The Christian Community
Edward James
Most people in Gaul the centuries after barbarian invasions belonged to a community wider than nation, city or family, with its own initiation ceremonies and meeting-places, membership of which gave sure knowledge world, both visible invisible, chance eternal happiness. The ceremony was baptism, involving triple immersion sunken pits fonts specially built baptisteries (both often octagonal shape, for number 8 signified eternity rebirth), usually performed by bishop, at Easter, Christmas on another suitable day such as feast St John Baptist. Already 500, child, rather adult, baptism norm; Carolin-gian times child might be one two years old. By then it had become much easier parents obtain sacrament their children: parish priests would perform ceremony, using small font inside church. In theory, continuing required fulfilment oaths sworn baptism; practice only minimum participation sacraments. Council Agde 506 laid down that every Christian should take communion Christmas, Easter Pentecost; Carolingian bishops decreed make confession sins once year, before Lent (hence Shrove Tuesday, from ‘to shrive’, meaning hear confession).
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