|
Introductory Rites
Celebrant: What name have you given your child?
Parents: N.
Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s Church for N?
Parents: Baptism.
(The celebrant then addresses the parents in these or similar
Celebrant: You have asked to have your child
Parents: We do.
Then the celebrant turns to the godparents:
Celebrant: Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?
Godparents: We are.
Celebrant: N., the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Saviour by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead and I invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.
(He signs the child on the forehead, in silence. Then he invites the parents (and the godparents) to do the same.)
Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism
Celebrant: Almighty and ever-living God, you sent your only Son into the
world to cast out the power of Satan,
All: Amen.
Celebrant: We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Saviour; may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
(He anoints the child on the breast with the oil of catechumens.)
Celebrant: My dear brothers and sisters, we now ask God to give this
child
Blessing and Invocation of God over Baptismal Water
Celebrant: Father, God of mercy, through these waters of baptism you have filled us with new life as your very own children.
All: Blessed be God.
Celebrant: From all who are
All: Blessed be God.
Celebrant: You have set us free and filled our hearts with the Spirit of your love, that we may live in your peace.
All: Blessed be God.
Celebrant: You call those who have been
All: Blessed be God.
Celebrant: You have called your child N.
All: Amen.
(If the water is already blessed:)
Celebrant: You have called your child, N., to this cleansing water that he (she) may share in the faith of your Church and have eternal life. By the mystery of this consecrated water lead him (her) to a new and spiritual birth. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
Celebrant: Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present
this child for baptism. By water and the Holy
On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring him (her) up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives him (her) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) heart.
If your faith makes you ready to accept responsibility, renew now the
vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This
is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which this child is about to
be
The celebrant questions the faithful:
Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?
The faithful: I do.
Celebrant: And all his works?
The faithful: I do.
Celebrant: And all his empty promises?
The faithful: I do.
(Next, the celebrant asks for the threefold profession of faith from the parents and godparents:)
Celebrant: Do you believe in God, that father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
All: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
All: I do.
Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?
All: I do.
Celebrant: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: Is it your will that N. should be baptised in the faith of the Church which we have all professed with you?
Parents and Godparents: It is.
(He baptises the child, saying:)
N., I baptise you in the name of the Father, (He immerses the child or pours water onto it) and of the Son, (He immerses the child or pours water onto it a second time) and of the Holy Spirit (He immerses the child or pours water onto it a third time).
Anointing with Chrism
Celebrant: God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.
All: Amen.
(Then the celebrant anoints the child on the crown of the head with the sacred chrism, in silence.)
(Clothing with the White Garment.)
Celebrant: N., you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
All: Amen.
(The white garment is put on the child.)
(The Lighted Candle.)
(The celebrant takes the Easter candle and says:)
Celebrant: Receive the light of Christ.
Celebrant: Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. When the Lord comes, may he (she) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.
The Blessing
The celebrant first blesses the mother, who holds the child in her arms, then the father, and lastly the whole assembly.
Celebrant: God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on in their children. May he bless the mother of this child. She now thanks God for the gift of her child. May she be the one with him (her) in thanking him for ever in heaven, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: God is the giver of all life, human and divine. May he bless the father of this child. He and his wife will be the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: By God’s gift, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life. In his goodness, may he continue to pour out his blessings upon these sons and daughters of his. May he make them always, wherever they may be, faithful members of his holy people. May he send his peace upon all who are gathered here, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May almighty God, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Bless you.
All: Amen.