A Topic of Moral Theology

The Matter and Form of Baptism

The water and the words of baptism: what is required for validity, and defects to be avoided.

Within this topic

See also Chrism and the Holy Oils — in The Sacraments in General

In the index as Baptism (Baptismus) · Ablution · Water · Infusion · Sprinkling · Immersion · Most Holy Trinity · Advocates · Aspersion · Baptismal font · Blessing · Consecration of an altar · Denunciation · Fresh oil · Holy Saturday · Matter · Order · Physical touch · The afterbirth

In the manuals

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. II, Bk. III, Chapter II. The Matter and Form of Baptism, nn. 1 & 2 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Enchiridion, and Supplement to the Compendium of Moral Theology of Gury-Ballerini (Enchiridion Morale)

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion, On Baptism, n. ¶1 — N. 237. - On Baptism with Corrupt Water. "1. Whether one is validly baptized with water which, although it wholly keeps its liquidity, nevertheless gives forth a great and very unpleasant stench? 2. Whether, with the validity of Baptism with such water posited,… Read in context →

Moral Enchiridion, Comprising Select Decrees and Definitions of the Holy See, of Ecumenical Councils and of the Sacred Roman Congregations (Enchiridion Morale), Fourth Edition

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905), On Baptism, nn. 396, 398, 412 & 412 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. III, On Baptism, II. On the Matter and Form of Baptism, nn. 396 & 398–418 (22 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

111. On the Matter and Form of Baptism, nn. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 (19 passages — hover a number to read it)

Pastoral Questions

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, II. Questions Concerning E…, II. Embryological Question…, Question One: Concerning the Matter of Baptism — Theological Principles, nn. ¶958–¶972 (15 passages)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. II, Chapter II. On The Essence Of Baptism, n. ¶21 — Since every sacrament is constituted essentially from matter and form, we must treat 1. the matter and 2. the form of baptism.Read in context →

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. II, Ch. II, Article I. On The Matter Of Baptism, nn. 98, 99, 100, 101 & 102 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. II, Ch. II, Article II. On The Form Of Baptism, nn. 103, 104 & 105 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Vol. II, TREATISE ON BAPTISM, Ch. II, Art. I, § I. On the Remote Matter of Baptism, nn. ¶1251 & ¶1252 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, TREATISE ON BAPTISM, Ch. II, Art. I, § II. On the Proximate Matter of Baptism, nn. ¶1253 & ¶1254 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, TREATISE ON BAPTISM, Ch. II, ARTICLE II: ON THE FORM OF BAPTISM, nn. ¶1255 & ¶1256 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Baptism, Question One: On the Sacra…, Article II: On the Matter of Baptism, nn. ¶1, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 & 125 (35 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Baptism, Question One: On the Sacra…, Article III: On the Form of Baptism, nn. ¶1, 126, 127, 128 & 129 (27 passages — hover a number to read it)

Christian Theology, Dogmatic and Moral, in Compendium

Diss. II, Chapter I — The notion of Baptism, and its matter, nn. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII & IX (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Diss. II, Chapter II — On the form, and on the threefold Baptism, nn. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII & IX (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

The 1917 Code of Canon Law

Tit. I, Chapter III: Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Baptism, cann. 757, 758, 759, 760 & 761 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. I, Case XXXIV: Using the Form for Infant Baptism in the Baptism of Adults, nn. ¶1–¶17 (17 passages)

Vol. III, Case XX: Using the Oil of the Sick in Baptism, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8 & ¶9 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, Case XLIII: Protestant Baptism, nn. ¶1–¶37 (37 passages)

Vol. V, Case XXXVII: The Form of Baptism, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3 & ¶4 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent (The Roman Catechism)

Pt. II, The Sacrament of Baptism, nn. ¶13–¶29 (17 passages)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. II, Ch. I, Art. II, § 1. On the Matter of Baptism, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶1453, ¶1454, ¶1455, ¶3, ¶1456 & ¶1457 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. II, Ch. I, Art. II, § 2. On the Form of Baptism, nn. ¶1458 & ¶1459 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. III, Book Second. On Baptism, Question Second. On the Ma…, Article First. On the Matter of Baptism, nn. 58, 59, 60 & 61 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Book Second. On Baptism, Question Second. On the Ma…, Article Second. On the Form of Baptism, nn. 62 & 63 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. II, Section I. On Remote Matter, nn. 52 & 53 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. II, Section II. On Proximate Matter, nn. 54 & 55 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. II, Section III. On the Form, nn. 56, 57, 58, 59 & 60 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. II, Tr. XII, Ch. II, Art. I, Both Remote and Proximate, of Baptism, nn. 654, 655, 655, Q. 2, 655, Q. 3, 655, Q. 4, 655, Q. 5, 655, Q. 6, 655, Q. 7 & 655, Q. 8 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Tr. XII, Ch. II, Article II. On the Form of Baptism, nn. 656, 657, 657, Q. 2, 657, Q. 3 & 657, Q. 4 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. II, Treatise On Baptism, Ch. II, Art. I, Both Remote and Proximate,…, § I. On the Remote Matter of Baptism, nn. 236 & 237 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Treatise On Baptism, Ch. II, Art. I, Both Remote and Proximate,…, § II. On the Proximate Matter of Baptism, nn. 238, 239 & 240 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Treatise On Baptism, Ch. II, Article II. On the Form of Baptism, nn. 241 & 242 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Baptism — McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Koch–Preuss · Slater, Cases II · Spirago · Slater, Back to Morality · Decretum of Gratian · Decretals of Gregory IX — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)