There was a time in the Middle Ages when exorcisms were all but unnecessary. Why? Because every soul was baptized, baptized in the Old Rite that included an exorcism.
Why would baptism require an exorcism, especially of a newborn baby? Because of Original Sin. Until we are made Children of God, we are children of the devil, born into his realm and drawn through concupiscence to sin and destruction of our souls. That’s what it comes down to: good versus evil, light versus dark. Yet, without the graces of baptism, which I’ll list below, you are fighting an uphill battle with evil.
The Lost Sacrament
Yet, today, if you start asking your friends, family, neighbors, almost every child, and even adult, is not baptized. And we wonder why so much evil exists in our time! Baptism is the lost sacrament. Many don’t think about eternity. God has been scrubbed from society, from our public places. Parents themselves don’t understand the spiritual, push off death as an “uncomfortable fact that doesn’t affect my present day.” To live in such ignorance! Death can come at any moment, today in fact. We should never put off for tomorrow what could be done today.
Just because you ignore the spiritual, the supernatural, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It simply means you’re not aware that you are in a battle. The best lie Satan has ever accomplished is to convince the world that he doesn’t exist, that Hell isn’t real, that we’re merely energy, there is no afterlife, or that we all go to Heaven as long as we are “good people.” None of these statements are true.
Baptism is Essential
Jesus Himself, in Holy Scripture states:
Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born again? Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:3-5
To be “born again” requires baptism in the New Covenant, while in the Old Covenant it was circumcision. You must be set aside, you must confess God (either you as parents for your child, or you yourself as an adult).
Benefits of Baptism
- Exorcism
- Removal of Original Sin
- Indelible mark on your soul, claiming you as a child of God and member of the Body of Christ
- Sacramental grace
- Partial gift of the Holy Ghost (to be fully realized at Confirmation)
But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.
Acts of Apostles 2:38-39
My Plea
Please, please get your children baptized, your little babies. You never know when God will call a soul home. Without baptism you are creating a very uncertain situation. Yes, God is all-powerful and can do anything, but His Words are quite clear. You are playing with fire. Not only is salvation at risk but you set up your children to struggle in this world. Satan can easily sway these unbaptized souls to sin, to seek their own sensual pleasures, to strive for worldly fame, pleasure, wealth, or (fill in).
Life is a blink, eternity is very, very long.
Resources
If you’d like to understand more about baptism, the Catholic Faith, infant baptism, the other Sacraments, and anything else, there are a few really easy places to look:
- Catholic Answers: this website is very robust. Type in your area of interest and you’ll get multiple articles.
- Fish Eaters: this is a traditional website that again has plenty of information
- Catholic Encyclopedia: just as it sounds, I linked directly to baptism
- Scripture on baptism: I found a blog with a good amount of Scripture focused on the necessity of baptism
I’m just touching the surface of why baptism is the first Sacrament and one of necessity. I won’t say it’s the most important, that would be the Holy Eucharist, but you cannot receive Jesus Christ without being made a child of God first.
Please, I beg you, consider what I’ve said. Please share this with fallen-away Catholics, with Christians who do not baptize until their children are much older, with anyone who is not baptized themselves.
If you’d like to be baptized in the Catholic Church (there is only ONE baptism, all baptisms are Sacramental and therefore Catholic), this is the time to start inquiring. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is going on right now (September) with baptisms occurring Easter Vigil 2023. Please don’t delay.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Email me at whatlauralikeschannel@gmail.com.