The Rite of Baptism

The full rite of baptism has some parts in Latin. We have included only the English translation in this version for reasons of space and intelligibility. For a full printable program, go to this website

In the Entrance of the Church

The priest, vested in surplice and violet stole, interrogates the child, and the sponsors reply:

Priest: N., what do you ask of the Church of God?

Sponsors: The faith.

Priest: What does the faith offer you?

Sponsors: Eternal life.

Priest: If, then, you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments: you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

The priest then breathes lightly three times on the face of the child and says:

Depart from him (her), unclean spirit, and give way to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

The priest then makes the sign of the cross with his thumb upon the forehead and upon the breast of the child, while saying:

Receive the mark of the cross on your forehead and within your heart. Embrace the faith with its divine teachings. So live that you will indeed be a temple of God. 

Let us pray. We beg you, Lord God, graciously hear our prayers. Guard your chosen one, N., with the never-failing power of the cross of Christ, with which he (she) has been marked. Protect him (her) so that, remaining true to the first lessons he (she) has learned about the great glory you will confer upon him (her), he (she) may, by keeping your commandments, attain to the glory of a new birth. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then the priest lays his hand on the head of the child. Afterwards, he says:

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look with favor upon this your servant, N., whom you have called to take his (her) first steps in the faith. Take from him (her) all blindness of heart. Free him (her) from the snares of Satan which until now have held him (her). Open to him (her), Lord, the gate of your mercy. Then, seasoned by the salt which is symbolic of your wisdom, may he (she) be relieved of the corruption of evil desires; and, finding pleasure in the keeping of your commandments, may he (she)serve you in your Church and make progress from day to day in the way of perfection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then the priest blesses and exorcises the salt.

I exorcise thee, O creature in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the charity of our Lord Jesus and in the might of the Holy Ghost. I exorcise thee by the living God, the true God, the holy God, by the God who created thee for the protection of the human race, and commanded thee to be consecrated by his servants for people coming to belief, that in the name of the Holy Trinity thou mayest become a saving sacrament for the putting to flight of the enemy. Wherefore, we beg thee, O Lord our God, that thou in deed mayest sanctify and bless this creature salt, so that it may be to all who receive it a perfect medicine, remaining in their inmost parts: in the name of our same Lord Jesus Christ, who shall come to judge the quick and the dead,and the world by fire. Amen.

The priest then places a small amount of salt on the tongue of the child, saying:

Priest: N., receive the salt, which is a symbol of wisdom. May it bring you God’s favor for life everlasting.

Sponsors: Amen.

Priest:Peace be with you.

Sponsors: And with your spirit.

Let us pray. God of our fathers, God, the author of all truth, we humbly ask you to look with favor on this your servant, N., who has had his (her) first taste of blessed food in the form of salt. Satisfy him (her) with the bread of heaven, so that he (she) may be forever fervent in spirit, joyful in hope, and zealous in your service. We ask you, Lord, to lead him (her) to the waters in which he (she) will be born again, so that he (she), with all who believe in you, may obtain the unending rewards which you have promised. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The priest then says the following exorcism over the child:

I exorcise thee, O unclean spirit, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that thou mayest leave and stay away from this servant of God N.: He himself commands you, O accursed and damned spirit, he who walked on the sea and stretched out his hand to sinking Peter. Therefore, O wicked devil, recognize your fate, and give honor to the living and true God, to Jesus Christ his Son, and to the Holy Ghost, and stay away from this servant of God N., for our God and Lord Jesus Christ has deigned to call him (her) to himself, to his holy grace, to his blessing,and to the baptismal font.

He makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the child, saying:

And thou, O accursed devil,never dare to violate this sign of the holy Cross, which we trace on his (her) forehead. Through the same Christ,our Lord. Amen.

Then the priest lays his hand on the head of the child. Afterwards, he says:

Let us pray. Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, source of all light and truth, I humbly beg your never-ending and most holy mercy upon this servant of yours, N. May it please you to grant him (her) the light of your own wisdom. Cleanse him (her) and make him (her) holy. Give him (her) true knowledge, so that he (she) may be made worthy of the grace of your baptism and may maintain firm hope, sound judgment, and a grasp of holy doctrine. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

In the Church

The priest places the end of the left side of his stole on the child and leads him or her into the church, saying:

Priest: N., enter into the temple of God, so that you may have part with Christ in everlasting life.

Sponsors: Amen. 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy king-dom 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. Amen.

Then, with his back toward the baptismal font, the priest says:

I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the name of Jesus Christ his Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the might of the Holy Ghost, that thou wouldst depart from this creature of God N.,whom our Lord deigned to call to his holy temple, that he (she) might become a temple of the living God, and that the Holy Ghost might live in him (her).Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the quick and the dead, and the world by fire. Amen. 

Then the priest, moistening his thumb with saliva from his mouth, touches first the right and then the left ear of the child in the form of the cross, saying:

Ephpheta, which means, Be opened.

Then he touches the child’s nostrils, saying:

In the odor of sweetness. But thou, O devil, begone; for thee the judgment of God is nigh.

The priest then interrogates the child by name. The godfather answers:

Priest: N., do you renounce Satan?

Godfather: I do renounce him.

Priest:And all his works?

Godfather:I do renounce them.

Priest: And all his allurements?

Godfather:I do renounce them.

The priest now dips his thumb into the Oil of Catechumens and anoints the child on the breast and between the shoulders, in the form of a cross, saying:

I anoint thee with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that thou mayest have everlasting life. Amen.

He then purifies his finger with cotton or a similar material.

In the Baptistry

The priest changes his stole from violet to white as he enters into the baptistry, with the godfather bearing the child. He interrogates the child by name and the godfather answers:

Priest: N., do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Godfather:I do believe.

Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was born into this world and who suffered?

Godfather:I do believe.

Priest: Do you believe also in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Godfather:I do believe.

Priest: N., do you wish to be baptized?

Godfather:I do.

Then the godfather, the godmother, or both hold the child over the font while the priest pours the water three times, saying distinctly and attentively:

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

The priest then dips his thumb in the Sacred Chrism and anoints the child on the crown of the head in the form of a cross, saying:

The almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave you rebirth by water and the Holy Ghost, and pardoned you all your sins, himself anoints you with the Chrism of salvation in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, unto everlasting life. Amen.

Priest: Peace be with you.

Sponsors: And with your spirit.

After purifying his thumb with cotton or similar material, the priest imposes a white garment on the child, saying:

Receive this white garment. Never let it become stained, so that, when you stand before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, you may have life everlasting. Amen.

He then gives the godfather a lighted candle, saying:

Receive this burning light, and keep the grace of your baptism throughout a blameless life. Observe the commandments of God. Then, when the Lord comes to the heavenly wedding feast, you will be able to meet him with all the saints in the halls of heaven, and live forever and ever. Amen.

Finally, he says:

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

Booklet prepared by Very Reverend Bryan W. Jerabek, J.C.L., Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama • fatherjerabek.com Please distribute freely.

English-only prayers are copied from the New Sanctuary Manual. English translations accompanying Latin prayers are from approved sources and edited by Fr. Jerabek.