| Notes to Holy Baptism | |||||
| Holy Baptism is normally administered by the parish priest in the course of public worship on Sunday 'when the most number of people come together' (Canon B 21). | |||||
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1
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Minister of Baptism | ||||
| Where rubrics speak of 'the president', this indicates the parish priest or other minister authorized to administer Holy Baptism. When the bishop is present he normally presides over the whole service. Parts of the service not assigned to the president may be delegated to others. | |||||
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2
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Ordering of the Service | ||||
| Pages ....show how baptism is to be administered at Holy Communion, Morning or Evening Prayer, or A Service of the Word. The structure of the service, however, enables it to be used as a significant celebration on its own and there may be occasions where such a celebration of Holy Baptism forms a main Sunday act of worship. Whenever Holy Baptism is administered there shall be a sermon. | |||||
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3
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Thanksgiving Prayer for a Child | ||||
| This option may be used where it is appropriate to express thanksgiving for a child to be baptized later in the service; this may be inserted as part of the Preparation. This is not intended to preclude the use of a separate service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child. | |||||
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4
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Presentation of the Candidates | ||||
| The Presentation may follow the Introduction where circumstances make this appropriate. | |||||
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5
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Collect, Readings and Other Variable Texts | ||||
| The Collect and readings for the Sunday should normally be used, especially on Sundays between the First Sunday of Advent and the Feast of the Presentation of Christ, and between the First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday. The Collects provided in the rite and its Supplementary Texts may, however, be substituted on Sundays between the Presentation of Christ and the beginning of Lent and between Trinity Sunday and the beginning of Advent even when the normal Sunday readings are used. The Collects and readings provided in the service or in its Supplementary Texts are for use on occasions when baptism is the predominant element in the service. The basic form of the service remains constant. Within this structure seasonal material may also be used. This is linked to occasions in the Christian year when its use might be particularly appropriate. | |||||
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6
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Godparents and Sponsors | ||||
| The term 'godparent' is used for those asked to present children for baptism and to continue to support them. The term 'sponsor' is used for those who agree to support in the journey of faith candidates (of any age) for baptism, confirmation or affirmation of baptismal faith. It is not necessary that a candidate have the same person as godparent and sponsor. When children who are old enough to speak are baptized, such children, at the discretion of the parish priest, also answer the questions at the Decision with parents and godparents. | |||||
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7
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Hymns and Silence | ||||
| If occasion requires, hymns may be sung and silence may be kept at points other than those which are indicated. | |||||
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8
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Corporate Responses | ||||
| When members of a family are
baptized at the same time, the questions at the Decision
may be answered in the form 'We reject …'. |
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9
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Profession of Faith | ||||
| The whole congregation joins in the Apostles' Creed at the Profession of Faith or makes the responses in the Alternative Profession of Faith. | |||||
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10
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Use of Oil | ||||
| Where it has been agreed that oil will be used, pure olive oil, reflecting the practice of athletes preparing for a contest, may be used for the Signing with the Cross. Oil mixed with fragrant spices (traditionally called chrism), expressing the blessings of the messianic era and the richness of the Holy Spirit, may be used to accompany the prayer after the baptism. It is appropriate that the oil should have been consecrated by the bishop. | |||||
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11
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Signing with the Cross | ||||
| At the Signing with the Cross, after the president or other minister has made the sign using the words provided, parents, godparents and sponsors may also be invited to make the sign of the cross. It is sufficient if the people join in and say their part once only, when all the candidates have been signed. The possibility of signing with the cross at the prayer after the baptism is provided for, but if this is done it should be accompanied by the text provided at that point in the rite, not the text provided for the Signing with the Cross after the Decision. If signing takes place after the baptism, it must follow the administration of water as a separate action. | |||||
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12
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Administration of Water | ||||
| A threefold administration of water (whether by dipping or pouring) is a very ancient practice of the Church and is commended as testifying to the faith of the Trinity in which candidates are baptized. Nevertheless, a single administration is also lawful and valid. The use of a substantial amount of water is desirable; water must at least flow on the skin of the candidate. The president may delegate the act of baptism to another lawful minister. | |||||
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13
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Conditional Baptism | ||||
| If it is not certain whether a person has already been baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, then the usual service of baptism is used, but the form of words at the baptism shall be | |||||
| N, if you have not already been baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | |||||
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All
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Amen. | ||||
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14
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Clothing | ||||
| Provision is made for clothing after the baptism. This may be a practical necessity where dipping is the mode of baptism employed; the text provided draws on ancient tradition, linking practical necessity and scriptural imagery. | |||||
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15
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Commission | ||||
| The text provided should normally be used; however it may be paraphrased by the minister if pastoral circumstances require. Alternatively its contents may be included in the sermon. | |||||
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16
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Prayers of Intercession | ||||
| General intercession should normally be part of the service. Such prayers draw the newly baptized into the praying Church of which they are now a part. It may be appropriate for the newly baptized to introduce sections of these prayers. Prayers in responsive form are provided; one of the forms of prayer here may be used. The Prayers may be used after the Welcome and Peace. | |||||
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17
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Giving of a Lighted Candle | ||||
| The Paschal candle or another large candle is made ready so that it may be lit at the Decision. Individual candles may be lit from it and given to candidates as part of the Sending Out. The giving of lighted candles may take place at an earlier stage in the service, after the administration of baptism. | |||||
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18
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Renewal of Baptismal Vows | ||||
| When a corporate Renewal of Baptismal Vows takes place within a service of Holy Baptism and/or Confirmation, the responses of the people follow the responses of the candidates, for example: | |||||
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Do you reject …?
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Candidates
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I reject …
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All
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I reject …
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