Convergence At The Font

The actions of Christian initiation seem to be growing toward an ecumenical shape as some major traditions shift their traditional baptismal customs and do so along broadly similar lines. History. By the time of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, the Western church had developed a two-stage pattern of Christian initiation. Infants a few days old were baptized by the local priest; in later childhood, after at least rudimentary education in the faith, they were confirmed by a bishop. Since the late Middle Ages, admission to the Holy Communion followed confirmation. The two ritual actions corresponded with life stages-baptism with birth, and confirmation with growth. In the sixteenth century, this two-stage rite of becoming a Christian was all that anyone knew. The Reformers accepted the first stage, infant baptism. However, they rejected, sometimes sarcastically the bishop's postbaptismal anointing. Yet they saw value in this second initiatory action insofar as it was an op…