Immersed into the water that purifies and quenches

Br. MichaelDavide Semeraro

Some days ago I participated in the ceremony of my grand daughter’s baptism and it was really a joyful celebration. But during the celebration there was a little problem that worried everyone. The sacristan was a bit late bringing the water so I asked myself: is the water really necessary for the ceremony? And if there had not even been a glassful of water? Why was this particular symbol chosen?

A.G.

Water is the symbol of life and it represents the fundamental element of life in God. Each sacrament is a sign representing a spiritual truth that leads us to God. Water baptism is an outward declaration that we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and are now in union with Him. The word baptism comes from the Greek “baptisma” that means immersion, a ceremony in which a person has water put onto his head or is immersed for a very short time in water in order to represent death and resurrection. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ. I am sorry that the sacristan was distracted!