The Sacrament of Baptism of a Child

The priest meets the catechumen, the one to be baptized, at the entrance of the church, vested in the surplice (or alb and cincture), and wearing a violet stole. If the catechumen is an infant, the responses are made in his (her) name by the baptismal sponsors; otherwise they are made by all three together.

Priest: If, then, you wish 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 neighbor as thyself."

The priest then blows gently three times on the face of the catechumen, saying once:

Priest: Depart from him (her), unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Ghost, the Consoler.

With his thumb, he makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead and breast of the catechumen:

Priest: Receive the mark of the Cross on your † forehead, and within your † heart. Embrace the Faith with its divine teachings. So live that you will indeed be a temple of God.

Priest: Let us pray. We beg Thee, Lord God, graciously hear our prayers. Guard Thy chosen one, N., with the never failing power of the Cross of Christ, with which he (she) has been marked. Protect him (her) so that, remaining true to the first lessons he (she) has learned about the great glory Thou wilt confer upon him (her), he (she) may, by keeping Thy commandments, attain to the glory of a new birth. Through Christ our Lord.

The priest places his hand upon the catechumen's head, and then, with his hand extended, he says:

Priest: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look with favor upon Thy servant (handmaid), N., whom Thou hast called to take his (her) first steps in the Faith. Take from him (her) all blindness of heart. Free him (her) from the snares of Satan, which until now have held him (her). Open to him (her), O Lord, the gate of Thy mercy. Then, seasoned by the salt which is symbolic of Thy wisdom, may he (she) be relieved of the corruption of evil desires; and, finding pleasure in the keeping of Thy commandments, may he (she) serve Thee in Thy Church, and make progress from day to day in the way of perfection. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Priest: O salt, creature of God, I exorcise thee in the name of God † the Father Almighty, and in the love of our Lord Jesus † Christ, and in the strength of the Holy † Ghost. I exorcise thee by the living † God, by the true † God, the holy † God, the God who brought thee into being to safeguard the human race, and command thee to be consecrated by His servants for the benefit of those who are coming into the Faith, so that by the power of the Holy Trinity thou might become a health-giving sacramental to put the enemy to flight. Therefore, we beg Thee, O Lord, our God, to sanctify, † by Thy power of sanctification, this salt which Thou hast created, and to bless † it with Thy blessing, so that it may become a perfect medicine for all those who receive it, and may remain always in every fiber of their being. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.

Priest: N., receive the salt, which is a symbol of wisdom. May it bring thee God's favor for life everlasting.

Priest: Let us pray. God of our fathers; God the author of all truth, we humbly ask Thee to look with favor upon this Thy servant N., who has had his (her) first taste of blessed food in the form of salt. Satisfy him (her) with the bread of heaven, so that he (she) may be forever fervent in spirit, joyful in hope, and zealous in Thy service. We ask Thee, Lord, to lead him (her) to the waters in which he (she) will be born again, so that he (she), with all who believe in Thee, may obtain the unending rewards which Thou hast promised. Through Christ our Lord.

Priest: I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the † Father, and of the † Son, and of the Holy † Ghost. Come forth. Depart from this servant (handmaid) of God, N., for He commands thee, accursed and damned spirit; He who walked upon the sea, and extended His right hand to Peter as he was sinking. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy condemnation, and pay homage to the true and living God; pay homage to Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Holy Ghost, and depart from this servant (handmaid) of God, N., for Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, has called him (her) to His holy grace and blessing, and to the font of baptism.

Priest: Accursed devil, never dare to desecrate this sign of the holy † Cross, which we are tracing upon his (her) forehead. Through the same Christ our Lord.

He places his hand on the head of the infant, then with hand extended, he proceeds:

Priest: Let us pray. Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, source of all light and truth, I humbly beg Thy never-ending and most holy mercy upon this Thy servant N. May it please Thee to grant him the light of Thine own wisdom. Cleanse him and make him holy. Give him true knowledge, so that He may be worthy of the grace of Thy Baptism, and maintain firm hope, sound judgment, and a grasp of holy doctrine. Through Christ our Lord.

The priest places the end of the stole upon the catechumen, and leads him (her) into the church, saying:

Priest: N., enter the temple of God, so that you may have a share with Christ in everlasting life.

All: I believe in God, the father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence He shall 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.

All: 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.

Priest: I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God, the Father † almighty, and in the name of His Son, Jesus † Christ, our Lord and judge, and in the strength of the Holy † Ghost, that thou mayest depart from this creature of God, N., whom our Lord has called to be His holy temple, in order that he (she) may become a temple of the living God, and that the holy Ghost may dwell in him (her). Through the same Christ, our Lord, who will come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.

Priest: so that thou mayest perceive the fragrance of God's Sweetness. But thou, O devil, depart; for the judgment of God has come.

With the Oil of Catechumens, the priest anoints the catechumen on the breast, and between the shoulders, saying each time:

Priest: I anoint thee with the oil † of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, so that thou mayest have everlasting life.

He then exchanges the violet stole for one of white, and may assume a white cope.

Priest: N., dost thou believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

Priest: N., dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born into this world, and who suffered?

Priest: N., dost thou believe also in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Then, with one or both sponsors holding, or touching the catechumen, the priest pours baptismal water three times on the head of the catechumen, in the form of the Cross. At the same time, he pronounces the following words, once only, distinctly and attentively:

The priest pours the first time, saying:	N., I baptize thee in the name of the † Father,	N., ego te baptízo in nómine † Patris,
pours the second time, saying:	and of the Son, †	et † Fílii,
pours the third time, saying:	and of the Holy † Ghost.	et Spíritus † Sancti.

Should there be doubt whether the catechumen has been previously baptized,
the conditional formula is to be used:

The priest pours the first time, saying:

pours the second time, saying:

pours the third time, saying:

N., if thou art not baptized, I baptize thee in the name of the † Father,

and of the Son, †

and of the Holy † Ghost.

N., si no es baptizátus (baptizáta), ego te baptízo in nómine † Patris,

et † Fílii,

et Spíritus † Sancti.

Priest: May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given thee an new birth by means of water and the Holy Ghost, and forgiven all thy sins, (here he anoints) anoint thee with the Chrism of salvation in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, so that thou mayest have everlasting life.

He then places a white garment, or a piece of white linen, on the newly baptized, saying:

Priest: Receive this white garment. Never let it become stained, so that when you stand before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, you may have life everlasting.

Next, the priest gives a lighted candle to the newly baptized or to the sponsors, saying:

Priest: Receive this burning light, and keep the grace of your baptism throughout a blameless life. Observe the commandments of God. Then, when the Lord comes to this heavenly wedding feast, you will be able to meet Him with all the saints in the halls of heaven, and live forever and ever.