Section I. On the Rites and Ceremonies of Baptism

I. The rites and ceremonies to be used. 1. Per se Baptism is to be conferred solemnly (canon 755, § 1), that is, with all the rites and ceremonies which are prescribed in the ritual books being observed (canon 737, § 2). Now:

a) The prescribed rites and ceremonies differ according as Baptism is to be conferred on adults or on little children. Nevertheless the local Ordinary can, for a grave and reasonable cause, allow the ceremonies prescribed for the Baptism of infants to be used in the Baptism of adults (canon 755, § 2); wherefore note that the Baptism of adults is indeed more beautiful, but longer, so that it can more easily produce weariness both for the neophytes and for those standing by.

b) The offspring must be baptized in the rite of the parents. If one parent belongs to the Latin rite and the other to an Eastern rite, the offspring is to be baptized in the rite of the father, unless another provision is made by special law. If only one is Catholic, the offspring must be baptized in the rite of this one (canon 756). From these things it follows that, so far as it can be done, care must be taken that the offspring be baptized by a minister belonging to the rite in which the offspring must be baptized;¹ since each person is bound to follow his own rite in confecting and ministering the sacraments (canon 733, § 2; n. 27).

c) The interrogations are to be made in the Latin language; but from the response of the Holy Office² it is permitted that the minister, after he has said the interrogation and responses in the Latin language for himself, repeat the interrogation in the vernacular language, so that he may receive the response of the sponsors.³

2. In danger of death, Baptism may be conferred privately; and, if it is conferred by a minister who is neither a priest nor a deacon, only those things are to be done 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 there is time (canon 759, § 1).

It is disputed whether, if the danger of death is fairly remote, the ceremonies preceding Baptism also must be performed. Now this is denied quite probably, because the canon speaks only of the subsequent ceremonies, and perhaps does so in order that every danger that someone might die before Baptism may be radically forestalled.

3. Outside danger of death, the local Ordinary cannot permit private Baptism, unless the case concerns heretics who in adult age are baptized conditionally (canon 759, §§ 1 and 2). In such a case even the ceremonies which follow Baptism can be omitted.

¹ Here note canon 98, § 1: "Among the various Catholic rites one belongs to that rite with whose ceremonies he was baptized, unless perhaps Baptism was conferred by a minister of another rite by fraud, or because of grave necessity, when a priest of the proper rite could not be present, or by apostolic dispensation, when the faculty was given that someone be baptized in a certain rite, yet without remaining ascribed to it." Moreover, one who, at the prayers of the parents, contrary to the prescription of canon 756, was baptized by a minister of another rite, belongs to the rite in which he ought to have been baptized according to the prescription of canon 756. Thus the Pontifical Commission, 16 October 1919 (A.A.S. 1919, p. 476).

² 25 August 1880 (Collectanea, n. 1538).

³ In some places it has been conceded that the interrogations be made in the vernacular language alone.

II. The obligation of the rites and ceremonies is grave from its genus. Hence it would be mortal to omit a ceremony of greater moment, on account of a special end or signification. Such are the use of consecrated water, the anointing both that which must be performed before and that which must be performed after Baptism, the use of oil and chrism consecrated in the present year, insufflation, the imposition of saliva and salt, the profession of faith, and the threefold ablution. Besides, several ceremonies of lesser moment omitted together can coalesce into grave matter (St. Alphonsus, VI, 107, question 5a, 141, 142).

III. Ceremonies to be supplied. 1. Ceremonies which in the conferral of Baptism were omitted for any reason whatever are to be supplied as soon as possible in church, unless the case concerns heretics who in adult age have been baptized conditionally and privately by permission of the Ordinary (canon 759, § 3). Now the ceremonies from the Baptism of infants are used if Baptism was conferred in infancy, even if the supplying is done in adult age;¹ otherwise those from the Baptism of adults are used.

2. When Baptism is repeated conditionally, the ceremonies, if indeed they were omitted in the former Baptism, are to be supplied, except in the case in which an adult heretic is baptized conditionally and privately by permission of the Ordinary; but if they were used in the former Baptism, they can be repeated in the second or omitted (canon 760). The same things seem to have to be said of the case in which a heretic, as one certainly baptized invalidly in heresy, is baptized absolutely.

3. If a heretic validly baptized is converted to the faith, the ceremonies likewise are to be supplied, unless for a reasonable cause it seems otherwise to the local Ordinary.²

Note. From baptismal vows no new obligation arises.

¹ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, 27 August 1836, n. 2743, III.

² Roman Ritual, title II, chapter 3, n. 12.