Let us say a few words about the beginning of Marital Parish Eucharistic life in Christ (behind the Husband, behind Christ) – about the dual Sacrament of Baptism-Chrismation! The Church never baptizes anyone (does not accept into Marital Parish Eucharistic life) without proper preparation-catechumenate (without a long period of dates for mutual knowledge)! For whatever reason a person comes to the community-parish and asks for baptism (Marriage): miracle, revelation, enlightenment, in a state of emotional excitement from learning that God is… etc. Well, fell in love! Love does not depend on the person (it is very easy and eagerly enjoyed! Unlike love (= cross-bearing-self-crucifixion-self-denial) for the enemy, which becomes the beloved when he does not meet my selfish expectations – “the enemies of a man are his own household!”), it is a gift-revelation! And to enter into marriage is a deliberate, sober, responsible, conscious step! Therefore, the Church helps the catechumen to transition from the state of emotions-experiences-enthusiasms-romanticism to the state of humble responsible and firm trust-determination to die to the sinful life according to the elements of this age and live with Christ, for Christ, in Christ, become a member of His Body – the Parish-Eucharist! In the grip of emotions, in a state of affect one can decide on any feat – even to enter into marriage or even die, saving someone!? For a one-time death – you can decide (especially when you are in an “abnormal” state!), but to die every day (in marital life!) – neither emotions nor affects will help! Love-revelation – is a gift that does not depend on a person (a person cannot evoke love in themselves – to want and love), and one must enter into marriage for the sake of love – constant crucifixion-self-denial for the happiness of the beloved. Love passes (the state of being in a miracle-revelation, the state of excitement, euphoria passes), the memory and faithfulness to what was experienced remain, or betrayal of love-revelation in search of pleasures. Therefore, only one who is faithful, and forces themselves to love (wishes happiness, and does everything they can to make the beloved, the Other happy) when it is no longer love (by itself), but on the contrary, disappointment (after love-enchantment): oh, you are like this, like that, and I did not know, did not know…; when it is hated (the selfish passionate nature hates the enemy), that is, loves through not being loved – hypostatically ascetically determines (forces, directs) their passionate sinful loveless selfish flesh to love the Other. In the state of readiness-faithfulness to die every day for Christ (here is the final exam of the school of the catechumens, here is the fruit of dates-catechumens) – the Church baptizes-accepts a new member into Her Body, enters into Marriage with the catechumen (“bride,” the betrothed-hypostasis) in the Sacrament of Baptism-Chrismation – from that moment the catechumen is already Christ’s, belongs to Christ, and lives by the will and rhythm of the life of His Body (in Which they became an organic member) – the Parish-Eucharist.
Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit, not (only) by water. Baptism with water is a formal rite of stating the fact of Marriage with Christ, the Church. The rite can be performed, and there may be no Marriage. How many facts of earthly marriages of a man and a woman, when in the Civil Registry Office all papers are signed and bought the rite from the priest-cleric (“priestly parades and ceremonies” – the rite of wedding), and there is no and was no marriage; which is revealed after “a month” (in someone faster, in someone a little later) – when they again run for papers (for divorce, annulment of marriage) to the Civil Registry Office and to the patriarchate and episcopal reception for the so-called “church divorce”!? Therefore, it is necessary to clearly distinguish the rite of the Sacrament and the Sacrament – these are different realities (like necessity-law and freedom), and the latter absolutely does not depend on the former. The rite can be performed flawlessly-canonically, and the Sacrament (the gift of the Holy Spirit) will not be! And there is: that the rite no one even thinks to perform, but the Sacrament the Lord performs – gives the ability to receive the Kingdom of God, become a member of the Body of Christ – the Holy Spirit (see in Acts the baptism of Cornelius the centurion with his household). The rite of the Sacrament – is the best opportunity to actualize for the participants of this rite (members of the parish eucharistic community – because all Sacraments are performed in the context of the Eucharist – by the parish and for the parish; the goal of each Sacrament – the Sacrament of Sacraments – the Eucharist, the Kingdom of God) the sacrament of salvation, the attainment of the Kingdom of God, the resurrection in Christ! Therefore, the rite is an opportunity, not magic! People baptize you (perform the rite of Baptism-Chrismation over you), and the Holy Spirit, if you are hypocritical and deceitful (that is, not able to receive Him), does not baptize! You consume Bread and Wine, and not the Holy Spirit, if you partake unworthily!