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While the early Christians were baptized by immersion, as Jesus Christ was in the Jordan, by the 3rd Century pools or baths, situated in a special room called the "Baptistry," were used. With the prevalence of infant baptisms in later centuries, the need for pool-like Baptistries diminished; they were replaced by "baptismal fonts," basins filled with water for the baptism by immersion. By the beginning of the 13th Century, however, in the West the baptism by immersion for infants was replaced by a simple pouring of water over the head of the child, thus making it unnecessary to devise any elaborate and artistic baptismal fonts.
Our moveable baptismal font, a beautiful bronze art work, shows St. John the Baptist in the act of baptizing Jesus. He holds a staff shaped in the form of a cross with a pennant attached to it on which traditionally are written the works, "This is the Lamb of God." The cover of the font moves sideways to expose the basin for the baptism.
The main body of the baptismal font is engraved with the sybols of fish and water. The letters of the Greek word ictus fish, are the initals of the words, "Jesus Christ, Son of God." The living water signifies our new life in Christ after baptism. Our new life, after our death and resurrection with Christ through baptism, is emphasized by Paul in his letter to the Romans. (Rom. 6:3-5)
During the Easter Season a big, ornate candle is placed by the side of the main altar. It is called the "Paschal or Easter Candle" because it is blessed every year at the beginning of the solemn Easter vigil and is carried solemnly into the church enveloped in total darkness with the triple proclamation of "Christ our Light!" It is customary to light it not only during the Easter Season, but also for funerals and for the administration of baptism.
The Paschal Candle is a symbol of the Risen Christ. On it, in the form of a cross, are five grains of frankincense representing the five wounds of Christ; the numerals of the current year; and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. The celebrant blesses the Paschal Candle during the Easter vigil in these words, "Christ is yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. All time belongs to Him and all ages, too. To Him be glory and power through every age and forever. By His holy and glorious wounds, may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us. Amen."