Baptism in a New Light

Due to the stormy weather in the forecast for Sunday, I was disappointed to find out that the location for Mass on the Grass was changed to the Elon Community Church. As a Catholic, I was excited to practice my faith in a different kind of worship service that was outside instead of inside the traditional church building. I went to the relocated church event nonetheless and did not regret my decision. Even though there was no outside liturgy, I was still able to experience the baptism of an Elon sophomore college student. I have been to multiple Catholic baptisms in my childhood, but I was too young to really concentrate on the details and to understand the meaning of the event. Not only could I better comprehend the significance of this baptism, but I also was able to experience a baptism of someone my own age, whereas the past baptisms I have attended were for newborn children. I was so impressed that a busy college student was courageous enough and passionate enough about the Catholic faith to convert, especially at this vulnerable and critical time in her life. Since this sacrament converted the student, this baptismal event aligns with the information we learned in class that baptism is a way to be adopted into the church as a new member and as a child of God. All of the symbols of baptism, such as the lighting of the candle, anointing of oil, renunciation of Satan, presence of white garments, the sign of the cross, baptizing with water, and many more, were present. As a child experiencing my cousins' baptisms, I was unaware of the significance of these items, but now that I am more educated about the meaning of the sacrament, I was able to watch this student's baptism with an attentive and analytical perspective. When the candle was lit, it demonstrated that there was a new light present that sin cannot overcome, which touches on baptism's themes of rebirth and renewal. The anointing of oil sealed the student being baptized with the gift of the Holy Spirit and also protects her from future sin. The white clothing symbolizes purity, new life, and innocence as a new member in the church. As the student was baptized with water, the water washed away original sin and echoed the three people in one God, the Trinity. This was definitely a worthwhile experience, and I loved being able to apply what I learned in class to an event that frequently occurs within my own religion.