Baptismal font

The baptismal font (of traditional Latin let us fons : fountain, source) are an ecclesiastical article of furniture used for the Baptême of the children and the adults. They are used typically for the baptisms by sprinkling. The simplest font has a pillar of 1,5 m with a support for a basin of Eau. The cut and carved materials vary considerably, energy of the Marbre to the Métal or the Bois.

The form can vary. Many baptismal font have eight sides to point out new creation and to perhaps establish a link with the practice of the Circoncision, which takes place traditionally the eighth day. Certain font has three sides, in recall of the Holy Trinity of the Father, Fils and the Holy Spirit. They are sometimes placed in front of the nave of the church to recall to faithful the their baptism, which represents their entry in the Church. In several churches of the the Middle Ages and Rebirth, there were a special Chapelle or even a dedicated building, called “ Baptistère ”, which sheltered the baptismal font.

The quantity of water is usually weak (one liter or two). Certain font is fed by spring water or a pump to imitate the effect of a brook and to communicate the effect of alive water of the baptism.

The baptism in the baptismal font is usually made by sprinkling, payment and trempement, as in the Greek verb βαπτιζω, which can also mean to immerse. However, only certain baptismal font is enough large to allow the total immersion of the child. The first baptismal font was built for the whole immersion, but they became smaller when the baptism of the children became more current.

The majority of the Christian Churches use Eau bénite to fill the font. A special money crockery, called a Ewer, can be used to fill the font. In several Eastern Churches, water bénite is devoted once per year in the baptismal font during the Fête of Théophanie.

The baptismal font differs from the reserves of immersion. Tanks, swimming pools, rivers and lakes can be used for the baptisms with full immersion where the person is completely immersed, lowered or submerged under water. This practice symbolizes submergement of the old nature such as it is written in Romains 6:3 - 4.

The town of Liege in Belgium has in the Collégiale St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre baptismal font which is regarded as one of the jewels of universal art: the baptismal font of the medieval Goldsmith To disavow of Huy. They were ordered at the beginning of the 12th century by the Abbé Hellin for the church Our-Lady-with-Font - set up under Notger towards the end of the 10th century and destroyed today - where one managed the baptism traditionally.

The font was installed in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre church in 1804, after being protected from the revolutionary .

This exceptional work marks a return of the Greek influence on the Western Art. The baptismal tank, out of brass, supported by ten oxen (there were twelve in the beginning of them) presents five scenes: the Baptism of Jesus-Christ in the the Jordan, the Preaching of Holy Jean-Baptiste, the Baptism of the Catechumen S, the Baptism of the centurion Crow, the Baptism of the Craton philosopher. The Preaching of Jean-Baptiste saint and the Baptism of the Catechumens prepare the splendid principal scene, the Baptism of Jesus; the Baptism of the Centurion Crow and the Baptism of the Philosophe Craton supplement it.

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