Rituals and Customs
Different denominations celebrate varying rites, festivals, and sacraments. The Protestant churches tend to be less formal than the Orthodox and Roman Catholic ones. The following are the common rituals and customs performed in Christianity.
Prayer
It is prayer that forms the backbone of Christian religious life. Although specified periods for communal prayer are not set (unlike in some other religions), Sunday is usually the chosen day for Christians. This is not only the first day of the week, but also the day on which Jesus rose from the dead. The typical place for prayer is the church. However, Christians are also urged to pray regularly either in public or in private.
While prayers are said frequently for someone who is ill, prayers — whether by a group or individual — can cover almost every kind of need or occasion. They are used to thank God for his gifts, to ask for forgiveness, and to petition for blessings and favors.
Prayer has been described as a pilgrimage of the spirit; many people consider it the purest form of religious expression. It expresses the desire to enter into a personal and constant intimate relationship with God.
Baptism
Baptism marks the beginning of life as a Christian. It is the emergence of a new person upon whom a new name is conferred. It is the total annulment of the sins of the person's past, from which an innocent person emerges. At the baptism, the person becomes a member of the church and is incorporated into the body of Jesus Christ. Most Christian churches baptize babies, but some denominations baptize only adults. Some churches hold that when children baptized as infants reach adulthood, they must confirm their beliefs.
Historically, baptism was meant for adults who were capable of accepting the ancient liturgies themselves. The Roman Catholic Church in more modern times asked adults, parents, or godparents to make the decision on behalf of the infant, with the expectation that the child would accept the decision made.
Eucharist
Most formal churches, for example Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican, will include the celebration of The Last Supper in their services, sometimes called the Eucharist, Mass, or Holy Communion. Only a minister or priest is authorized to perform the ceremony.
Confirmation
Confirmation usually takes place in adolescence or adulthood. In some traditions, it is seen as a confirmation of vows the candidate could not make for herself as a child. In both Anglicanism and Lutheranism, confirmation is generally preceded by instruction in the catechism. Other Protestants deny that confirmation is a sacrament, but they do sometimes use the term to mark the transition of baptized members into full membership of the church, including the right to receive Holy Communion.
Marriage
Christianity has contributed to a spiritualization of marriage and family life. Marriage can be called the most intimate form in which the fellowship of believers is realized. In many traditions, there is respect for those who choose not to marry — monks, nuns, and Roman Catholic priests, for instance. But all Christians regard marriage as a serious step and a commitment, as marriage vows are made before God.
Death
Christians believe that death is not the end of life because Jesus taught and promised eternal life for all believers. At the funeral service, the body of the dead person is commemorated and comfort is offered to the bereaved. The deceased is committed into God's care; thereafter, the body is buried or cremated, depending on the wishes of the deceased or the tradition of the church.
