Joshua Bennett
Infant baptism, also known as christening or paedobaptism, is a Christian tradition that involves baptizing infants and young children born to believing parents. It is practised in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, and various Protestant denominations. In the Roman Catholic Church, parents are responsible for bringing their child for baptism as soon after birth as possible, and the ceremony is usually held in a church. The Roman Catholic Rite of Baptism includes a Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism, emphasising purification, and the actual baptism is administered using the Trinitarian formula: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Post-baptism rituals in the Catholic tradition include anointing with chrism (Seal of the Spirit), clothing the child in a white garment, presenting a lighted candle, and the Ephphetha prayer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Role of the Church | Through Baptism, God enables participation in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. |
| Infant Baptism | It is recommended within the first few weeks of birth or without delay if the infant is in danger of death. |
| Parents' Responsibility | Parents are responsible for bringing their child to the Sacrament of Baptism and ensuring they are raised in the Catholic faith. |
| Godparents | A person may only have one or two godparents; if two, they must be male and female. |
| Baptismal Preparation | Varies from parish to parish but usually involves meetings with the pastor or pastoral assistant and participation in faith formation. |
| Parish Requirements | Baptism in a different parish requires baptismal preparation in the parish of residence and a testimonial letter from the Parish Priest. |
| Spiritual Preparation | Includes prayers and symbolic anointings, such as the Roman Catholic rite's Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism. |
| Baptism Administration | Employs immersion or pouring using the Trinitarian formula: "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." |
| Post-Baptismal Rituals | Roman Catholics include Explanatory Rites: anointing with chrism, clothing in white, a lighted candle, and the Ephphetha prayer. |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the church
The Catholic Church has a long history of baptising infants, a practice also observed by the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, various Protestant denominations, and other Christian denominations. Infant baptism, also known as christening or paedobaptism, is a sacramental practice that involves baptising infants born to believing parents, initiating them into the Christian faith.
The Church teaches that baptism is a sacrament that accomplishes several things, including the remission of sin, both original sin and actual sin. In the case of infants and young children, only the remission of original sin applies as they are not yet capable of actual sin. Through baptism, God enables us to participate in his life through Jesus Christ and become his children. We receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
Baptism is also intimately linked to Confirmation and Eucharist, together forming Christian Initiation. The Church emphasises the importance of baptismal preparation, which may include meetings with the pastor or pastoral assistant, or participation in baptismal preparation sessions for parents. This preparation helps to develop the faith-life of the child as they mature and is taken very seriously as it concerns the salvation of the child.
The actual baptism ceremony varies among Christian denominations, but all traditions begin with the reception or presentation of candidates. In the Roman Catholic Rite of Baptism for Several Children, this includes the Reception of the Children and a Liturgy of the Word with Scripture readings, homilies, and intercessions. The Roman Catholic rite also includes a Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism, emphasising purification. The Church also includes Explanatory Rites after the baptism: anointing with chrism (Seal of the Spirit), clothing the baptised in a white garment, presenting a lighted candle, and the Ephphetha prayer.
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Choosing godparents
The role of a godparent is more than being a relative or friend who encourages Christian behaviour. The godparent represents the Church and the community of faith into which the child is being baptised, and they will assist the child to grow in that community. For this reason, choosing a godparent is an important decision.
A Catholic baby must have at least one godparent, and can have two. If there are two godparents, they must be male and female. Godparents can be relatives but not parents or legal guardians. Godparents must be at least 16 years old, and must be confirmed, practising Catholics in good standing who have received all the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation). They should be attempting to live out their faith through prayer, going to Mass, and being part of their faith community.
If there are two godparents, the second may be a non-Catholic Christian, designated as a "Christian witness". They will participate in the baptism with the other godparent, and their name will be entered into the Sacrament Record Book as an "official witness", together with the name of the Catholic godparent.
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Baptismal preparation
Before the baptism, you should contact your parish office and express your desire to have your child baptized. If you are not already familiar with the parish priest, introduce yourself and actively engage with the faith community. If you are not registered parishioners, consider participating in the Sunday Eucharistic community. During this time, you may also want to choose a godparent for your child, ensuring they are someone who will pray for your child and help guide them in their Catholic faith.
As part of the baptismal preparation, you may be invited to participate in meetings with the pastor or pastoral assistant, or attend specific preparation sessions for parents. These sessions will help you understand the significance of baptism and your role in nurturing your child's faith as they grow. Your marital status may also be discussed, and if it is not in harmony with the Roman Catholic understanding of sacramental marriage, the Church can provide guidance or a declaration of nullity.
Remember, your commitment to baptismal preparation sets the foundation for your child's faith journey. It is an important step in welcoming your child into the Catholic Church and helping them grow spiritually.
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The baptism ceremony
Preparation:
Before the baptism, there is usually a period of preparation for the parents. This may include meetings with the parish priest, pastoral assistant, or participation in baptismal preparation sessions. During this time, parents are expected to actively engage with the faith community of their parish. The preparation process can vary between parishes, but its primary purpose is to help parents understand the significance of baptism and their role in their child's spiritual upbringing.
Choosing Godparents:
The child can have one or two godparents, who are also known as sponsors. If two godparents are chosen, they must be male and female. The role of the godparent is to support the child's spiritual growth and act as a "Christian witness." At least one of the godparents must be a Roman Catholic who fulfils the criteria set by the Church.
The Rite of Baptism:
The Roman Catholic Rite of Baptism usually follows a structured ceremony. It often begins with the "Reception of the Children" and a "Liturgy of the Word," which includes Scripture readings, a homily, and intercessions. This phase involves the presentation of the candidates for baptism and their families, marking their communal recognition and preparation for the sacrament.
Exorcism and Anointing:
Before the actual baptism, the Roman Catholic rite includes a Prayer of Exorcism and Anointing. This ritual emphasizes purification and spiritual strengthening. The Exorcism prayer is a symbolic gesture, representing the removal of sin and the preparation of the child's soul for receiving the Holy Spirit.
Baptism:
The central ritual is the baptism itself, administered using the Trinitarian formula: "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." In the Roman Catholic tradition, this typically involves immersion or pouring of water. The priest will invoke the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify the water, symbolizing the child's spiritual rebirth and initiation into the Church.
Post-Baptismal Rites:
After the baptism, there are additional rituals to symbolize the child's new identity in Christ. In the Roman Catholic tradition, this includes Explanatory Rites: anointing with chrism (Seal of the Spirit), clothing the child in a white garment, presenting a lighted candle, and reciting the Ephphetha prayer. These rituals signify the child's spiritual transformation and their commitment to a life of faith.
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Post-baptism rituals
In the Roman Catholic Church, post-baptism rituals include Explanatory Rites: anointing with chrism, also known as the Seal of the Spirit, clothing in a white garment, presentation of a lighted candle, and the Ephphetha prayer. The white garment symbolises the cleansing of the child's original sin, and the candle symbolises the light of Jesus in the baby's life.
In addition to these rituals, the godparents and parents play a significant role in the post-baptism rituals. They are expected to make a promise before God to bring up the baby within the Christian faith. The godparents, in particular, are appointed to stand in for the child and commit to their Christian upbringing on behalf of the parents.
The Ordinary Form Rite of Baptism is the version of the sacrament performed by most Roman Catholic churches. It is a simplified version of the more traditional Extraordinary Form Rite and is not bound to follow every detail of the traditional rite. The Ordinary Form Rite of Baptism ceremony is typically divided into five main parts, which together represent the steps of Catholic baptism.
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Frequently asked questions
Through Baptism, God enables us to participate in his life in Jesus Christ and makes us his children. It is through this sacrament that we receive the Holy Spirit and become members of the People of God, of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
The parents must consent, and there must be reasonable hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith. The Code of Canon Law (867 §1-§2) outlines that baptism should be performed within the first few weeks of birth, or without delay if the infant is in danger of death.
Contact your parish office and express your desire to have your child baptised. You will likely be invited to participate in some manner of faith formation prior to the baptism, which may take the form of a meeting with the pastor or pastoral assistant, or a baptismal preparation session for parents.
The Roman Catholic Rite of Baptism for Several Children includes the Reception of the Children and a Liturgy of the Word with Scripture readings, homily, and intercessions. Baptism itself is administered using the Trinitarian formula: immersion or pouring "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.". Post-baptismal rituals include anointing with chrism (Seal of the Spirit), clothing in a white garment, presentation of a lighted candle, and the Ephphetha prayer.
