† Rituals and Practices †

In this section of this blog, we are going to talk about the rituals practiced by Christians.

- Joining the Church (Baptism): People are often baptized when they’re babies at 8 days old. If a person being baptized (joining the church ceremony) is a baby, he/she is given their first name. Baptism often takes place at a large stone bowl, near the entrance of the church because it symbolizes the entry of a person joining Christianity. When the church begins to baptize, prayers are said, and a little bit of water is sprinkled on the person’s (who is being baptized) forehead in the pattern of a cross. Baptism used to be private for only the family to observe their children joining the Church. Now, it’s part of the main Sunday service in the Church.

- Confirmation: For babies only, after being baptized. After baptism, babies will take upon themselves the responsibility of being adult members of the church, even though they’re still babies that are too young and inexperience. This church service is led by a bishop, or minister of the church who put their hands on the head of babies to confirm that the babies will take full responsibilities of being adults and that they’re 100% completely full members of the church. As for adults who were not baptized as babies may be both baptized and confirmed at the same time.

- Communion: A ritual to remember, celebrate, and commemorate Jesus on his Last Supper by sharing bread and wine. Usually, the bread and wine are purchased by normal Christians, who join money together, and attend the church as a thanksgiving to God. Christians believe that the bread is body of Jesus, and wine is blood of Jesus. The most holy moment is when the priest pray over the bread and wine, then people began to share, eat, and drink with each other. This service of the Church maybe called the Eucharist, Holy Communion, or Mass. Christians recognized Eucharist as a sign of unity amongst all Christians (when all of them are united together).

- Marriage: Christians believe that when a man and woman get married, they must be together for the rest of their life. Unless, one of the partner died, remarriage is possible. Jesus teaches that divorcing and marrying another one is wrong and will be view as adultery. Nowadays, some Church authorities still allow divorce and remarriage because they feel it’s better for the couples to divorce rather than living unhappily together.

- The Wedding: When Christian couples, who get marry, make promises that they will care, love, and be honest to each other under any circumstances. The couples often do this in front of the Church, so God can observe and witness their vows to each other. Then, they will go inside the church so the priest says some prayers and bless the marriage, also asking if the couple agrees to marry each other. Lastly, they will go to eat some bread and wines in the Eucharist service. For other Christians, sometimes, couples can only be divorced if the didn’t have any sexual relations together yet.

- Celibacy: Monks and Nuns can never get married or having any sexual relations. The same goes for the priests, who is never allow to get marry.

- Christians tried to help their neighbors as part of their daily life (like go shopping for them, take care of the garden, doing households…) because Jesus teaches that God expected all followers to help their neighbor, and also the poor, sick, and needy ones. So, Christians are expected to give some of the money they earn to the church and charities; so the church can build hospitals, more churches, school, support charities to fight against hunger, diseases, poverty….

by Victor