Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Baptism

A full picture essay on the ceremony of Infant Baptism would be too long here, but here are a few moments. As with the Churching, the ceremony starts at the entrance of the church; the baptismal font is traditionally placed near the back to facilitate this, and that is where the font at SS Gregory and Augustine is. And here our youngest child was made a Catholic, last Saturday, by the Priest in Charge, Fr John Saward.

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The exorcism of salt. God who created thee for the welfare of mankind and has bidden his servants hallow thee for those drawing near to the faith, to make of thee, in the name of the holy Trinity, a vehicle of saving grace, putting the enemy to flight. IMG_0004
Receive the salt of wisdom, N.; may it be for you a token of mercy, leading to eternal life.

There are three exorcisms of the baptismal candidate. After the giving of salt, the second takes place: And thee, foul fiend, I exorcise, in the name of the Father +, and of the Son +, and of the Holy + Ghost. Go forth, leave this servant of God N. Accursed, damned spirit, this ban is laid upon thee by him who walked upon the waves and held out his right hand to Peter when he was drowning. Therefore, accursed fiend, acknowledge thy doom; bow down before the living and true God, before Jesus Christ his Son, and before the Holy Ghost; begone from this servant of God, N., for Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, has deigned to call him to himself, to his holy grace and blessing, to the water of baptism.

After a Prayer for Enlightenment, the priest leads the candidate (in the arms of the godmother) towards the font, with his stole.
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The exorcisms alternate with professions of faith. The Godparents make the first while the priest leads the candidate towards the font with his stole. After the third the Godparents formally renounce Satan on the candidate's behalf. Only then does the priest carry out the Baptism proper. This little candidate didn't mind the cold water at all; she was very well-behaved and quiet through the whole thing.

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This is followed by another annointing, and the presentation by the priest of a candle and a white linen garment for the newly baptisted, the 'neophyte'. IMG_0017

After the Rite of Baptism it is custom to present the child to Our Lady. IMG_8798
I'm not sure what the origin of this ceremony is, but it has happened at every traditional Baptism I've attended.

The Traditional Rite of Infant Baptism is theologically extremely rich, and visually impressive. It is a good example of the drama of the liturgy: using all sorts of material 'props' - the different parts of the church building, and a succession of sacramentals (salt, oil of chrism, water, linen garment, candle). Baptism is a serious businness!

More photos here.

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting these pictures.  Does anyone happen to know whether there is any established custom regarding the timing of churching: the interval after which it should occur and whether it should precede or follow baptism?

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  2. Thank you for posting these pictures.  Does anyone happen to know whether there is any established custom regarding the timing of churching: the interval after which it should occur and whether it should precede or follow baptism?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for posting these pictures.  Does anyone happen to know whether there is any established custom regarding the timing of churching: the interval after which it should occur and whether it should precede or follow baptism?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joseph Shaw9:16 am

    The two things are not linked, though it may be convenient to celebrate them successively.
    Baptism is to be carried out (as the Ritual says) 'as soon as possible, and certainly within two weeks'. This is not followed strictly today. But we managed it this time!
    Churching is to be done 'when the mother is able to come to church'. It makes sense for it to be her first time back in church.
    In the past the mother wasn't expected to attend the christening. If the christening was to be done asap the mother wouldn't be up to it. She has no role in the ritual; the godparents take her place. So she would have starting attending church again in her own time.
    On this occasion it made sense to have the Churching followed by the Baptism, since the mother was there. We've also done it the other way round, which perhaps is less logical.

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  5. John and Geraldine Lamont10:07 am

    what is the child's name by the way?

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  6. Joseph Shaw12:24 pm

    Barbara Teresa.

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