“I CONFESS ONE BAPTISM”

The phrase “I confess one Baptism”
is in the last paragraph of
the Nicene Creed. This Creed,
with a few minor changes added
to it at later councils, was primarily
written at the Council of
Nicaea in 325. Nicaea is a city outside
of what today we call Istanbul
(during the fourth century, it was
known as Constantinople). In the
years leading up to this council,
the Church struggled to articulate
the natures of Christ. The
bishops of the Church, particularly
those of the East, gathered
in order to articulate true belief
in who Christ is, especially in his
relationship to God the Father. It
was a time of controversy on core
beliefs. The Creed was the final
document of that council, written
so that all the faithful may
know the central teachings of
Christianity.
The revised translation of
The Roman Missal adds the word
“confess.” This word was not
present in the previous translation. To confess is to adhere to;
to have faith in something or someone. Thus, to confess something
is “to show and to articulate our belief(s).” What does it
mean then to “confess one Baptism”?
Through the sacrament of Baptism we enter the Church.
This sacrament makes us disciples of the Lord Jesus. Water
washes us clean of original sin, and we step out of the font glistening
with the radiance of Christ shining through us. That is
why we are given a baptismal candle. Candles represent Christ
who, like the candle, gave up his life so as to shine forth in the
lives of believes who were purified by fire and water.
In the ritual of Baptism, the Creed is a significant part of
the sacrament. Rather than professing the Creed, the priest (or
the deacon) requests the Creed in the form of questions: “Do
you believe in God, the Father almighty . . . ?” Adults will
answer, “I do!” while godparents
will answer on behalf of the
infant. We are used to this form
of question, especially at Easter
when we renew our baptismal
promises, or when a Baptism of
an infant takes place during
Mass. Those baptismal promises
comprise the Creed.
By confessing in “one Baptism,”
we confess, or state our
faith or adherence to, that there is
one way to enter the Church. It is
this sacrament that makes us disciples
of the Lord Jesus. The Creed
is a Trinitarian confession: We
confess our belief in “God, / the
Father,” “one Lord Jesus Christ, /
the Only Begotten Son of God,”
and “the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life.” In the waters of
Baptism, we are baptized in the
name of the Triune God: “N., I
baptize you in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.” We were marked or
“branded” in God’s very name.
This means that we are put into relationship, into communion,
with God. God himself is a communion: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. God’s great love issues forth from this divine
Communion in order to bring us into communion, into relationship,
with God’s very self. God’s love overflows and
washes us in life giving waters.
That Baptism is a sacrament of the Church means that
participation in the sacrament also puts us into relationship
with the Church. This is why Saint Augustine of Hippo could
remind those who were baptized that they wear the name of
Christ as Christians. Like water, candle, and flame, we are to
shine the love of the Triune God to renew the face of the earth,
to give of ourselves in sacrificial love, and to burn brightly so
that God’s love, peace and presence will be felt in what we do
and say as Christian disciples.

Preparing Your Parish for the Revised Roman Missal: Homilies and Reproducibles for Faith Formation © 2011 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training
Publications, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago IL 60609; 1-800-933-1800; www.LTP.org. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973,
2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. Photo © John Zich. This image may be reproduced for personal
or parish use. The copyright notice must appear with the text. Published with Ecclesiastical Approval (Canon 823, 1).