Brith-Millah (Circumcision)
The first religious ceremony the Jewish boy experiences is the Brith-Millah or Circumcision. The ceremony is performed when the child is eight days old. It is a joyous occasion, for the “Brith” signifies initiation into the House of Israel, “Brith” meaning covenant or agreement. The new-born infant is named, and thus, as it were, accepts the oath of allegiance to his God.
Baptism in Judaism
The Jews baptized all converts. The proof was found in Numbers 15:14-15:
“And when, throughout the ages, a stranger who has taken up residence with you, or one who lives among you, would present an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD—as you do, so shall it be done by the rest of the congregation. There shall be one law for you and for the resident stranger; it shall be a law for all time throughout the ages.”
The custom of the Jews before and during the time of Jesus was to baptize women converts and to baptize and circumcise male converts.
“And so in all ages when an Ethnic is willing to enter into the covenant and gather himself under the wings of the majesty of God, and take upon him the yoke of the law; he must be circumcised, and baptized, and bring a sacrifice; or, if it be a woman, be baptized and bring a sacrifice. As it is written, ‘As you are so shall the stranger be’.[1] How are you? By circumcision, and baptism, and bringing of a sacrifice. So likewise the stranger [or proselyte] through all generations; by circumcision and baptism and bringing of a sacrifice. And what is the stranger’s sacrifice? A burnt-offering of a beast, or two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, both of them for a burnt offering.”
(Maimonides, Isuri Bia, c. XIII).
In the profession of faith prescribed by Pope Innocent III, we read:
“We believe that all sins are remitted in baptism, both original sin and those sins which have been voluntarily committed.”
What are the effects of Baptism?
The Catechism of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) lists six:
1. Remission of Sin
2. Remission of All Punishment Due to Sin
3. Grace of Regeneration
4. Infused Virtues and Incorporation with Christ
5. Character of Christian, and
6. Opening the Gates of Heaven
The 1917 version of the Catholic Encyclopedia lists five:
1. The remission of all sin, original and actual
2. Remission of temporal punishment
3. Infusion of supernatural grace, gifts, and virtues
4. Conferral of the right to special graces, and
5. Impression of a character on the soul
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
CCC 1262 The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite. Immersion in water symbolizes not only death and purification, but also regeneration and renewal. Thus the two principal effects are purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit.
The Mishna of both the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud speaks of children being made proselytes. ‘They are wont to baptize such a proselyte in infancy upon the profession of the House of Judgment’ (Gemara Babylon). (Cf., “The History of Infant Baptism,” by W. Wall).
[1] (Numbers 14-15, TANAKH – The Holy Scriptures, according to the traditional Hebrew Text.