Reading commentary - Essay Example

Catechism of the Catholic Church Article and article 2 discuss the sacrament of baptism and the sacrament of confirmation respectively. Baptism forms the very foundation of Christianity – through baptism sins are washed away and sinners are made sons of God through Christ Jesus. There are many prefigurations of baptism in the Old Testament: Noah’s ark during the great floods, the crossing of the Red Sea by the children of Israel, crossing of the Jordan by the children of Israel among others.

It is noted that after Jesus was baptized he started his preaching. Baptism is for every person who has not yet been baptized but not everybody can baptize however in special occasions anybody may undertake baptism. The sacrament of confirmation is very significant as it roots Christians deep into Christianity. The sacrament of confirmation is undertaken by anointing the forehead of a subject using sacred chrism.1 The most interesting point I found was the fact that baptism was prefigured in the Old Testament.

2 The children of Israel crossed the Red Sea in a manner that resembled baptism without their knowledge that they were being baptized. Egypt was left behind as the children stepped into a new territory. Noah’s ark was also baptized. During the great floods only those inside the ark survived. I find these prefigurations interesting because they are very symbolic of what baptism ought to accomplish. It is also amazing that God had planned of baptisms even before Jesus was born. It is a show of the great plan that God has for humanity.

BibliographyArticle 1. “Sacrament of Baptisms.” In Catechism of the Catholic Church. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#VIIArticle 2. “Sacraments of Christian Initiation.” In Catechism of the Catholic Church. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a2.htm