The Reception of the Child.

The people may sing a psalm or hymn while the celebrating priest goes to the entrance of the church or to that part of the church where the parents and godparents are waiting with the child.

The celebrant greets all present. Then he 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 children baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them 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 these children 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 foreheads 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.

Celebration of God’s Word.

One or even two gospel passages are read during which all stand. After the reading the celebrant gives a short homily.

Intercessions. (The Bidding Prayers.)

Celebrant: My dear brothers and sisters, let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on these children who are to be baptised, on their parents and godparents, and on all the baptised.

Reader: By the mystery of your death and resurrection, bathe these children in light, give them the new life of baptism and welcome them into your holy Church. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: Through baptism and confirmation, make them your faithful followers and witnesses to your gospel. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: Lead them by a holy life to the joys of God’s kingdom. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: Make the lives of their parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire these children. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: Keep their families always in your love. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Reader: Renew the grace of our baptism in each one of us. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

The celebrant now invites all present to invoke the saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul, pray for us

The names of other saints may be added. The litany concludes:

All holy men and women, pray for us.

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 these children: set them free from original sin, make them temples of your glory. and send your Holy Spirit to dwell with them. (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 children N. to this cleansing water and new birth that by sharing the faith of your Church they might have eternal life. Bless this water in which they 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 children, N., to this cleansing water that they may share in the faith of your Church and have eternal life. By the mystery of this consecrated water lead them 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 these children for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit they are to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.

On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in their hearts.

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 these children are 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.

Baptism.

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

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 these white garments 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. These children of yours have been enlightened by Christ. They are to walk always as children of the light. May they keep the flame of faith alive in their hearts. When the Lord comes, may they 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.

Conclusion of the Rite.

Next there is a procession to the altar, unless the baptism was performed in the sanctuary. The lighted candle is carried for the child.

The following or an appropriate hymn may be sung.

You have put on Christ,

in him you have been baptized.

Alleluia, alleluia.

The 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:

Celebrant: Dearly beloved, these children have been reborn in baptism. They now called the child of God, for indeed they are. In confirmation they will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit. In holy communion they will share in the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God their Father in the midst of the Church. In the name of these children, 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.

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 mothers of these children. They now thank God for the gift of their children. May they be the one with them 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 fathers of these children. They and their wives will be the first teachers of their children 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.