KIRKSPIRE ARTICLE OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2008
WORD AND SACRAMENTS 3
The Baptismal Font
Murdoch MacKenzie
Having considered the WORD as we looked at the Eagle Lectern and then the Pulpit we move back near the Lectern to the Baptismal Font as we begin to think about the two Dominical Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. We know they are ‘dominical’, that is from the Master himself, because Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) He also said, as reported by St Paul: “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me”….”This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)
John the Baptist baptised people in the River Jordan, including Jesus himself. (Mark 1:9) Before coming to the Kirk, while working in Vyasarpady, occasionally we would go out to a fast flowing river to baptise adults and at Christmas and Easter mothers would bring their babies to church for baptism. At the Kirk here we baptised some adults in the large tank in the Kirk garden and babies in the font near the lectern, using a plentiful supply of ‘running’ water with the parents using a towel to dry the baby’s head. The word ‘font’ means ‘fountain’ which implies running water. Martin Luther, who was baptised when three days old, and who had terrific struggles throughout his life, at the most difficult moments relied on the fact of his baptism. At such times he would take a piece of chalk and write on his blackboard the two Latin words Baptizatus sum ‘I am baptised’.
Normally Jewish male children were circumcised on the eighth day as was St Paul. (Philippians 3:5) but St Paul says in Galatians 5:6 that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.” Whilst circumcision was related to the ‘cutting’ of the sacrificial covenant as recorded in the Old Testament (Genesis 17:9-14) , for some early Christians baptism was seen as a sign of entry into the new covenant within the household of faith. Still today the fonts of some Christian denominations are 8-sided as a reminder of the practice of circumcision which traditionally occurs on the 8th day. Some are 3-sided as a reminder of the Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Fonts are often placed at or near the west door of a church to remind believers of their ‘entry’ into the household of faith symbolised by baptism. The earliest baptismal fonts were designed for full immersion, and were often cross-shaped with steps (usually three, for the Trinity) leading down into them. Sometimes such baptismal pools were located in a separate building, called a baptistery, near the entrance of the church. As infant baptism became more common, fonts became smaller. Full-immersion baptisms may take place in a tank or pool, or a natural body of water such as a river or lake. This practice symbolizes the death of the old nature, as found in Romans 6:3-4.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church baptism is always by full triple immersion, even in the case of infant baptism (aspersion or pouring is permitted only in extremis). For this reason, Eastern baptismal fonts tend to be larger than Western, and are often shaped like a large chalice (significant, since the Orthodox administer Holy Communion to infants after baptism), and are normally fashioned out of metal rather than stone or wood. During the baptismal service, three candles will be lit on or around the baptismal font, in honor of the Holy Trinity. In the Roman Catholic church, especially after its Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), greater attention is being given to the form of the baptismal font. Currently, the Roman Catholic church encourages baptismal fonts that are suitable for the full immersion of an infant or child, and for at least the pouring of water over the whole body of an adult. The font should be located in a space that is visibly and physically accessible, and should preferably make provision for flowing water. At the entrance to Catholic churches there is water by the door with which worshippers make the sign of the cross on their foreheads to remind themselves of their own baptism.
Likewise as we prepare for worship each Sunday and see the font beside the lectern and the communion table let us remember our own baptism and give thanks to God and forget not all his benefits. Let us also remember that the font is a symbol of ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all’ (Ephesians 4:5-6) and let us therefore, in St Paul’s words, ‘be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’
Murdoch MacKenzie
Having considered the WORD as we looked at the Eagle Lectern and then the Pulpit we move back near the Lectern to the Baptismal Font as we begin to think about the two Dominical Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. We know they are ‘dominical’, that is from the Master himself, because Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) He also said, as reported by St Paul: “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me”….”This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)
John the Baptist baptised people in the River Jordan, including Jesus himself. (Mark 1:9) Before coming to the Kirk, while working in Vyasarpady, occasionally we would go out to a fast flowing river to baptise adults and at Christmas and Easter mothers would bring their babies to church for baptism. At the Kirk here we baptised some adults in the large tank in the Kirk garden and babies in the font near the lectern, using a plentiful supply of ‘running’ water with the parents using a towel to dry the baby’s head. The word ‘font’ means ‘fountain’ which implies running water. Martin Luther, who was baptised when three days old, and who had terrific struggles throughout his life, at the most difficult moments relied on the fact of his baptism. At such times he would take a piece of chalk and write on his blackboard the two Latin words Baptizatus sum ‘I am baptised’.
Normally Jewish male children were circumcised on the eighth day as was St Paul. (Philippians 3:5) but St Paul says in Galatians 5:6 that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.” Whilst circumcision was related to the ‘cutting’ of the sacrificial covenant as recorded in the Old Testament (Genesis 17:9-14) , for some early Christians baptism was seen as a sign of entry into the new covenant within the household of faith. Still today the fonts of some Christian denominations are 8-sided as a reminder of the practice of circumcision which traditionally occurs on the 8th day. Some are 3-sided as a reminder of the Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Fonts are often placed at or near the west door of a church to remind believers of their ‘entry’ into the household of faith symbolised by baptism. The earliest baptismal fonts were designed for full immersion, and were often cross-shaped with steps (usually three, for the Trinity) leading down into them. Sometimes such baptismal pools were located in a separate building, called a baptistery, near the entrance of the church. As infant baptism became more common, fonts became smaller. Full-immersion baptisms may take place in a tank or pool, or a natural body of water such as a river or lake. This practice symbolizes the death of the old nature, as found in Romans 6:3-4.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church baptism is always by full triple immersion, even in the case of infant baptism (aspersion or pouring is permitted only in extremis). For this reason, Eastern baptismal fonts tend to be larger than Western, and are often shaped like a large chalice (significant, since the Orthodox administer Holy Communion to infants after baptism), and are normally fashioned out of metal rather than stone or wood. During the baptismal service, three candles will be lit on or around the baptismal font, in honor of the Holy Trinity. In the Roman Catholic church, especially after its Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), greater attention is being given to the form of the baptismal font. Currently, the Roman Catholic church encourages baptismal fonts that are suitable for the full immersion of an infant or child, and for at least the pouring of water over the whole body of an adult. The font should be located in a space that is visibly and physically accessible, and should preferably make provision for flowing water. At the entrance to Catholic churches there is water by the door with which worshippers make the sign of the cross on their foreheads to remind themselves of their own baptism.
Likewise as we prepare for worship each Sunday and see the font beside the lectern and the communion table let us remember our own baptism and give thanks to God and forget not all his benefits. Let us also remember that the font is a symbol of ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all’ (Ephesians 4:5-6) and let us therefore, in St Paul’s words, ‘be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’
Murdoch MacKenzie