Chapter III: Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Baptism

§ 1. Baptism is to be conferred solemnly, with the prescription of can. 759 preserved.

§ 2. The local Ordinary can, for a grave and reasonable cause, grant that the ceremonies prescribed for the baptism of infants be used in the baptism of adults.

§ 1. Offspring must be baptized in the rite of the parents.

§ 2. If one parent belongs to the Latin rite, the other to an Eastern rite, the offspring is to be baptized in the rite of the father, unless something else has been provided by special law.

§ 3. If only one parent is Catholic, the offspring is to be baptized in the rite of that one.

§ 1. In solemn baptism water blessed for this purpose is to be used.

§ 2. If the blessed water in the baptistery has been so diminished that it seems less than sufficient, other unblessed water is to be mixed in, even repeatedly, yet in a smaller quantity.

§ 3. But if it has been corrupted, or has flowed out, or has failed in any way, the pastor is to pour fresh water into the font, well cleansed and polished, and bless it according to the proper rite prescribed in his liturgical books.

Although baptism can validly be conferred either by infusion, or by immersion, or by sprinkling, nevertheless the first or the second mode, or a mixed mode from both, whichever is more in use, is to be retained, according to the approved ritual books of the different Churches.

§ 1. In danger of death it is lawful to confer baptism privately; and, if it is conferred by a minister who is neither priest nor deacon, only those things are to be placed which are necessary for the validity of baptism; if by a priest or deacon, the ceremonies which follow baptism are also to be observed, if time is available.

§ 2. Outside danger of death the local Ordinary cannot permit private baptism, unless there is question of heretics who in adult age are baptized under condition.

§ 3. The ceremonies, moreover, which for any reason have been omitted in the conferral of baptism, are to be supplied as soon as possible in a church, unless in the case of which in Sec. 2.

When baptism is repeated under condition, the ceremonies, if indeed they were omitted in the prior baptism, are to be supplied, with the prescription of can. 759, Sec. 3 preserved; but if they were used in the prior baptism, they can be repeated in the other or omitted.

Pastors are to take care that a Christian name is imposed on the one who is baptized; but if they cannot attain this, they are to add the name of some Saint to the name imposed by the parents, and enter both names in the book of the baptized.