20120423 Baptism gives souls new life 聖洗賦予靈魂新生
The first sacrament which all Catholics receive is baptism. Baptism cleanses a person of all his sins and incorporates him into Christ.
Matter and form
The form of baptism is “I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
The matter of baptism is natural water. Father John Hardon, S.J. author of The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, writes, “The water of baptism is to be applied to the person’s head. This is commonly done by pouring, or ablution; but it may also be done by dipping under water or immersion; and, in exceptional cases, by sprinkling or aspersion. In every case, however, the water must flow on the person’s head.”
In baptism, the form and matter are to be united. Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, author of My Catholic Faith, writes, “The form must be said at the same time the water is poured, and must be said by the same person pouring the water, so that everything takes place as one act.”
Minister and recipient
The ordinary minister of baptism is the bishop or pastor, or a priest or deacon properly delegated, but in case of necessary, anyone, even a non-Catholic, who has the use of reason, may baptize; that person then becomes an extraordinary minister of baptism.
Regarding the recipient of baptism, Father Hardon writes, “A person being baptized after reaching the age of reason must believe the basic truths of the Christian faith, be sorry for his sins, at least out of fear of God’s just punishments, and sincerely want to receive baptism.”
Effects and necessity
Baptism takes away original sin, actual sins, and all punishment due to sins. Sanctifying grace is infused into the soul of the baptized.
An indelible character is imprinted on the soul, who becomes a member of the Church, subject to her laws, and capable of receiving the other sacraments.
According to Father Bennet Kelley, CP, “The sacramental grace of baptism helps us to live as children of God, makes it easier for us to believe in God and to act accordingly, and lessens our inclinations to evil.”
Through the sacrament of baptism a person becomes a child of God the Father, a co-heir with God the Son, and a living temple of God the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is necessary for the salvation of all, because Christ said, “Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
The Baltimore Catechism states: “Those who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of baptism can be saved through what is called baptism of blood or baptism of desire.”
An unbaptized person who suffers martyrdom receives baptism of blood. Father Hardon writes, “Baptism of desire is the implicit desire for baptism of water by a person who makes an act of perfect love of God, based on faith and with a sincere sorrow for his sins.”
According to Father Hardon, “The fate of the unbaptized infants is left to the mercy of God. It is generally taught that the souls of those who depart this life with original sin on their souls, but without actual sin, go to limbo.”
“According to St. Thomas, limbo is a place of perfect natural happiness but without the supernatural vision of God to which we have no natural right.”
Bishop Morrow points out that theologians have suggested various ways in which babies who die without baptism might be saved. But since this is only pious belief, parents should not neglect the baptism of their children.
天主教教友第一件要領受的就是聖洗聖事。聖洗洗滌靈魂，去除受洗者的所有罪污，使受洗者與基督結合。
形與質
聖洗聖事的形是「我因父、及子、及聖神之名，給你授洗。」
聖洗的質是天然的水。耶穌會會士若望.赫頓神父在他的「天主教要理問答」一書中寫道：「聖洗一般是倒注聖水方式，另一種是浸水形式，只有在特殊情況下，才用灑聖水方式。但無論用任何方式，洗禮的水必須在受洗者的頭上傾流。」
聖洗的質與形必需同時同步進行。「我的天主教信仰」作者類斯.莫魯主教寫著：「聖洗的形被付洗者道出的同時，水要被倒注出來；形和質要來自同一個人，這一切便構成同一個行為。」
施洗者和受洗者
一般情況下，施洗者會是主教、堂區司鐸，和被授權的神父或執事；但在特殊危急情況下，任何人——包括非天主教教徒——都可以按正確程式，給人付洗，而在特殊情況下的施洗者，被視為「特殊的聖事施行者」。
有關受洗者，赫頓神父說明：「若一個人是在開了明悟後才領洗，他必需相信基督徒的的基本道理，要至少因畏懼天主公義的懲罰而懺悔己罪，並真心願意領受聖洗。」
效果和必要性
聖洗能赦免原罪，赦免所有過往的本罪和罪罰。天主的寵愛藉着聖洗傾注到受洗者的靈魂。
聖洗在受洗者的靈魂，刻上永不磨滅的神聖烙印，使受洗的人成為聖教會的一份子，受轄於她的權下，能領受其它聖事。
苦難會會士本篤.加里神父指出：「聖洗的聖事恩寵，幫助我們渡天主子女的生活，使我們更容易相信天主，過合乎教友的生活，並減少傾向罪惡的意願。」
藉著聖洗，我們成為天主的兒女和聖神的宮殿，與聖子成為共同承繼天國的人。
為靈魂的得救，聖洗聖事是必須的，因為耶穌曾說過：「人除非藉水和聖神重生，否則不能進入天國。」
「博迪模天主教要理」內補充道：「如果一個人不在於己過而沒有領受聖洗，仍可藉血洗和願洗而得救。」
尚未接受水洗的人，會因殉道而領受了血洗。另方面，赫頓神父強調：「願洗是對水洗懷有含蓄的渴望。願洗者因信仰而真愛天主並誠心痛悔己罪。」
赫頓神父也寫道：「未領受聖洗而夭折的嬰孩，其命運全在天主的慈愛中。普遍認為，只有原罪而沒有本罪的嬰孩，會在靈薄獄中。」
聖多馬斯認為，靈薄獄是有本性完美快樂的境界，但沒有享見天主的超性之福。
莫魯主教指出，一些神學家推斷，沒有領洗的嬰孩，有可能可以升天堂。但這只是推斷，因此，父母絕不應忽略兒女們的領洗。