This past Tuesday, on Independence Day, our little “Grace” was baptized!  Her uncle flew all the way across the country to baptize her for us. He also offered a Latin Mass following her baptism.  It was such a beautiful day filled with blessings!

A special thank you to our dear Archbishop Sample, for giving our oldest son a dispensation from the requirement of being confirmed in order to serve as his baby sister’s godparent at baptism!

Ever since our oldest son asked me if I was pregnant (before I had even considered the possibility) and I found out that I was, I had wanted to have him as the baby’s Godfather! I have always loved being the Godmother to my youngest brother, who my mom delivered when she was my age/39. After requesting the sacrament of confirmation for the past few years, our older boys finally completed the year of required classes/preparation and retreats (driving an hour each way and scheduling make up classes when it conflicted with their hockey and golf schedules) and were to be confirmed at the end of May. With the baby due in June it was perfect timing, but my husband and our oldest son were needed in Arizona and couldn’t get back home in time. We will have a trip to make, but our boys will now be confirmed by our Archbishop in the Extraordinary Form this fall!

Thank you also to our friend Marc at AV Creations for taking all these photos of the baptism for us! I shared some more pictures here and here.

The Rite of Baptism
Part I: Outside the Church
The priest (wearing a violet stole), sponsors, and the catechumen stand in the narthex of the church, symbolizing that at this point, the candidate is not a member of the Church.

.: The Questioning :.

Priest: N., what do you ask of the Church of God?
Sponsor/Catechumen: Faith.
Priest: What does Faith offer you?
Sponsor/Catechumen: Life everlasting.
Priest: If then you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.’

.: The Exsufflation :.
The priest then breathes 3 times on the candidate in the form of a Cross, recalling the Spirit (breath, wind, “ruach”) of God.

Priest: Go forth from her, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

.: The Sign of the Cross :.
The priest now makes the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the candidate’s forehead and breast.

Priest: Receive the Sign of the Cross both upon your forehead + and also upon your heart +; take to you the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so order your life as to be, from henceforth, the temple of God.
Priest: Let us pray: Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy perpetual assistance keep this Thine elect, N., signed with the sign of the Lord’s cross, so that, preserving this first experience of the greatness of Thy glory, he may deserve, by keeping Thy commandments, to attain to the glory of regeneration. Through Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

.: The Imposition of Hands :. 

The priest places his hands on the candidate’s head.

Priest: Let us pray: Almighty, everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look graciously down upon this Thy servant, N., whom Thou hast graciously called unto the beginnings of the faith; drive out from him all blindness of heart; break all the toils of Satan wherewith he was held: open unto him, O Lord, the gate of Thy loving kindness, that, being impressed with the sign of Thy wisdom, he may be free from the foulness of all wicked desires, and in the sweet odor of Thy precepts may joyfully serve Thee in Thy Church, and grow in grace from day to day. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

.: The Imposition of Salt :.

Now the priest puts a little blessed salt in the candidate’s mouth. Salt is the symbol of that wisdom which gives a relish for the sweetness of divine nourishment; preserves, by the teaching of the Gospel, from the corruption of sin, and prevents evil passions from growing in men’s souls. Adult catechumens might be signed on the brow, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, breast, and between the shoulders before the imposition of salt. If this procedure is followed, afterwards the candidate will kneel, recite the Our Father several times, and a Cross is made on his forehead, first by the sponsor and then by the priest.

Priest: N., Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to thee a token of mercy unto everlasting life. May it make your way easy to eternal life.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us pray: O God of our fathers, O God the Author of all truth, vouchsafe, we humbly beseech Thee, to look graciously down upon this Thy servant, N., and as he tastes this first nutriment of salt, suffer him no longer to hunger for want of heavenly food, to the end that he may be always fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, always serving Thy name. Lead him O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the laver of the new regeneration, that, together with Thy faithful, he may deserve to attain the everlasting rewards of Thy promises. Through Christ our Lord.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

Part II: Admission into the Church Building

.: The Exorcism :.
The priest makes the Sign of the Cross over the candidate three times and says:

Priest: I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Ghost, that thou goest out and depart from this servant of God, N., For He commands Thee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, and stretched out His right hand to Peter about to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy sentence, and give honor to the living and true God: give honor to Jesus Christ His Son, and to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this servant of God, N., because God and our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call him to His holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptism.

.: The Sign of the Cross :.
The priest again makes the Sign of the Cross on the candidate’s forehead.

Priest: And this sign of the holy Cross, which we make upon her forehead, do thou, accursed devil, never dare to violate.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

.: The Imposition of Hands :.
For the final time, the priest lays his hand on the candidate’s head.

Priest: Let us pray: O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, Author of light and truth, I implore Thine everlasting and most just goodness upon this Thy servant N., that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to enlighten him with the light of Thy wisdom: cleanse him and sanctify him, give unto him true knowledge; that, being made worthy of the grace of Thy Baptism, he may hold firm hope, right counsel and holy doctrine.
Priest:Through Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

.: Admission into the Church Building :.

The priest lays the end of his stole on the candidate as a symbol of his priestly authority, and admits him into the church building, which is the symbol of the Church of Christ. If the catechumen is an adult and was anointed in Part I above, he may be asked to lie prostrate before the Altar in adoration of Christ before this next step.

Priest: N., enter thou into the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ unto life everlasting.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

.: The Credo and Pater :.

Sponsor/Catechumen: 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, dead, and buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence shall He 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.

Sponsor/Catechumen: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom 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 them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Part III: In the Nave of the Church

.: The Solemn Exorcism :.

Priest: I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father + Almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God N, which our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.

.: The Ephpheta :.
The priest takes a little spittle and touches the ears and nostrils of the candidate with it. For health reasons, the use of spittle may be omitted. This rite comes from Mark 7:33-35, when Jesus healed the deaf-mute: “And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. And immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right.”

Priest: Ephpheta, that is to say, Be opened, for an odour of sweetness. Be thou, devil, begone; for the judgement of God shall draw near.

.: The Renunciation of Satan :.

Priest: Do you renounce Satan?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Priest: And all of his works?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Priest: And all his pomps?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.

.: The Anointing :.
The priest annoints the candidate with the oil of catechumens on the heart and between the shoulders in the form of a Cross, saying:

Priest: I annoint you + with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

Part IV: At the Font

The priest removes his violet stole and puts on a white one.

.: The Profession of Faith :.

Priest: N., do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.
Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was born and Who suffered?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.
Priest: Do you 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?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.

.: Baptism (Matter and Form of the Sacrament) :.
If the one to be baptized is a baby, the godparents (or proxies) take him to the font (the godmother holds him in her arms, the godfather touches the baby’s shoulder with his right hand); if he is an adult, the sponsor puts his right hand on the shoulder of the one to be baptized.

Priest: N., will you be baptized?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I will.

The priest pours water over the head of the candidate three times, once after each mention of the Divine Persons. The water he uses will have been consecrated during the Easter Vigil or on the Eve of the Pentecost. As he pours the water, the priest says these words (or the words of a conditional Baptism):

Priest: I baptize you in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Ghost.

.: The Annointing with Chrism :.

Priest: May the Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath regenerated thee by water and the Holy Ghost, and who hath given thee the remission of all thy sins, may He Himself + anoint thee with the Chrism of Salvation, in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, unto life eternal.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit.

.: The White Linen Cloth :.
This priest takes a white linen cloth — symbolizing the purity of a soul cleansed from all sin, and a relic of the days when the newly baptized wore white albs for 8 days — and places it on the head of the candidate.

Priest: Receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have life everlasting.

.: The Lighted Candle :.

The priest gives the candidate or the sponsor a lighted candle.

Priest: Receive this burning light, and keep thy Baptism so as to be without blame: keep the commandments of God, that when the Lord shall come to the nuptials, thou mayest meet Him together with all the Saints in the heavenly court, and mayest have eternal life and live for ever and ever.

.: Last Words of Good Will :.

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

Deo Gratias!

10 Comments

  1. tracybuasmith

    This is the most thorough and beautiful baptism post ever! So much here to learn and relearn! Congratulations!

    2017-07-10 23:33:11

    Reply
  2. Jessica Gordon

    Thank you, Tracy! It's nearly identical (other than the photos, I copy and pasted most of the text) to my post from our last baby's baptism, but that was 5 1/2 years ago and very deeply buried in the archives! 🙂

    https://showerofrosesblog.com/2012/01/baptis

    2017-07-10 23:45:52

    Reply
  3. Aimee Landreneau

    BEAUTIFUL! I love that Captain is her godfather!! Is that your mom as godmother, or is she standing in?

    2017-07-11 00:48:20

    Reply
  4. jbc2789

    Thank you for posting this! I was not raised a Catholic and this is very interesting. The pictures are beautiful!

    2017-07-11 00:54:59

    Reply
  5. Jessica Gordon

    Yes! My mom is her godmother! I love that my mom happened to be at her birth too! We had such a hard time choosing. We don't have enough children for all the great friends/couples we'd love to have as godparents! We didn't want to offend anyone by just choosing one of my friends and not their husband, so we asked my mom and offended my dad instead! 😉 (Not really, but he had fun teasing me about it!)

    2017-07-11 01:27:11

    Reply
  6. Mari

    107.77.236.153
    I love Latin Rite baptism! They are so beautiful. I have been following your blog, and our daughters were born on the same day, and both had a Latin baptism. Your little girl is so precious and gorgeous. Many blessings to you!

    2017-07-11 02:06:56

    Reply
  7. Erin

    Just love that your son is his sister's godfather, many of our children are fortunate to have the same situation. Is your Mum her godmother??

    2017-07-11 04:34:56

    Reply
  8. Chris

    WHat a lovely post Jessica! Just beautiful. Congratulations on the new little miracle, the baptism, everything. SO enjoying the story of your family's welcoming the sweetest little one….. Congratulations! ~Chris

    2017-07-11 19:18:48

    Reply
  9. Karen H

    Baptismal Grace, indeed! This post just beams Baptismal beauty and grace. I love how thoroughly and chronologically you've recorded this blessed occasion. Especially precious though, is the picture 'The Anointing With Chrism'. It could be a holy card! But my far and away favorite is the priceless 'The Imposition of Salt'! That little huggable baby!!

    2017-07-11 20:01:25

    Reply
  10. Debbie

    Your post of Grace's Baptism is a lovely keepsake for your family history…It is so special that her Uncle came to Baptize Baby Grace. You have such a loving family. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos. Each photo is so precious. Congratulations to your oldest son and your dear Mom for being chosen as Grace's godparents! May God continue to bless your precious baby girl.

    2017-07-15 18:48:32

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-24, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-21, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-17, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-7 and Joy-5 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

Please Visit My Sponsors…

This Week's Popular Posts

Shower of Roses Affiliate Links

All About Spelling
All About Reading
All About Reading Pre-reading
All About Reading Giveaways
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Advent & Christmas Books

Shower of Roses Christmas Gift Guides

Looking for Something?

looking-back

  • 2024 (26)
  • 2023 (30)
  • 2022 (48)
  • 2021 (48)
  • 2020 (57)
  • 2019 (61)
  • 2018 (90)
  • 2017 (128)
  • 2016 (148)
  • 2015 (172)
  • 2014 (227)
  • 2013 (238)
  • 2012 (308)
  • 2011 (297)
  • 2010 (313)
  • 2009 (486)
  • 2008 (564)
  • 2007 (148)