THREE FORMS OF BAPTISM – PART 1

Baptizing with Water

The most common form of Baptism is by water. The Gospels say that one must be born again of water and the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). The early Christians and their successors have been baptizing with water for almost two millennia but with some slight differences:

• Immersion:Some Christian denominations fully immerse a person in water three times while saying the invocation of the Holy Trinity, also known as the Trinitarian formula, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Aspersion:Other Christians sprinkle water on the forehead of the one being baptized and then invoke the Trinitarian formula.

Infusion: Catholics (mostly Latin) baptize by pouring water over the head of the one being baptized while the Trinitarian formula is pronounced.

All three methods use water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. Only water can be used — no other substance. But immersion or infusion is preferred. (To be Continued…)                                                                                          Father Maria Joseph Kodiganti