The More Things Stay The Same, The More They Change

~ The rite of baptism (outside mass), as revised at Vatican II, is a fine window into how the liturgies of the church both stayed the same and were dramatically re-envisioned, re-symbolized, and have a significantly different understanding of the people of God.
Yes, the form (trinitarian) and matter (water) remained the same. But even quick glimpses into the structure and content of the rite illustrate the above concepts.
Before Vatican II, there was only one rite of baptism for any age and context; now there are many varying rites which consider various ages and other contexts. Vestments of the presider changed: in the former rite, the priest would begin the sacrament vested in purple, indicative of the sacrament’s forgiveness of original sin, only later changing to white vestments; today the presider wears white the whole time, recognizing resurrection in Christ and the fullness of the Paschal Mystery.
The former rite said nothing of any rite of gathering and did not even include scripture; the present rites do both. The blessing of water formerly was a prayer which was rather exorcistic; our current water blessing is one of the fullest examples of anamnesis, readily invokes the Spirit, and has pronounced imagery of both cleansing and new life.
Many in practice today use immersion in the water as a fuller sign of death in Christ and rising with him to new life, where in the former rite a simpler pouring of water (still valid today) was typical. The use of Chrism today has a fuller symbolism of being formed into Christ as priest, prophet, and king. The light of the candle given the baptized once represented sinlessness; now a fuller symbolism of life in faith is described. Finally, today, there is a dismissal blessing where there had been none, which reminds the people of the many and varied themes of the rite.
We see, then, that baptism at Vatican II was re-oriented to call the faithful to their rights and obligations as members of Christian community. From baptism the whole life of the faithful proceeds, sustained by eucharist and the other sacraments. It’s not only about washing away the stain of original sin, but so much more.
Today’s celebration should remind all of this, perhaps especially those who do not remember their baptism as infants. At masses we will substitute in a sprinkling rite in place of the penitential rite, and in our hymnody, you will notice texts which balance the historical event with its implications for who it is we are today, the baptized faithful and adopted children of God!
Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.