Comparison of Rites of Baptism

COMPARISON OF RITES OF BAPTISM

Traditional Baptism New Order of Baptism

Central headings follow the structure of the Traditional Rite, with approximatecomparisons with the New Rite in the right hand column

PART I: OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

THE QUESTIONING

In the entrance to the Church

P. What dost thou ask of the Church of God?R. Faith.P. What doth faith bring thee to?R. Life everlasting.P. If then thou desirest to enter into life,keep the commandments. Thou shalt lovethe Lord thy God with thy whole heart,and with thy whole soul, and with thywhole mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.P. What name do you give to your child?R.

N.

P. What do you ask of God’s Church for

N.

? N. Baptism

(or a variety of other words)

P. You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are acceptingthe responsibility of training him/her inthe practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God'scommandments as Christ taught us, byloving God and our neighbour. Do youclearly understand what you areundertaking?R. We do.P. (Godparents,) Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty asChristian parents?R. We do.THE EXSUFFLATION

The priest breathes three times on the child in the form of a cross, saying:

P. Go out of him/her thou unclean spiritand give place to the Holy Ghost, theParaclete.

- REMOVED -

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

Then he makes the sign of the cross with his thumb, on the child’s forehead

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P. Receive the sign of the Cross both uponthy forehead + and also upon thy heart + ;take unto thee the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so order thy life as to be,from henceforth, the temple of God.P. Keep, O Lord, Thy chosen servantwhom we have signed with the sign of theholy Cross: that by keeping Thycommandments, (s)he may attain unto theglory of regeneration, Through Christ, our Lord.R. Amen.P.

N.

, the Christian community welcomesyou with great joy. In its name I claim youfor Christ our Savior by the sign of hiscross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (andgodparents) to do the same.

At this point the parents, godparents and others join in the liturgy of the word, witha procession into the church if circumstances permit.

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Scriptural Readings

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Homily

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Intercessions (prayers of the faithful)

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Invocation of the Saints

IMPOSITION OF HANDS

Then he places his hands on the child’s head.

P. Drive from Thy servant, O Lord, all blindness of heart, break all the bonds of Satan by which (s)he was tied, that signedwith the sign of Thy wisdom (s)he may be preserved from the infection of vices,Through Christ our Lord.R. Amen.

- REMOVED -

IMPOSITION OF SALT

Then he puts a little blessed salt in the child’s mouth

P.

N.

, receive the salt of wisdom and mayit be propitious unto thee unto eternal life.R. Amen.P. Peace be with thee.R. And with thy spiritP. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thatThy servant who for the first time tastesthis saviour of salt, may no longer hunger, but be satiated by heavenly nourishment,Through the same Christ our Lord.R. Amen.

- REMOVED -

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PART II: ADMISSION INTO THE CHURCH

EXORCISM

The priest makes the sign of the cross three times over the child and says:

P. I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in thename of the Father + and of the Son + andof the Holy Ghost +, that thou go forthand depart from this servant of God

N.

, for He who commands thee, accursed spirit, isHe who walked upon the sea and stretchedforth His right hand to Peter as he sank.Therefore, accursed spirit, acknowledgethy sentence; give honour to the true andliving God, to His Son Jesus Christ, and tothe Holy Ghost, by withdrawing from thisservant of God

N.- REMOVED -

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

The priest again makes the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead

P. And this sign of the holy Cross + whichwe put upon his (her) forehead, do thou,accursed spirit, never dare to violate,Through the same Christ our Lord.R. Amen.

- REMOVED -

IMPOSITION OF HANDS

For the last time he puts his hand on the child’s forehead

P. Vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, O Lord, toenlighten Thy servant with the light of Thy understanding; cleanse and sanctifyhim/her that (s)he may be made worthy toreceive the grace of Thy Baptism,Through Christ our Lord.R. Amen.

- REMOVED -

THE ADMISSION INTO THE CHURCH

The priest lays the end of his stole on the child as a symbol of his priestly authority, and admits him/her intothe church, which is the symbol of the Church of Christ

P.

N.

, enter into the temple of God, thatyou may share eternal life with Christ.R. Amen.

- Incorporated into the first ‘Sign of theCross’ above -

THE CREDO AND PATER

While they are coming into the church the godparents in the name of the child repeat the Credo and Pater

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