200 Baptism Makes Us Members of the Body of Christ - part 2

YOUCAT Lesson 200, part 2 of 3 parts

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

200  What happens in Baptism?

In Baptism we become members of the Body of Christ, sisters and brothers of our Redeemer, and children of God.  We are freed from sin, snatched from death, and destined from then on for a life in the joy of the redeemed.  [1262-1274, 1279-1280]

Painting: …..The Baptism of the Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), by Rembrandt 1626, Museum Catharine Convent, Utrecht. …..200

…….THE GRACE OF BAPTISM; Being incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ

…….1267   Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore . . . we are members one of another."(Ephesians 4:25)⁷²    Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13(⁷³ –CCC

…….1268   The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood."(1 Peter 2:5)⁷⁴    By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light."(1 Peter 2:9)⁷⁵   Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.—CCC

…….1269   Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us.(compare 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:15)⁷⁶    From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to "obey and submit" to the Church's leaders,( Hebrews 13:17)⁷⁷   holding them in respect and affection.( compare Ephesians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; John 13:12-15)⁷⁸    Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church: to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church.( compare Lumen Gentium 37; Codex Iuris Canonici, cann. 208-223; Corpus Canonum Ecclesiarm Orientalium, can. 675:2)⁷⁹ –CCC

…….1270   "Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church" and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God.(  Lumen Gentium 11; compare LG 17; (Ad Gentes 7; AG 23)⁸⁰ –CCC

……..The sacramental bond of the unity of Christians

…….1271 Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: "For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. Justified by faith in Baptism, [they] are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church."(Unitatis Redintegratio 3)⁸¹    "Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn."( UR 22 § 2)⁸² –CCC