Catholic Blog

The Catholic Church did not discard immersion, it was and still in practice. Pouring of water, however, is a practical alternative as suggested by Didache — an ancient Church document dating between the late 1st century and early 2nd century:

“And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.” (Didache 7)

“Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.”

However, despite the validity of “pouring”, this video shows a proof of the Catholic practice of “baptismal immersion” wherever it is applicable and practical.

The sacrament of the Eucharist is a true feast where Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is being offered and eaten in the form of bread. The Sacred Host is indeed both physical and spiritual food. Early Christians hold this Holy Bread with reverence as if it is the self-same body of Christ—as the case really is.

Within 2000 years of Church history, Jesus Christ in the Sacrament was profaned thousands of times in many different ways by the ignorant and arrogant people who put God to the test. There was a case where a gambler took the communion by hands but did not put it to his mouth, instead his plan is to take it home and feed his rooster by it to win the fight. There are also reports where some groups of persons gather to stab the sacred Bread (stolen from the church) with a knife to blaspheme the Body of Christ. The Church appropriately responded to this by adopting a way of communication that is more fitting for the present situation. That is the one which is commonly used in almost all parishes in the world: from the hand of the minister directly to the tongue of the communicant. This way, sacrileges may be prevented. Secondary benefit is hygienic. We come from different places and we travel from our home to the parish; we touch money, wallets, bags, or the vehicles where we ride on. Putting in mind both the spiritual and physical factors, we may suppose that it is more preferable that we just leave the handling of the Host to the ministers, and to focus ourselves in receiving Jesus worthily.