Sacrament 4 U: Baptism

Time for a pop quiz!!!  Did you study? 

Actually, there's no test so don't go running from the computer screaming!

But we do have a question:  What is a sacrament? 

a) A Walmart bag of peppermints. 
b) It's what you say when you get in trouble.  "I was gonna do it in a sec or minute."
c) Sacraments are holy gifts given to the Catholic Church by Jesus to remind us how to live.

The answer is C.  We knew you knew that.  Grab a M&M if you chose C.  If you chose A or B, go clean your room.

There are seven sacraments. 

1. Baptism
2. Reconciliation
3. Holy Communion
4. Confirmation
5. Marriage
6. Holy Orders
7. Anointing of the Sick

We are going to talk about Baptism.  Chances are if you are reading this blog or you go to Mass, you've been baptized.  You probably don't remember it since you were a baby and all you could do was eat, poop, cry and sleep.

Change my diaper!!!

Your parents wanted you to become a member of the Jesus' gang of 1,196 million (aka the Church).  They dressed you in frou-frou clothes, found a couple of people to be your Godparents (sort of like a pinch hitter in baseball--the Godparents are supposed to teach about Jesus if your parents forget) and brought you to their church.  The priest blessed you, some oil and some water.  Va-va-voom!  You are a Catholic.

Did the pope just decide to have all Catholics get water poured on them for fun?  If he did, why did he not use a dunking booth? 

Well, everything the Church says and does is based in the Bible.  Do you remember Jesus' BFF Simon Peter?  Peter explained what happens at baptism when he said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Look in the Bible:  Acts 2:38).

Also ask your parents about John the Baptist.  He did not go to your neighborhood Baptist church.  He sleep in the desert and ate, get this, locusts.  John started baptizing people in the river and not in a dunking booth.  He even baptized Jesus.

John the Baptist's dinner.  Would you like ketchup on your bug?

So now you know what Baptism is.  Go forth and try it out on your Barbie doll or Optimus Prime.