[Names], you have asked to have your child baptised. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour.

Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

Parents: We do.

The celebrant turns to the godparents and addresses them in these or similar words:

Godparents, are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?

Godparents: We are.

Celebrant: Dear [Name], the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Jesus our Saviour by the sign of his cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.

He signs the child on the forehead, then invites the parents (and godparents) to do the same.

02. Old Testament Reading

One of the following:

a) From the prophet Ezekiel (36:24–28)

God gives a clean water, a new heart, a renewed spirit

The Lord says this: I am not doing this for my sake, House of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord – it is the Lord who speaks – when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.

This is the word of the Lord.

OR

b) A reading from the prophet Ezekiel (47:1–9. 12)

Life-giving water flowing from the Temple

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. The man went to the east holding his measuring line and measured off a thousand cubits; he then made me wade across the stream; the water reached my ankles. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my knees. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across again; the water reached my waist. He measured off another thousand; it was now a river which I could not cross; the stream had swollen and was now deep water, a river impossible to cross. He then said, ‘Do you see, son of man?’ He took me further, then brought me back to the bank of the river. When I got back, there were many trees on each bank of the river. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit each month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And his fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

This is the word of the Lord.

03. Responsorial Psalm

One of the following:

a) Psalm 26 (verses 1. 4. 8-9. 13-14)

R./: The Lord is my light and my salvation

The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink? (Resp.)

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple. (Resp.)

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help. (Resp.)

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord! (Resp.)

OR

b) Psalm 34 (verses 2-3. 8-9. 14-17)

R./: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. (Resp.)

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress. (Resp.)

They are happy who seek refuge in God.
They call and the Lord hears
and rescues him in all his distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save. (Resp.)

04. New Testament epistle

One of the following:

a) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (6:3-5)

Our Baptism is a sharing in Christ’s death and resurrection

When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life. If in union with Christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection.

The word of the Lord.

OR

b) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians (3:26-28)

Now that you have been baptised you have put on Christ

You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The word of the Lord.

OR

c) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (4:1-6)

One Lord, one faith, one baptism

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

The word of the Lord.

05. Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia verse)

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

06. Gospel & Homily

One of the following:

a) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (28:18–20)

The apostles are sent to preach and to baptise

Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

OR

b) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (10:13-16)

Let the little children come to me

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to bless them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms around them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

The Gospel of the Lord.

OR

c) A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (7:37-39)

Streams of living water shall flow from his heart

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive.

The Gospel of the Lord.

07. Homily

(The purpose of the homily is to lead those present to appreciate the blessing of baptism and to encourage the parents and godparents to willingly do their part in sharing faith and love with the child.)

After the homily, a period of silence while all pray for the child's future. If possible, a suitable hymn is sung.

08. Prayers of the Faithful (Intercessions)

Priest: My dear brothers and sisters, let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on this child [Name] who is to be baptised, on her/his parents and godparents, and on all the baptised.

By the mystery of your death and resurrection, bathe this child in light, give her/him the new life of baptism and welcome her/him into your holy Church. Lord, hear us:

Lead her/him by a holy life to the joys of God’s kingdom. Lord, hear us: R. Lord, graciously hear us.

Make the lives of her/his parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire this child. Lord, hear us: R. Lord, graciously hear us.

Keep her/his family always in your love. Lord, hear us: R. Lord, graciously hear us.

Renew the grace of our baptism in each one of us. Lord, hear us: R. Lord, graciously hear us.

09. Litany of Saints

The celebrant invites all to invoke the saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God ... pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist ... pray for us.

Saint Joseph ... pray for us.

Saint Mary Magdalene ... pray for us.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul ... pray for us.

Saint Francis and Saint Clare ... pray for us.

The names of other saints may be added, especially the patrons of the children to be baptised.

The litany concludes: All holy men and women, saints of God: ... pray for us.

10. Prayer of Exorcism

Almighty and ever-living God,
you sent your only Son into the world
to cast out the power of Satan, spirit of evil,
to rescue people from the kingdom of darkness,
and bring them into the splendour of your kingdom of light.
We pray for this child:
set her/him free from original sin,
make her/him a temple of your glory,
and send your Holy Spirit to dwell within him.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

OR

Almighty God,
you sent your only Son
to rescue us from the slavery of sin,
and to give us the freedom of your children.
We now pray for this child
who will have to face the world with its temptations,
and fight the devil in all his cunning.
Your Son died and rose again to save us.
By Our Lord's victory over sin and death,
bring this child out of the power of darkness.
Strengthen her/him with the grace of Christ,
and watch over her/him at every step in life’s journey.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

11. Anointing before Baptism

Celebrant anoints the child on the breast with the oil of catechumens.

We anoint you with the oil of salvation
in the name of Christ our Saviour;
may he strengthen you with his power,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

12. Blessing of the Baptismal Water

Celebrant prays:

My dear brothers and sisters, we now ask God to give this child new life in abundance through water and the Holy Spirit.

Praise to you, almighty God and Father, for you have created water to cleanse and give life.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s only Son, for you offered yourself on the cross, that in the blood and water flowing from your side, and through your death and resurrection, the Church might be born.

Praise to you, God the Holy Spirit, for you anointed Jesus at his baptism in the waters of Jordan, so that we might all be baptised into you.

Come to us, Lord, Father of all, and make holy this water + which you have created, so that all who are baptised in it may be washed clean of sin, and be born again to live as your children.

Celebrant touches the water with his right hand and continues:

Lord, make holy this water + which you have created, so that this child whom you have chosen may be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, and may take her/his place among your holy people.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

13. Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith

Celebrant questions the parents and godparents:

Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present this child for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit she/he is to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.
On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring her/him up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives her/him is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in her/his heart.
If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church, the faith in which this child is about to be baptised.

(Celebrant:) Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?