering. He also claims that we symbolically share in Jesus' death and resurrection. By entering the Baptismal font three times, it is equivalent to the three days that Christ spent in the tomb. "Your first rising from the water represented the first day and your first immersion represented the first night. At night a man cannot see, but in the day he walks in the light." (Pg 45) How excellent is this religion that allows us to share in Christ's agonizing death and resurrection without enduring any literal pain or suffering?
In addition to Baptism, St. Cyril also gives accounts on Communion and Confirmation. He speaks about how these sacraments bring one closer to the Trinity. Through Baptism, in general, one is recognized as in the likeness of God. Through Communion, one gains likeness, and closeness to Christ. And with Confirmation, one is anointed with the Holy Spirit. He states that we are to remember that the chrism we are anointed with "becomes the instrument through which we receive the Holy Spirit." (pg 48)
Liz O'Toole
After reading the two assignments, I have a better understanding of how important Baptism is for the Catholic Church. Like others i'm sure, I thought the sacrament of Baptism is only really the cleansing of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit; however, there's a much deeper, symbolic meaning. Being immersed in water and brought out of the water is a symbol for Christ in the tomb (dead) and rising after spending three day and three nights.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to have such a deeper meaning because like the sacrament of the Eucharist, there's a much deeper meaning involved. We eat the body and drink the blood of Christ symbolically and literally receive nourishment/closer relationship with God. Like the example of the sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive the symbolic "oil of gladness" and literally receive "a share in his life".
-Katie Lamb
After reading this assignment, I have a new view on Baptism. As a child I have always been taught about Baptism and the Sacraments we must make as Catholics. A sacrament is a ceremony in which we become closer to God. A sacrament solidifies our faith. It is sacred and shows a covenant between us and God. Baptism is important because it is the first sacrament. Baptism is important because it represents God coming in and out of this world. It is important to us because it is the first thing that brings a baby into the world of religion. As we read, it is also more than just a baby getting rid of sins. It is us going through what Jesus went through. Going in and out of the water, represents Jesus rising. Baptism is the start to a life practicing Catholicism and a life of learning and understanding Jesus.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Ritter
I believe that a sacrament is a sign or gift given to us. In this case I believe that a sacrament is a sign/gift given to us from God. A sacrament is a gift that should be taken seriously and that should be cherished. Baptism matters because Baptism is a sacrament of Christ and Christianity. When we are baptized, we are recognizing our faith and recognizing the life of Jesus Christ. When we are baptized we are becoming apart of the Christian faith and we are able to feel apart from the life that Jesus lived. We are baptized and anointed as a sign of the life we are choosing to live and choosing to follow Jesus. Our baptism represent the death and resurrection of Jesus and how Jesus was crucified for our sins and so that we are able to experience salvation some day. It represents death and rebirth.
ReplyDelete- Nicole Dillon
I learned so much more about our connection with Christ through Cyril of Jerusalem's explanation of this sacrament. Baptism is not only a representation of Christ suffering and death during the Passion, it is a way of taking on the image of Christ and becoming God's "annointed ones" (47). Also, I learned a lot about how the oil given to us at Baptism is an instrument though which we receive the Holy Spirit. All in all, it was a really interesting and insightful comment on this sacrament.
ReplyDelete-Sophia Pileggi
St. Cyril's words are truly striking as they remind us of what Baptism truly is. As I read it I was reminded of the idea of the new Covenant that we had discussed in relation to Paul's letter to the Romans. Baptism, then, is part of how we are brought into the new covenant. And as St. Cyril says, we do that by dying with him so that we may rise again to a renewed life in Christ. Another great connection to the old covenant is made with the Oil of Gladness. In olden times the anointings signified God's favor of chosing of a specific person to give him/her strength. Here in the New Covenant we see that the Oil is the Holy Spirit brings that strength and favor to us. The oil we actually use is an outward sign of the grace of the Holy Spirit that we are truly receiving.
ReplyDeleteIn Baptism we become completely immersed in the waters of Christ. The Holy Spirit that has descended upon us cleanses our souls and we are born anew into Christ's presence. The submersion and rising out of the water three times at Baptism is a representation of Christ's death and resurrection. What is very interesting is that most of us have never experienced this submersion in water, most of us had water poured over our foreheads. Most of us never even experienced our Baptism. The symbolism of Christ's resurrection is very important to understand and realize, but I feel that mentally and psychologically we never come close to sharing in Jesus's death and resurrection after three days.
ReplyDelete~Nicholas Shields
Baptism establishes us in the Christian faith because it shows that we are accepting everything that the church stands for. Babies are baptized most often because it makes the baby holy and makes original sin less powerful then if a baby were not baptized unlike the Anabaptist who believed in deciding to be baptized. The number three represents the death and resurrection of Jesus because it took place over the course of three days so that is why a person is submerged three times. Most of the time though, Baptism is done by placing the holy water on the forehead because otherwise, you might drown the baby.
ReplyDelete-Tara Costello
After reading this, i have a new view on what baptism is. I originally thought that baptism was about releasing your sins (washing them away). But after reading this, i realized that there is a more in depth explanation. I realized that getting baptized is much like when jesus was crucified, died, and rose from the dead. Baptism signifies purity or cleansing from sin and devotion to God. Overall to me Baptism is a sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth. Getting baptized is also a way of understanding God.
ReplyDeletemary vogt
The Seven Sacraments are visible symbols or signs through which we obtain Grace. They are given to us by God to help us remain united with Him in this life and ultimately share in eternal life. Baptism is one of the seven sacraments. It is through this sacrament that our soul, which was separated from God through Original Sin, is once again open to God's love. Baptism matters because it establishes us as members of Church; we receive sanctifying Grace, and allows us to be open to receive the other sacraments.
ReplyDelete-Carolyn Spero
Before reading the passage by St. Cyril I had a different view on the sacrament of Baptism. I originally thought that Baptism was a cleansing way to begin ones journey through Christianity, but after reading this I realized Baptism is like renewing a covenant with God. Baptism is a representation of how Christ died for us, and it symbolizes the cleansing of sin for God.
ReplyDeleteElise Ariens
Through these texts I have come to know a very different idea of the purpose of Baptism. Before I thought of it as entering into the Catholic faith, and now I understand the deeper symbolism that goes with it. Many people are baptized when they are at a very young age, and therefore they forget that part of the true meaning is that we are partaking in following the path of Jesus Christ and the Passion; a member of the Catholic Church is baptized with water which symbolizes Christ’s Resurrection. Each moment in the baptism mimics a moment Jesus had, which is something that I had overlooked until reading this text. This shows why Baptism is so important; it is a connection between us and Christ. In addition, the text also stated that the oil used to anoint is “the gift of Christ” (48). From this I realized that a sacrament is a gift from the Lord which, like Baptism, has underlying meanings showing their importance.
ReplyDelete-Tori McAllister
Cyril of Jerusalem wrote a very powerful description and explanation of the importance of Baptism to the Faith. He drew many parallelisms between our Baptism and Christ's redeeming actions for us. He begins by comparing our being led to the baptismal font with Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. He continues on to show similiarities between immersion in the water and night, and between rising out of the water and daylight. "In the same instant you died and were born again; the saving water was both your tomb and your mother." Cyril recognizes and appreciates much symbolism in Baptism attesting to the passion and ressurection of Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteCyril of Jerusalem also finds these symbolic connections in chrism and Confirmation. He says that we become "annointed ones" when our foreheads are marked with chrism. Christ Himself was also annointed, and we share in His sanctification and happiness. "The oil of gladness with which Christ was annointed...was the Holy Spirit, Who is called the oil of gladness because He is the source of spiritual joy." By means of the chrism, we enter into a state of grace and joy in union with Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.
~Risa Del Eskew
Before reading this, I had not given much thought about the concept of Baptism. I found it comforting almost to read on how Baptism represents the significance of Christ's death and how it portrays the renewing of sin. When we are Baptised it is as if God is personally blessing us, "the Holy Spirit himself who is called the oil of gladness because he is the source of spiritual joy". Once baptised we are joined with Christ and will live our lives through and with him.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Smedley
I think a sacrament is a physical representation of a bestowal of God's grace. Baptism is important, because it forgives all sins, specifically original sin, and it makes us Children of God. Through baptism we "enter into fellowship with Christ and receive a share in His life" (Cyril of Jerusalem 48). We become a part of a special relationship with Christ, and we receive the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteSince I was a child, I was always taught that Baptism was the initiation into the Catholic faith. It was a celebration of a new member of the Church. However, after reading both of these passages I learned there is also a different perspective and meaning behind receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. It symbolizes the coming in and out of the world. How Jesus rose from the the tomb after spending three days and nights. This Sacrament is a covenant and sacred bond between God and each individual who is baptized. The sacrament of Baptism is a symbol and example of what Jesus went through to save us. It is a sacred and special sacrament.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Bockin
The way I understand it, a Sacrament is an instrument of conferring grace that often symbolizes or parallels a second spiritual meaning.
ReplyDeleteSt. Cyril explains that Baptism is even more than washing away sins and conferring grace - it's "a symbol of the sufferings of Christ" which imitates His death and resurrection into new life while simultaneously bringing us into new life. When we are anointed with oil, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in imitation of the Father's anointment of Christ.
Chelsey Sterling
I think sacrament is a physical action used to represent one's personal relationship with the trinity. Baptism, for example, is used to symbolize Jesus's crucifixion so we may gain an understanding of how much God loved the world and how much he was willing to do for mankind. With this understanding of God, we can become one with him and gain his gift of eternal salvation:"We share his sufferings symbolically and gain salvation in reality" (Cyril 45). Any form of sacrament is used as "a symbol of the sufferings of Christ" and helps man physically embody his relationship with the trinity as well as his salvation granted through God (Cyril 46).
ReplyDelete-Jay Garrick
I believe the sacraments are a way to bring the recipient closer to Christ. A sacrament imparts special graces, which enable us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and become the annointed ones of God. Baptism is especially crucial because it cleanes our souls of original sin so that we may grow closer to Christ. The 'saving water' of Baptism allows us to "shre in His [Christ's] sufferings symbolically." (Baptism as a Symbol of Christ's Passion and Resurrection)
ReplyDelete~Caitlin Gorecki
I know have a much better understanding of the blessed sacraments that we read of, and that most of us have taken part of in our lives. To realize that baptism is symbolic of Christ's death is very moving. Each blessed sacrament is moving; receiving the body of Christ at communion, and being anointed with the Holy Spirit at confirmation.With these, we become closer to God and Jesus Christ through the sacraments.
ReplyDelete-Kate Shannon
After reading St Cyril's "Baptism as a Symbol of Christ's Passion and Resurrection" and "The Anointing with the Holy Spirit: Chrism, the Oil of Gladness", I have a further understanding on the Sacraments. The foundational belief that most people know is that Baptism is the initiation into Christian faith. Baptism, though, goes much deeper beyond just that initial thought. It is symbolic in ways that I never really knew before. Also, it is evident through much of the early Christian teachings that we are taught that the Sacraments bring us closer to Christ, but Cyril goes very in depth as to how Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation bring us nearer to God.
ReplyDeleteI believe a sacrament is a sort of step on a stepping ladder towards having a good, Christian life in order to get to Heaven. It further strengthens the faith we have through initiation and maintenance. We begin by entering the church through baptism to rid ourselves of "original sin". The rest of the sacraments is to further prepare us with confessing our sins, receiving the eucharist, confirming our faith, being a part of religious orders, holy matrimony, and finally cleaning your slate with the sacrament of the sick. This is all to ensure your place in paradise.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, baptism matters because it is the start of your christian journey towards being closer and just being with God. This is when we are blessed by the holy spirit and we become a part of the community that will try to "save our souls from eternal damnation". Baptism starts the whole sacrament process which I mentioned earlier it is seen as our direct route to heaven so therefore, baptism is the start as some people may call it, of our "eternal happiness" and of our "salvation"
Emma Leary
I think a sacrament is an outward sign of grace instituted by Christ. It is something that someone commits that will bring them closer with God and help someone live out the life that God would want them to live.Baptism is a very special and intimate event between a future Catholic and God in which this person is cleaned of his or her original sins and is starting their original relationship with God. The symbols and events used for baptism are symbolic of Christ and his cleansing and resurrection.
ReplyDelete--Nicholas Darin
Just as Jesus had to become man to meet us where we were--our world-obsessed selves--we must humble ourselves and realize that we are, in fact, worldly beings. Jesus took on flesh just as the symbolic tomb of resurrection takes on the form of the baptizmal waters, just as the spiritual oil of Chrit takes on the form of the chrism oil. All of these things are because of the incarnation--a bridge between humanity and the divine.
ReplyDeleteAn explication of the significance of baptism and confirmation is provided by Cyril.
ReplyDeleteSacraments are gifts, forgiveness, symbols of events not to be forgotten.
At the very least, Cyril points out one aspect each of baptism and of confirmation that is not always remembered. Baptism is a symbol of Christ's suffering; it's about death as well as life. He also reminds us that Chrism is holy and symbolic, that it is special oil, a medium by which the divinity of the Holy Spirit may enter.
After reading “Baptism as a Symbol of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection,” I truly have somewhat of a deeper appreciation for the sacrament of baptism. This is because I didn't know the reality behind what baptism as a sacrament entailed. I formerly viewed baptism as merely "washing away our sins and bringing us the gift of the Holy Spirit," (Cyril) and did not appreciate that baptism "is a symbol of the sufferings of Christ." (Cyril) I also like that St. Cyril explained that when we are baptised, we are also transformed into the likeness of the Son of God. This gives us the opportunity to start fresh and try to live our lives imitating Christ.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Cyril touches on the oil that we are anointed with during baptism and warns us to be wary of mistaking the holy oil as ordinary oil.
Considering the fact that baptism was not initially an integral part of being a Christian, the importance that baptism plays in the process of being a member of the Christian faith is very interesting. My understanding of that importance increased when I read St. Cyril's writings about how baptism is a symbol of the life and suffering of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThe connections between baptism and Jesus (the number of times we enter into the baptismal fountain is similar to the number of days that that Jesus was in the tomb) gives baptism a deeper significance.
Communion and confirmation as well became more important to me after the readings, because they showed how Christians become closer to the trinity. These readings overall give more significance to certain parts of the mass.
Cyril proposes that in Baptism, we symbolically take part in the real truth of Christ's Resurrection. He explains that "you were plunged into the water, and three times you rose again. This symbolized the three days Christ spent in the tomb." Cyril draws a parallel between Christ's Resurrection and our Baptism, because both bring Salvation. While the circumstances of Salvation are certainly different, it must be important for Cyril to have man feel closer to Christ through the Sacraments. Isn't this part of their purpose?
ReplyDeleteCyril again brings man closer to Christ when he asserts that "When we were baptized into Christ and clothed ourselves in him, we were transformed into the likeness of the Son of God." Even more importantly, Cyril claims that the anointing with the chrism transforms us into "the anointed ones." Again, a strong parallel is established between Christ and man. Perhaps Cyril's rhetoric was meant to do just this.