a Catholic Church
Corpus Christi Church
Clifton Nottingham
| Around and About a Catholic Church |
A Tour of Corpus Christi Church Clifton Nottingham |
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A baptismal font is a container for holding the baptismal water. A fixed font can be seen in the Baptistry. A movable font is often used on the Sanctuary at Corpus Christi so that those accompanying the candidate for Baptism can be easily accommodated. Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments. Through baptism we are reborn as children of God, are configured to Christ by an indelible character and are incorporated in the Church. Water is specially blessed for use in baptism during the Easter Vigil. At other times the one who administers the sacrament may bless the water at each baptism |
| To the left of our picture can be seen a white robe. In the Catholic rite of Baptism the person being baptised is symbolically covered with a white garment and exhorted to "bring it unstained to the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ so that you may have everlasting life." In the centre of the Table is the baptismal font itself, rather like a large bowl. In front are the holy oils which are used to anoint the person being baptised. The oils are usually blessed by the Bishop at the Mass of Chrism on Holy Thursday. The oils used are the oil of catechumens and the oil of chrism. The priest anoints a child's breast with oil of catechumens and prays that Christ may give his strength to the child. Rubbing oil into the skin was once a part of everyday life in the Mediterranean world. It may seem strange now. But it is alink with the place of origin of the Church and it is also a link with the present-day Eastern Churches which attach a lot of importance to an anointing before baptism. The oil of chrism signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit on the newly baptised. During the baptismal service a small candle is lit from the Easter (Paschal) candle, symbol of Christ as Light of the World, and presented to the person being baptised or their representative, with the admonition to "walk always as a child of the light" and keep the flame of faith alive in your heart. |
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