The Rite of Baptism
Part I
Outside the Church (in the Narthex)
|
The priest (wearing
a violet stole), sponsors, and the catechumen stand in the narthex of the
church, symbolizing that at this point, the candidate is not a member of
the Church. |
The
Questioning |
Priest:
N., what do you ask of the Church of God? |
Priest:
N., quid petis ab Ecclesia Dei? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Faith. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Fidem. |
Priest: What
does Faith offer you? |
Priest: Fides,
quid tibi præstat? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Life everlasting. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Vitam æternam. |
Priest: If
then you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. ‘Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with
thy whole mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.'
|
Priest: Si
igitur vis ad vitam ingredi, serva mandata. Diligis Dominum Deum tuum ex
toto corde tuo, et ex tota anima tua, et ex tota mente tua, et proximum tuum
sicut teipsum. |
The
Exsufflation |
The priest then
breathes 3 times on the candidate in the form of a Cross. |
Priest: Go
forth from him (her), unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit,
the Paraclete. |
Priest: Exi
ab eo (ea), immunde spiritus, et da locum Spiritui Sancto Paraclito.
|
The Sign of
the Cross |
The priest now
makes the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the candidate's forehead and
breast. |
Priest: Receive
the Sign of the Cross both upon your forehead + and also upon your heart
+; take to you the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so order your life
as to be, from henceforth, the temple of God. |
Priest: Accipe
signum Crucis tam in fronte, quam in corde, sume fidem cælestium
præceptorum: et talis esto moribus, ut templum Dei iam esse possis. |
Priest: Let
us pray: Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy
perpetual assistance keep this Thine elect, N, signed with the sign of the
Lord's cross, so that, preserving this first experience of the greatness
of Thy glory, he (she) may deserve, by keeping Thy commandments, to attain
to the glory of regeneration. Through Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Oremus:
Preces nostras, quaesumus, Domine, clementer exaudi; et hunc electum tuum
(hanc electam tuam), N. crucis Dominicae impressione signatum (-am), perpetua
virtute custodi; ut magnitudinis gloriae tuae rudimenta servans, per custodiam
mandatorum, ad regenerationis gloriam pervenire mereatur (-antur). Per Christum
Dominum nostrum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen.
|
The Imposition
of Hands |
The priest places
his hands on the candidate's head. |
Priest: Let
us pray: Almighty, everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look
graciously down upon this Thy servant, N., whom Thou hast graciously called
unto the beginnings of the faith; drive out from him (her) all blindness
of heart; break all the toils of Satan wherewith he (she) was held: open
unto him (her), O Lord, the gate of Thy loving kindness, that, being impressed
with the sign of Thy wisdom, he (she) may be free from the foulness of all
wicked desires, and in the sweet odor of Thy precepts may joyfully serve
Thee in Thy Church, and grow in grace from day to day. Through the same Christ
our Lord. Amen. |
Priest: Oremus:
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, respice dignare
super hunc famulum tuum (hanc famulam tuam), N, quem (quam) ad rudimenta
fidei vocare dignatus es: omnem caecitatem cordi ab eo (ea) expelle: disrumpe
omnes laqueos Satanae, quibus fuerat (-ant) colligatus (-a); aperi ei, Domine
ianuam pietatis tuae imbutus (-a), omnium cupiditatum foetoribus careat (-ant),
et ad suavem odorem praeceptorum tuorum laetus tibi in Ecclesia tua deserviat,
et proficiat de die in diem Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. |
Priest: Through
the same Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Per
eundum Christum Dominum nostrum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen
|
The Imposition
of Salt |
Now the priest
puts a little blessed salt in the candidate's mouth.
Salt is the symbol of that wisdom which gives a relish for the sweetness
of divine nourishment; preserves, by the teaching of the Gospel, from the
corruption of sin, and prevents evil passions from growing in men's souls.
Adult catechumens might be signed on the brow, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth,
breast, and between the shoulders before the imposition of salt. If this
procedure is followed, afterwards the candidate will kneel, recite the Our
Father several times, and a Cross is made on his forehead, first by the sponsor
and then by the priest. |
Priest: N.,
Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to thee a token of mercy unto everlasting
life. May it make your way easy to eternal life. |
Priest: N.,
accipe sal sapientiæ: propitiatio sit tibi in vitam æternam. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Priest: Peace
be with you. |
Priest: Pax
tecum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
And with your spirit. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Et cum spiritu tuo. |
Priest: Let
us pray: O God of our fathers, O God the Author of all truth, vouchsafe,
we humbly beseech Thee, to look graciously down upon this Thy servant, N.,
and as he (she) tastes this first nutriment of salt, suffer him (her) no
longer to hunger for want of heavenly food, to the end that he (she) may
be always fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, always serving Thy name.
Lead him (her), O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the laver of the new regeneration,
that, together with Thy faithful, he may deserve to attain the everlasting
rewards of Thy promises. Through Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Oremus:
Deus patrum nostrorum, Deus universae conditor veritatis, te supplices exoramus,
ut hunc famulum tuum (hanc famulam tuam) respicere digneris propitius, et
hoc primum pabulum salis gustantem, non diutius esurire permittas, quo minus
cibo expleatur caelesti, quatenus sit semper spiritu fervens, spe gaudens,
tuo semper nomini serviens. Perduc eum (eam), Domine, quaesumus ad novae
regenerationis lavacrum, ut cum fidelibus tuis promissionum tuarum aeterna
praemia consequi mereatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. |
Priest: Through
the same Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Per
eundum Christum Dominum nostrum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen
|
Part II:
Admission into the Church Building
|
The
Exorcism |
The priest makes
the Sign of the Cross over the
candidate three times and says: |
Priest: I exorcise
thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father + and of the Son, + and of
the Holy + Spirit, that thou goest out and depart from this servant of God,
N. For He commands Thee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, and stretched
out His right hand to Peter about to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge
thy sentence, and give honor to the living and true God: give honor to Jesus
Christ His Son, and to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this servant of God,
N. because God and our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call him (her)
to His holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptism.
|
Priest: Exorcizo
te, immunde spiritus, in nomine Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti,
ut exeas, et recedas ab hoc famulo (hac famula) Dei N.: ipse enim tibi imperat,
maledicte damnate, qui pedibus super mare ambulavit, et Petro mergenti dexteram
porrexit. Ergo, maledicte diabole, recognosce sententiam tuam, et da honorem
Deo vivo et vero, da honorem Iesu Christo Filio eius, et Spiritui Sancto,
et recede ab hoc famulo (hac famula) Dei N, quia istum (-am) sibi Deus et
Dominus noster Iesus Christus ad suam sanctam gratiam, et benedictionem,
fontemque Baptismatis vocare dignatus est. |
The Sign of
the Cross |
The priest again
makes the Sign of the Cross on the candidate's forehead |
Priest: And
this sign of the holy Cross, which we make upon his (her) forehead, do thou,
accursed devil, never dare to violate. |
Priest: Et
hoc signum sanctae Crucis, + quod nos fronti eius damus, tu, maledicte diabole,
numquam audeas violare. |
Priest: Through
the same Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Per
eundum Christum Dominum nostrum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen
|
The Imposition
of Hands |
For the final time,
the priest lays his hand on the candidate's head |
Priest: Let
us pray: O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, Author of light and truth,
I implore Thine everlasting and most just goodness upon this Thy servant
N., that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to enlighten him (her) with the light of
Thy wisdom: cleanse him (her) and sanctify him (her), give unto him (her)
true knowledge; that, being made worthy of the grace of Thy Baptism, he (she)
may hold firm hope, right counsel and holy doctrine. |
Priest: Oremus:
Aeternam, ac iustissimam pietatem tuam deprecor, Domine, sancte Pater omnipotens,
aeterne Deus, auctor luminis et veritatis, super hunc famulum tuum (hanc
famulam tuam) N, ut digneris eum (eam) illuminare lumine intelligentiae tuae:
munda eum (eam), et sanctifica: da ei scientiam veram, ut, dignus (-a) gratia
Baptismi tui effectus (-a), teneat (-ant) firmam spem, consilium rectum,
doctrinam sanctam. |
Priest:Through
Christ our Lord. |
Priest: Per
Christum Dominum nostrum. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen.
|
Admission into
the Church Building |
The priest lays
the end of his stole on the candidate as a symbol of his priestly authority,
and admits him into the church building, which is the symbol of the Church
of Christ. If the catechumen is an adult and was annointed in Part I above,
he may be asked to lie prostrate before the Altar in adoration of Christ
before this next step. |
Priest: N.,
enter thou into the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ
unto life everlasting. |
Priest: N.,
ingredere in templum Dei, ut habeas (-ant) partem cum Christo in vitam aeternam. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen.
|
The Credo and
Pater |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of The Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended
into Hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into
heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence
shall He come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem cæli et terræ.
Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum: qui conceptus
est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus: descendit ad inferos; tertia die resurrexit
a mortuis; ascendit ad cælos; sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam
Ecclesiam catholicam, Sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis
resurrectionem, vitam æternam. Amen.
|
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum
tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra. Panem nostrum
cotidianum da nobis hodie. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos
dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem: sed libera
nos a malo. Amen.
|
Part III
In the Nave of the Church
|
The Solemn
Exorcism |
Priest: I exorcise
thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father + Almighty, in
the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power
of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God N, which
our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the
temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through
the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead,
and the world by fire |
Priest: Exorcizo
te, omnis spiritus immunde, in nomine Dei + Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine
Iesu + Christi Filii eius, Domini et Iudicis nostri, et in virtute Spiritus
+ Sancti, ut discedas ab hoc plasmate Dei N, quod Dominus noster ad templum
sanctum suum vocare dignatus est, ut fiat templum Dei vivi, et Spiritus Sanctus
habitet in eo. Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum, qui venturus est iudicare
vivos et mortuos, et saeculum per ignem. |
The
Ephpheta |
The priest takes
a little spittle and touches the ears and nostrils of the candidate with
it. For health reasons, the use of spittle may be omitted. This rite comes
from Mark 7:33-35, when Jesus healed the deaf-mute: "And taking him from
the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched
his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta,
which is, Be thou opened. And immediately his ears were opened and the string
of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right.". |
Priest: Ephpheta,
that is to say, Be opened, for an odour of sweetness. Be thou, devil, begone;
for the judgement of God shall draw near.
|
Priest: Ephpheta,
quod est, Adaperire. In odorem suavitatis. Tu autem effugare, diabole;
appropinquabit enim iudicium Dei. |
The Renunciation
of Satan |
Priest: N.,
do you renounce Satan? |
Priest: N.,
abrenuntias Satanæ? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do renounce him. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Abrenuntio. |
Priest: And
all of his works? |
Priest: Et
omnibus operibus eius? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do renounce him. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Abrenuntio. |
Priest: And
all his pomps? |
Priest: Et
omnibus pompis eius? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do renounce him.
|
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Abrenuntio. |
The
Annointing |
The priest annoints
the candidate with the "oil of catechumens" on
the heart
and between the shoulders in the form of a Cross, saying: |
Priest: I annoint
you + with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have
everlasting life. |
Priest: Ego
te linio Oleo salutis in Christo Iesu Domino nostro, ut habeas vitam
æternam. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen.
|
Part IV
At the Font
|
The priest removes
his violet stole and puts on a white one. |
The Profession
of Faith |
Priest: N.,
do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth? |
Priest: N.,
credis in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, creatorem cæli et terram ? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do believe. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Credo. |
Priest: Do
you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was born and Who
suffered? |
Priest: Credis
in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, natum, et
passum? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do believe. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Credo. |
Priest: Do
you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of
Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life
everlasting? |
Priest: Credis
et in Spiritum sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, Sanctorum communionem,
remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, et vitam æternam? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I do believe. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Credo.
|
Baptism (Matter
and Form of the Sacrament) |
If the one to be
baptized is a baby, the godparents take him to the font (the godmother holds
him in her arms, the godfather touches the baby's shoulder with his right
hand); if he is an adult, the sponsor puts his right hand on the shoulder
of the one to be baptized. |
Priest: N.,
will you be baptized? |
Priest: N.,
vis baptizari? |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
I will. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Volo. |
The priest pours
water over the head of the candidate three times, once after each mention
of the Divine Persons. The water he uses will have
been consecrated during the Easter Vigil or on the Eve of the Pentecost.
As he pours the water, the priest says these words (or the words of a conditional
Baptism): |
Priest: I baptize
you in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy +
Spirit. |
Priest: N,
ego te baptizo in nomine + Patris, et Filii, +, et Spiritus + Sancti. |
The Annointing
with Chrism |
Priest: May
the Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath regenerated
thee by water and the Holy Spirit, and who hath given thee the remission
of all thy sins, may He Himself + anoint thee with the Chrism of Salvation,
in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, unto life eternal. |
Priest: Deus
omnipotens, Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, qui te regeneravit ex aqua
et Spiritu Sancto, quique dedit tibi remissionem omnium peccatorum, ipse
te + liniat Chrismate Salutis in eodem Christo Iesu Domino nostro in vitam
aeternam. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Priest: Peace
be with you. |
Priest: Pax
tibi. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
And with your spirit.
|
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Et cum spiritu tuo. |
The White Linen
Cloth |
This priest takes
a white linen cloth -- symbolizing the purity of a soul cleansed from all
sin, and a relic of the days when the newly baptized wore white albs for
8 days -- and places it on the head of the candidate. |
Priest: Receive
this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment
seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have life
everlasting.
|
Priest: Accipe
vestem candidam, quam perferas immaculatam ante tribunalem Domini nostri
Iesu Christi, ut habeas vitam æternam. Amen. |
The Lighted
Candle |
The priest gives
the candidate or the sponsor a lighted candle. |
Priest: Receive
this burning light, and keep thy Baptism so as to be without blame: keep
the commandments of God, that when the Lord shall come to the nuptials, thou
mayest meet Him together with all the Saints in the heavenly court, and mayest
have eternal life and live for ever and ever.
|
Priest: Accipe
lampadem ardentem, et irreprehensibilis custodi Baptismum tuum: serva Dei
mandata ut cum Dominus venerit ad nuptias, possis occurrere ei una cum omnibus
Sanctis in aula caelesti, habeasque vitam aeternam, et vivas in saecula
saeculorum. |
Last Words of
Good Will |
Priest: N.,
go in peace and the Lord be with you. Amen. |
Priest: N.,
vade in pace et Dominus sit tecum. Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
Sponsor/Catechumen:
Amen. |
