Roman Propers: The Paschal Vigil: The Sacrament of Baptism

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Baptism of infants

The celebrant asks by name each one who is to be baptized: (thegodfather answers) :

N. Credis in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem caeli ei terrae? R. Credo.
Credis in Jesum Christum, Fíilium ejus unicum, Dóminun nostrum, natum, et passum? R. Credo.
Credis et in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathó1icam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, et vitam aetérnam. R. Credo.

Immediately afterwards the celebrant asks by name each one who is to be baptized:
N. Vis baptizari?
The godfather answers: Volo.
Then the godfather or the godmother (or both) hold the child. The celebrant takes the baptismal water and pours it three times in the form of a cross on the child's head. At the same time he says distinctly and attentively the following words to each one:

N. EGO TE BAPTIZO IN NOMINE PA†TRIS, he pours a 1st time, ET FI†LII, he pours a 2nd time, ET SPIRITUS†SANCTI, he pours a 3rd time. The water which flows from the head of the baptized person must be received into a basin, which is afterwards emptied into the font.
Then the celebrant takes some holy Chrism with his thumb, and traces the sign of the cross on the top of the child's head, saying to each one :

Deus omnípotens, Pater Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, qui te regenerávit ex aqua et Spíritu Sancto, quique dedit tibi remissiónem ómnium peccatórum (he marks the sign of the cross), ipse te liniat † Chrísmate salútis in eódem Christo Jesu Dómino nostro in vitam aetérnam.
R. Amen.
V. Pax tibi.
R. Et cum spíritu túo.
The celebrant wipes his fingers with cotton-wool and also the head which he has just anointed. He then places on the child's head a white linen cloth to take the place of a white garment, saying to each one :

Accipe vestem cándidam, quam pérferas immaculátam ante tríbunal Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, ut hábeas vitam aetérnam. R. Amen.
He then gives to the child or the godfather a lighted candle, saying:

Accipe lámpadem ardéntem, et irreprehensíbilis custódi Baptísmum tuum : serva Dei mandáta, ut, cum Dóminus vénerit ad núptias, possis occúrrere ei una cum ómnibus sanctis in aula caelésti et vivas in saécula saeculórum. R. Amen.

The celebrant then says (in the plural if they are more than one) :
N. Vade (Ite) in pace, et Dóminus sit tecum (vobíscum). R. Amen.
If a bishop is present who can lawfully confer the sacrament of Confirmation, the neophytes receive it from him.
The neophytes devoutly receive Holy Communion at the Mass which follows.

22. When the Blessing (and Baptism) is finished, the baptismal water is carried to the font, in procession. The celebrant puts incense in the thurible and blesses it. The procession takes place as follows :
a) the thurifer goes first,
b) then the subdeacon or cleric with the cross,
c) the clergy,
d) then the deacon with the vessel of water — unless an acolyte carries it,
e) finally the celebrant with head covered.

Baptism of adults

The celebrant asks each candidate separately:
Quis vocáris?
He answers: N.
He asks each separately:

N. Credis in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem caeli ei terrae? R. Credo.
Credis in Jesum Christum, Fíilium ejus unicum, Dóminun nostrum, natum, et passum? R. Credo.
Credis et in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathó1icam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, et vitam aetérnam. R. Credo.
N. Quid petis?
He answers: Baptísmum.
Vis baptizári?
He answers: Volo.
The candidate, with his head and neck bare, leans over the basin. At the same time the godfather or godmother (or both) place a hand on his shoulder. The celebrant takes some baptismal water, pours it three times in the form of a cross on the head of the candidate, and at the same time says distinctly and attentively the following words to each one :

N. EGO TE BAPTIZO IN NOMINE PA†TRIS, he pours a 1st time, ET FI†LII, he pours a 2nd time, ET SPIRITUS†SANCTI, he pours a 3rd time. The water which flows from the head of the baptized person must be received into a basin, which is afterwards emptied into the font.

Then the celebrant takes some holy Chrism with his thumb, and traces the sign of the cross on the top of the head of the person baptized, saying to each one:

Deus omnípotens, Pater Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, qui te regenerávit ex aqua et Spíritu Sancto, quique dedit tibi remissiónem ómnium peccatórum (he marks the sign of the cross), ipse te liniat + Chrísmate salútis in eódem Christo Jesu Dómino nostro in vitam aetérnam.

R. Amen.
V. Pax tecum.
R. Et cum spíritu túo.
The celebrant wipes his fingers with cotton-wool and also the head which he has just anointed. He then places on the head of the newly-baptized person a white linen cloth and gives him a white garment. He says to each one:

Accipe vestem cándidam, quam pérferas immaculátam ante tríbunal Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, ut hábeas vitam aetérnam. R. Amen.
And the newly baptized person takes off his clothes to put on the new white garment, which the celebrant has just given him, or at least puts it on over his ordinary clothes. He then gives to the child or the godfather a lighted candle, saving: Then the celebrant places a lighted candle in his right hand, saying:

Accipe lámpadem ardéntem, et irreprehensíbilis custódi Baptísmum tuum : serva Dei mandáta, ut, cum Dóminus vénerit ad núptias, possis occúrrere ei una cum ómnibus sanctis in aula caelésti et vivas in saécula saeculórum. R. Amen.

The neophyte keeps this lighted candle in his hand for the rest of the ceremony except when he receives Confirmation.

The celebrant then says (in the plural if they are more than one) :
N. Vade (Ite) in pace, et Dóminus sit tecum (vobíscum).
R. Amen.
If a bishop is present who can lawfully confer the sacrament of Confirmation, the neophytes receive it from him.
The neophytes devoutly receive Holy Communion at the Mass which follows.

22. When the Blessing (and Baptism) is finished, the baptismal water is carried to the font, in procession. The celebrant puts incense in the thurible and blesses it. The procession takes place as follows :

Baptism of Infants:

a) the thurifer goes first,
b) then the subdeacon or cleric with the cross,
c) the clergy,
d) then the deacon with the vessel of water — unless an acolyte carries it,
e) finally the celebrant with head covered.

Baptism of Adults:

[a) the thurifer goes first,
b) then the cross-bearer,
c) then the servers,
d) then one or more servers carrying the baptismal water,
e) finally the celebrant, with head covered].

The paschal candle remains in its place : meanwhile the following is sung :