Rite of Baptism for One Cild

INTRODUCTORY RITES

RECEPTION OF THE CHILD

Celebrant: What name do you give your child? (or: have you given?)

Parents: N.

Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s Church for N.?

Parents: Baptism.

The celebrant speaks to the parents in these or similar words:

You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training
him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments
as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

Parents: We do.

Then the celebrant turns to the godparents and addresses them in these or similar words:

Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?

Godparents: We are.

The Celebrant continues:

N., the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Savior by
the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (and godparents) to do
the same.

He signs the child on the forehead, in silence. Then he invites the parents and (if it seems appropriate) the
godparents to do the same.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

SCRIPTURAL READINGS AND HOMILY

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 3: 1-6)

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above,
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
INTERCESSIONS

Celebrant:

My dear brothers and sisters, let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on this child who is to be
baptized, on his (her) parents and godparents, and on all the baptized.

Assisting Minister: By the mystery of your death and resurrection, bathe this child in light, give him (her) the
new life of baptism and welcome him (her) into your holy Church.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting Minister: Through baptism and confirmation, make him (her) your faithful follower and a witness to
your gospel.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting Minister: Lead him (her) by a holy life to the joys of God’s kingdom.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting Minister: Make the lives of his (her) parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire this child.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting Minister: Keep his (her) family always in your love.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting Minister: Renew the grace of our baptism in each one of us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

INVOCATION of the SAINTS

The celebrant next invites all present to invoke the saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God.

All: Pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist.

All: Pray for us.

Saint Joseph.
All: Pray for us.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

All: Pray for us.

The names of other saints may be added, especially the patrons of the child to be baptized, and of the
church or locality. The litany concludes:

All holy men and women.

All: Pray for us.

PRAYER of EXORCISM

After the invocation, the celebrant says:

Almighty and ever-living God,

you sent your only Son into the world
to cast out the power of Satan, spirit of evil,
to rescue man from the kingdom of darkness,
and bring him into the splendor of your kingdom of light.
We pray for this child:
set him (her) free from original sin,
make him (her) a temple of your glory,
and send your Holy Spirit to dwell with him (her).
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

The celebrant says:

May you have strength in the power of Christ our Savior,

who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

CELEBRATION of the SACRAMENT

90. When they come to the font, the celebrant briefly reminds the congregation of the wonderful work of
God whose plan it is to sanctify man, body and soul, through water. He may use these or similar words:

My dear brothers and sisters, we now ask God to give this child new life in abundance through water and
the Holy Spirit.

BLESSING and INVOCATION of GOD OVER BAPTISMAL WATER

Then, turning to the font, he says the following blessing (outside the Easter season):

Father, you give us grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of the wonders of your unseen power.

In baptism we use your gift of water, which you have made a rich symbol of the grace you give us in this
sacrament.

At the very dawn of creation your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness.

The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of baptism, that make an end of sin and a new
beginning of goodness.

Through the waters of the Red Sea you led Israel out of slavery, to be an image of God’s holy people, set
free from sin by baptism.

In the waters of the Jordan your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. Your Son willed
that water and blood should flow from his side as he hung upon the cross.

After his resurrection he told his disciples: “Go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of
the Spirit give to the water of this font the grace of your Son so that in the sacrament of baptism all those
whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by
water and the Holy Spirit.

The celebrant touches the water with his right hand and continues:

We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are
buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ
our Lord.
All: Amen.

RENUNCIATION of SIN and PROFESSION of FAITH

The celebrant speaks to the parents and godparents in these words:

Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy
Spirit he (she) is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.

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 this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject
sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus.

Celebrant: Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Celebrant: Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Celebrant: Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Celebrant: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth?

Parents and Godparents: 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?

Parents and Godparents: 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 the life everlasting?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

The celebrant and the congregation give their assent to this profession of faith:

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.

BAPTISM

The celebrant invites the family to the font and questions the parents and godparents:

Celebrant:

Is it your will that N. should be baptized in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you?

Parents and Godparents: It is.

He baptizes the child, saying:

N., I baptize you in the name of the Father,

He immerses the child or pours water upon it.

and of the Son,

He immerses the child or pours water upon it a second time.

and of the Holy Spirit.

He immerses the child or pours water upon it a third time.

EXPLANATORY RITES

ANOINTING after BAPTISM

Then the celebrant says:

The God of power and 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

The celebrant says:

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.

LIGHTED CANDLE

The celebrant takes the Easter candle and says:

Receive the light of Christ.

Someone from the family lights the child’s candle from the Easter candle.

The celebrant then says:

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.

EPHPHETHA or PRAYER over EARS and MOUTH

The celebrant touches the ears and mouth of the child with his thumb, saying:

The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak.
May he soon touch your ears to receive his word,
and your mouth to proclaim his faith,
to the praise and glory of God the Father.
All: Amen.

CONCLUSION of the RITE

A baptismal song is appropriate at this time, e.g.:

You have put on Christ,

in him you have been baptized.
Alleluia, alleluia.

LORD’S PRAYER

The celebrant stands in front of the altar and addresses the parents, godparents, and the whole assembly
in these or similar words:

Dearly beloved, this child has been reborn in baptism. He (she) is now called the child of God, for so indeed
he (she) is. In confirmation he (she) will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit. In holy communion he (she) will
share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God his (her) Father in the midst of the Church. In the name
of this child, in the Spirit of our common sonship, let us pray together in the words our Lord has given us:

All present join the celebrant in singing or saying:

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.

BLESSING

The celebrant first blesses the mother, who holds the child in her arms, then the father, and lastly the entire
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 their children.
May he bless the mother of this child.
She now thanks God for the gift of her child.
May she be one with him (her)
in thanking him for ever in heaven,
in Christ Jesus 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 Christ Jesus 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 Christ Jesus our Lord.
All: Amen.

Celebrant:

May almighty God,

the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
bless you.
All: Amen.