The Architecture of Baptisms - May 5, 2023

In this Easter Season, we celebrate a lot of Sacraments, especially Baptisms. This is the primary season for Baptisms: adults at the Easter Vigil, and children throughout the season. So I thought I would write today about the architecture of Baptism at St. Austin. Baptism is the Sacrament of entrance into the Church. In addition to being adopted as a child of God, in Baptism a person also becomes part of the holy people which is the Church. Therefore, it was traditional prior to Vatican Council II to architecturally situate Baptism is the entrance to the church. Many churches had free-standing baptistries,
which is a room where baptism is celebrated, located at the entrance or the front of the church. And St Austin Church has this too or originally had a baptistry.

Since Vatican Council II emphasized the full, conscious, and active participation of all the
people in the celebration of the Sacraments, we now usually do Baptisms at a portable baptism font placed in front of the whole congregation at the foot of the steps to the high altar. Hopefully, you have seen such Baptisms. And I am glad that we do them that way.

But prior to Vatican II, Baptisms were performed in what we now use as our
Reconciliation Chapel. There are several things that indicate that Baptism was its original use. First of all there is a beautiful mosaic of John the Baptist on the wall opposite the entrance to the room. I think this is one of the best pieces of art in the church. If you have not seen it, look into the room to admire it. John is clothed in camel’s hair, holds a staff, and also a book with seven seals (as in the Book of Revelation) and on the book is the Lamb of God, an image of Jesus. John is of course associated with Baptism as he baptized Jesus.

Also in this room is the AMBRY, the special niche or cabinet for holding the sacred oils.
The Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism are used in Baptism, so it is
appropriate that they are kept here.

And if you count the walls in the room, you will see it is eight sided. This odd structure
is an architectural reference to Baptism, as ancient baptistries were usually eight sided.
This is a reference to “the eighth day”, that is the day of resurrection, Sunday. Baptism
is the entrance into a new and eternal life. So even though we have repurposed this room for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it still speaks architecturally of Baptism.
The original Baptismal font now resides in the lobby (narthex) of the church, serving as
a Holy Water font. It is a very large piece of marble, with a rather shallow depression for
water. In the past Baptism was performed with just a small amount of water, Now we
try to use a fuller symbol of the pouring out of new life as well as the washing away of
sin. Our church building, soon to be 70 years old, has several interesting aspects as it
continues to serve us well God bless!