Baptism as the sacrament of new life in the light of the euchological texts of the "Rite of Baptism for Children"

Abstract

The article deals with the new quality of life a baptised child participates in. The source for this research is a book published after the Second Vatican Council entitled: the Rite of Baptism for Children, that is the first liturgical book in the history of the Church, which contains the rite of baptism adapted to real condition of a child. The child is baptised in the faith of the Church, which is expressed by his/her parents and godparents in particular. From the beginning to its end the dynamic of the celebration of the rite of baptism emphasizes the aspect of a gift that the baptised child receives, i.e. the new life. The sacrament of baptism constitutes a new birth of child, a birth of water and Spirit, of which the Lord said to Nicodemus (cf. J 3,5).

In each part of the liturgy of baptism the euchological texts refer to the gift of the new life. The source of the new life is constituted on the immersion of baptised child in Christ’s death and resurrection. The fullness of the new life is reached in the life to come. The baptism is a seed and a beginning of man’s life everlasting.