A young man preparing for baptism asked an honest question, “why do I have to wait until the Easter Vigil to be baptized?” As we were going through the Book of Acts, it seemed almost contradictory. The Apostles certainly didn’t wait for one day of the year to baptize everyone. We don’t make infants wait either. So why him?  

My immediate response was, “that’s tradition.” Indeed this became the custom by the 300’s, along with Pentecost, as the preferred days for Christian Initiation. As I searched my brain and many sacramental classes for a better answer, our liturgical calendar kicked in. “What better way to remember Christ’s death and resurrection than by you dying to sin and being born to new life at the same time we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection? It gives the sacramental imagine a more real effect.” 

Of course a baptism celebrated on the 18th Sunday of ordinary or an emergency baptism at a hospital are just as sacramentally efficacious when it comes to the spiritual and salvation sides. But I think there is something to argue from the purely human side. If we believe the sacraments are where the human meets the divine, then it is worth reflection on. 

With a sacrament being the symbol with which grace is made present, then the symbolic aspect is punctuated with the Easter Vigil baptism. The catechumen is not only a symbol for themselves, but the whole community. In a very real way, they enter into Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 6). While all of us are called into this same mystery every Lent and Easter (and really at every Mass), the catechumen celebrates in a way which the baptized cannot, nor will be able to.

Beyond a nice reflection on the symbolic action of baptism, what practical points are there? First, this reflection can give solace to the eager catechumen. Yes, they want to start partaking in the sacramental life of the Church and why shouldn’t they? But before them lies the opportunity to enter into Christ’s Paschal Mystery in a way which they will never be able to again. 

Second, if RCIA is done properly, then the entire parish community has a grace-filled opportunity. Sacraments affect both the primary recipient and all those present. Marriage is primarily felt by the couple yet the symbol they live out affects many. Baptism primarily affects the one baptized but the more real, the more concrete the symbol, we are all beneficiaries. 

This “human” aspect of the symbol is real. A Mass celebrated well edifies more than one which is sloppy. Assuming both are valid, then from a purely theological sense, there is no difference. But from an emotional, reflective, human sense of wonder, there is a major difference. Yes, I understand it’s still Jesus no matter how poor the liturgy, but I’m a graduate student in theology. We owe it to those we serve to make sure our symbols are as genuine and authentic as possible. Our human appreciation for the symbols contained in the sacraments is there for a reason.