Christianity: Sacraments

The Sacraments

Baptism

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit"
     Words used universally in the Christian community to announce entry in the fellowship of the Christian community of believers. Translated into all world languages. Water is universally used in the act. The baptism may be in a stream, a lake, a designated water container. In this instance the person is briefly submerged under the surface of the water. The other method is pouring or sprinkling of water on the head of the person, usually in a church but it may occur in a home, hospital, outdoors, battle field or wherever the new believer wishes to enter the company of the baptized.
     In some traditions persons of any age - from birth to mature age - are baptized. In others it is expected that a person will be of mature, rational age to be baptized.

+ Information on Baptism from a Roman Catholic perspective. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm

Holy Communion - Eucharist - Lord's Supper - The Mass

"The body of Christ, given for you....
The blood of Christ, given for you.
Words used universally in the Christian community as the bread and wine (or grape juice) are given to individual believers as the community of faith in Christ is celebrated and affirmed. Cultural differences are reflected in the exact wording and ordering of the worship time when this sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus is observed. For some it is sharing in the very body and blood of Jesus; for others it is a remembrance of what Jesus gave to humans as his body was broken and blood was shed; for others it is a mystical participation with Jesus in the continuing transformation of the creation into the mind of Christ. These and other interpretations of the sacred act are gathering under the spreading branches of the tree of life experienced in Jesus. The unity and the utter diversity of Christianity are most evident when people share in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.