Practiced by all churches, baptism is a fundamental rite that marks the entry into the Christian life. While most are still given to young children, Catholics celebrate adult baptisms annually in Easter. According to the figures of the Catholic Church in France, 10,300 adults were expected to be baptized with Easter 2025, an increase of 45%. Here are seven questions to better understand the origins and meaning of this act.
What are the origins or baptism?
Baptism is at least as old as Christianity. In the Acts of the Apostles, a New Testament book that mentions the formation of the first Christian communities, multiple baptisms are already observed. The first believers felt that they were following an order of Jesus itself, as reported in the Gospels. Just before his ascension, this mission really great to the disciples: “See, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mattew 28:19).
In addition, Jesus himself received baptism. The four gospels mention this episode, highlighting its importance for the first believers. In Marcos, we read: “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by Juan in Jordan. Just when Jesus came out of the water, he saw the beer from open sky and the spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my son, whom I love; With you I am well pleased.“” (Mark 1: 9-11).
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