Introductory Rites

Mass begins with the Sign of the Cross and Greeting. The celebrant then questions the parents:

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 words:

Celebrant: You have asked to have your child baptised. 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 neighbour. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

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.

Mass continues with the Gloria and Opening Prayer or Collect. This is followed by the Liturgy of the Word but with the omission of the Creed as a profession of faith will be made during the baptismal rite. This concludes with the Bidding Prayers. Following these the rite of baptism continues with the Prayer of Exorcism and anointing.

Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism.

After the invocation, the celebrant says:

Celebrant: 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 splendour 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 continues:

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.

Celebration of the Sacrament.

All proceed to the Baptistry. A hymn or psalm may be sung.

Celebrant: 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.

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 baptised in water and the Holy Spirit, you have formed one people, united in your Son, Jesus Christ.

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 baptised to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ to people everywhere.

All: Blessed be God.

Celebrant: You have called your child N. to this cleansing water and new birth that by sharing the faith of your Church he (she) might have eternal life. Bless this water in which he (she) will be baptised. We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord.

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 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 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 baptised

The celebrant questions the parents and godparents:

Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Celebrant: And all his works?

Parents and Godparents: I do.

Celebrant: And all his empty promises?

Parents and Godparents: 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?

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 life everlasting?

Parents and Godparents: 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.

Then the celebrant says:

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.

Someone from the family (such as the father or godfather) lights the child’s candle from the Easter candle. The celebrant then says:

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 ‘Ephphetha’ [Prayer over Ears and Mouth] may now follow. The celebrant touches the ears and mouth of the child with his thumb, saying:

Celebrant: 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 praise the glory of God the Father.

All: Amen.

The Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

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.