Baptismo

Baptismo, the term used in Portuguese and Spanish for baptism, refers to a Christian rite of initiation through water. The word derives from the Greek baptizein, via Latin baptismus, meaning to dip, immerse, or wash. In Christian theology, baptismo is usually understood as a symbolic act that expresses purification from sin, death to an old life, and entry into the Christian community.

Historically, baptismo has its roots in the ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus, and it became a foundational practice of early Christian communities. Over time, it came to symbolize spiritual cleansing, rebirth, and the reception of the Holy Spirit. In many traditions, baptism also marks admission to the Church and the beginning of a lifelong faith journey.

Practices and modes vary. Water is the essential element, and forms include immersion (complete submersion), affusion (pouring water over the head), and aspersion (sprinkling water). The ritual is often accompanied by a Trinitarian formula, most commonly “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptismo may be administered to infants or to professing believers, depending on the denomination. In some churches, it is considered a sacrament that conveys grace; in others, it is a symbolic ordinance.

Denominational differences are notable. Catholic and Orthodox churches treat baptism as a sacrament and typically practice infant baptism, often alongside chrismation or confirmation. Many Protestant groups view baptism as a public profession of faith or covenant with God, with practices ranging from infant to believer’s baptism and varying emphasis on mode and timing. Pentecostal and Anabaptist traditions frequently require believer’s baptism by immersion.