battesimo

Battesimo is the Christian sacrament or rite of initiation through which a person is recognized as a member of the Christian community. Etymologically, it derives from the Greek baptizein and the Latin baptismus, and in Italian refers to the ritual act of cleansing with water.

In most Christian traditions, baptism signifies purification from sin, spiritual rebirth, and admission to the Church. It is often associated with Jesus’ own baptism and the Great Commission to disciples to baptize all nations. The exact theological emphasis varies by tradition: for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, baptism is a sacrament that imparts grace and confers an ontological change; for many Protestant churches, it is an ordinance or sign of faith rather than a means of grace in itself.

Practices differ widely. The mode of water use ranges from immersion to pouring or sprinkling. Many traditions practice infant baptism, viewing baptism as the gracious gift of God and the child’s incorporation into the body of Christ, while others emphasize believer’s baptism, performed at an age of conscious faith. The rite commonly involves vows or promises by the person or, for infants, by the parents and godparents, water enacted with a formula and often followed by a period of ritual welcome or additional rites such as chrismation in Orthodox churches, first Eucharist in Catholic practice, or confirmation in some denominations.

Historically, baptism evolved from early adult baptism to include infants in many churches. Doctrinal differences persist regarding its necessity for salvation, the permanence of the baptismal character, and its relationship to other rites of initiation. Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches recognize baptisms performed in their own communities, and in many cases, baptisms conducted by other Christian groups are respected or require ecclesial validation.