Baptism of a Child

When the supplementary ceremonies are to be performed in the case of a child who has already been baptized, the Priest may begin with the following, or some other appropriate address:

Beloved in the Lord, this child has been already baptized, and made a participator in the grace which Christ has united to the sacrament of baptism. Now Christ himself instituted only baptism by water, together with the invocation of the name of the Trinity, as the outward sign of the grace which is imparted through this sacrament. But in the most primitive ages of the Christian church it became customary, at the public administration of baptism, to add certain prayers and ceremonies to those ordained by Christ himself, which are adapted to bring out into clearer view the signification and importance of this act. In those cases in which baptism has been previously administered without these prayers and ceremonies, it is not necessary, as a matter of fact, either for the validity of baptism, or for obtaining baptismal grace: nor is it in any way, properly speaking, a matter of obligation, but nevertheless it is an old and goodly custom, that the ceremonies omitted at baptism should, with the appropriate prayers, be afterwards performed by way of supplement.

The parents of this child have desired to comply with this custom. This affords us the opportunity of shewing clearly the meaning and importance of holy baptism, in accordance with the intention of the church, in the ceremonies which accompany that sacrament. It also gives us the opportunity to make our common supplications to God, that he will preserve this child, whom he has now taken by baptism into the number of his elect, that he will ever defend him, and strengthen him with his grace, that he may grow up to be both the joy of his parents, and also a worthy member of the Christian church (and of our congregation).

As in the service for infant baptism, the sponsors must now, in the name of the child, make a profession of the Christian faith, and declare their readiness ever steadfastly to resist the devil, and sin, and their temptations, in accordance with the commandment of Christ. They must also, at the same time, give their assurance that, if necessary, they will assist the parents in fulfilling their duty; taking care that the child, as it grows up, be instructed in the truths of the Christian religion, be guided into obedience to the commandments of Christ, and the avoidance of all evil, so that hence-’ forth, throughout his whole life, he may acknowledge in word and deed the faith which the sponsors have now professed in his name, and keep the promise which they have now made for him.

Priest. And now I ask thee N., Dost thou desire by faith in Jesus Christ to obtain eternal life in the church of God, into which thou hast been now admitted by holy baptism?

Sponsors. I do.

Priest. The Lord himself hath said, “This is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast send.” “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.”

The Priest shall then breathe on the child.

Priest. May the powers of darkness, which the divine Redeemer hath vanquished by his cross, retire before thee, that thou mayest see to what hope, and to what an exceeding glorious inheritance among the saints, thou art called h. Let us pray.

Priest. Almighty, everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look graciously down upon this child1, whom thou hast called to the grace of regeneration by the Holy Ghostk ; banish all darkness from his heart,- and vouchsafe unto him the holy Spirit of thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit evermore.
All. Amen.

The priest signs the forehead and breast of the infant with the sign of the cross:

Priest. Receive on thy forehead the sign of the holy cross to remind thee that thou openly profess thy faith in Christ crucified, and glory not, save only in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Priest. I sign thee on the breast with the sign of the holy cross to remind thee that thou love from thy heart him who hath died on the cross for thee, and that as he bids thee thou shouldest take up thy cross and follow him.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, O Lord, graciously to hear our prayer, and evermore by thy power to protect this thy servant (or handmaiden) N., whom we have signed with the sign of the holy cross, that he may continue in the faith of the doctrines, and in the obedience of the commandments of him who gave up his life for us on the tree of the cross, Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priest places a little salt, which he has blessed, into the mouth of the child.

N. Receive this salt as an emblem of wisdom; the Lord grant it thee unto everlasting life. Amen.

The priest lays his right hand on the infant.

Priest. Let us pray.

O God, thou author of all wisdom, look graciously down on this thy servant N., and preserve him ever in thy fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Priest. Sign yourselves now with the sign of the holy cross in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and learn the words of the holy gospel, written by the Evangelist Saint Mark.

“At that time they brought young children to Jesus, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them (here the Priest shall lay his hand on the child), and blessed them.” (St. Mark 10:13-16; Köln)

Peace be with you.

Priest. Let us now repeat the Creed, which has been used in the church since the Apostles’ time, as a short summary of the chief points of the doctrine of Christ, and then the Lord’s Prayer:

Priest. We believe...
All. ...in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

All. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all æons, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

All. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.

All. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Priest. Our Father...
All. ...who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in 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. Amen.

The Priest shall then touch the ears and mouth of the child with his finger, saying,

Priest. Ephphatha, that is, be opened. As the Savior gave the power of heading and of speech to a man that was both deaf and dumb by the use of these words, and by touching his ears and tongue, so may he strengthen thee through his grace, that thou mayest be ready and willing to hear his words, and mayest joyfully proclaim his praise.

Priest. And now I ask thee N., before I administer to thee the sacrament of baptism, dost thou renounce the devil?

Sponsors. I do renounce him.

Priest. And all his works?

Sponsors. I do renounce them.

Priest. And all his pomps?

Sponsors. I do renounce them.

Priest. Dost thou promise, in accordance with the command of Christ, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself?

Sponsors. I do so promise.

The priest anoints the child on the breast with the Oil of Catechumens.

Priest. For the war against evil, and for the practice of good, thou needest strengthening through the grace of him who hath redeemed us from our sins. Therefore I anoint thee with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Priest. Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?

Sponsors. I do.

Priest. Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son our Lord, who was born and hath suffered for us?

Sponsors. I do.

Priest. Dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the flesh, and life everlasting?

Sponsors. I do.

Pouring the water thrice in the form of a cross on the head of each child, the priest says:

N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost .

Or if the child is to be baptized conditionally; N., if thou art not already baptized, I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost .

Then shall the Priest anoint the crown of the head wiih chrism.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath regenerated thee by water and the Holy Ghost, anoint thee with the chrism of salvation in the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Priest lays a white raiment, or the end of his stole, on the child.

N. Receive the white raiment of innocence. Preserve it pure and unspotted until the day of Jesus Christ, that thereby thou mayest enter into eternal life. Amen.

The Priest presents a lighted taper (candle) to the sponsors, which they hold in their right hand.

N. Receive this lighted taper as an emblem of the faith which lives by love. Preserve the light of the knowledge of Christ and walk in this light; that, when the Lord cometh, thou mayest be like the wise virgins, who came to meet the bridegroom with lamps lighted, and went in with him to the marriage feast. Amen.

Priest. N. Depart in peace, and the Lord be with you. Amen.