ORDER OF SERVICE
(Please check with the Priest or Deacon before final printing, this is an example of the service. There are slight changes when more than one child is being baptised, marked in red).
Reception of the Child
Parents, Godparents and friends are greeted at the Church door and are reminded of the special joy of this occasion.
The Priest/Deacon will ask the Parents of each child.
Priest / Deacon:What name have you given your child?
Parents:xxx
Priest / Deacon:What do you ask of God’s Church for xxx?
Parents: Baptism.
Priest / Deacon: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.
To the Godparents
Priest / Deacon:Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?
Godparents:We are.
To the child / children xxx, the Church of God welcomes you with great joy. In its name, I claim you for Christ 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.
All proceed into the church, a suitable hymn may be sung at this stage.
Liturgy of the Word
(A full list of suggested readings can be seen in the appendix).
First Reading read by:
Responsorial Psalm Read by:
Second Reading read by:
Gospel read by Priest / Deacon
A short Homily:
Bidding Prayers
(A list of suggested bidding prayers can be seen in the appendix)
Invocation of the Saints
The following may be read by the Priest/Deacon:
Priest/Deacon:Holy Mary Mother of God
All:Pray for us.
Priest / Deacon:Saint John the Baptist
All:Pray for us.
Priest / Deacon:Saint Joseph
All:Pray for us.
Priest / Deacon:Saint Peter and Saint Paul
All:Pray for us.
Priest / Deacon:St Vincent.
All: Pray for us.
Priest / Deacon:All holy men and women.
All:Pray for us.
Exorcism and Anointing
Priest / Deacon:Almighty and ever living God you sent you’reonly Son into the world to cast out the power of Satan, spirit of evil, to rescue man from the kingdom of darkness and bring him into the splendour of your kingdom of light.
We pray for this child (these children):
Set him/her (them) free from original sin, make him/her (them) a temple of your glory and send your Holy Spirit to dwell with him/her (them).
Through Christ our Lord
All:Amen.
Anointing
Priest / Deacon: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 forever andever.
All:Amen.
Celebration of the Sacrament
All gather around the font. Godparents to holdthe Baptismal Candle
Priest / Deacon:My dear friends God uses the sacrament of water to give His divine life to those who believe in Him. Let us turn to Him and ask Him to pour His gift from this font on this child (these children) He has chosen.
Blessing and Invocation
Priest / Deacon:Father, God of Mercy, through these waters of Baptism you have filled us with new life as your very own children.
All:Blessed be God.
Priest / Deacon:From all who are baptised in water and the Holy Spirit you have formed one people united in your Son Jesus Christ.
All:Blessed be God.
Priest / Deacon:You have set us free and filled our hearts with the Spirit of your love that we may live in peace.
All:Blessed be God.
Priest / Deacon:You call those who have been baptised to announce the good news of Jesus Christ to people everywhere.
All:Blessed be God.
Blessing of the water
Priest / Deacon: You have called your child (children)to this cleansing water and new birth so that by sharing the faith of your church he/she (they)might have eternal life. Bless this water in which he/she (they) will be baptised we ask this in the name of Christ our Lord.
All:Amen.
Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
Priest / Deacon:Dear Parents and Godparents, you have come here to present this child(these children) for Baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit she/heis (theyare) to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bringhim/her(them) up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives her/him(them) is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his/her (their) heart(s).
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. This is the faith in which this child (these children) is(are) about to be baptised.
Priest / Deacon:Do you reject Satan?
Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:And all his works?
Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:And all his empty show?
Parents/Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Parents/Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the father?
Parents/Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting
Godparents:I do.
Priest / Deacon:This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ our Lord.
All:Amen.
Baptism
Before the Baptism of each child the Priest/Deacon asks the child’s (childrens) parents and Godparents the final question.
Priest / Deacon:Is it your will that xxx should be baptised in the faith of the Church which we have all professed with you?
Parents/Godparents:It is.
The Priest/Deacon pours water over xxx head three times saying:
Priest / Deacon:xxx I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Anointing with Chrism
Oil is a symbol of power and strength, it is used to make athletes more supple, and when rubbed into the skin it is absorbed. Oil of Chrism is olive oil mixed with a perfume called balsam, blessed by the Bishop on Holy Thursday at the Chrism Mass and just as oil is absorbed into the skin so is the strength and power of God absorbed by us. Perfume fills the air around us with its scent; in the same way so does the love and presence of Christ spread and fill our lives.
Priest / Deacon:God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given to you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed you into his holy people. Now He anoints you with the Chrism of salvation as Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.
All:Amen.
Priest/Deacon anoints each child on the crown of the head with the sacred chrism.
Clothing with a White Garment
Priest / Deacon:xxx you have become a new creation and have clothed yourself in Christ.
See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
All:Amen.
The white garment is put on the baby.
Lighted Candle
Holding the Paschal candle the Priest/Deacon says:
Priest / Deacon:Receive the light of Christ
(Father or Godfather lights the candle from the Paschal candle).
Priest / Deacon:Parents and Godparents this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child(these children) of yours has (have) been enlightened by Christ. He/she is (theyare) to walk always as a child (children) of the light. May he/she (they) keep the flame and faith alive in his/her (their) heart(s). When the Lord comes may he/she (they) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.
Conclusion of the Rite
Priest / Deacon:My dear friends this childhas(these children have)been reborn in Baptism. She/heis (they are) now calledthe child (children) of God, for so indeed he/she is(they are). In confirmation she/he (they)will receive the fullness of God’s spirit. In Holy Communion she/he (they) will share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God her/his (their)Father in the midst of the Church. In the name of this child (these children) in the spirit of our common sonship, let us pray together in the word our Lord has given us:
All:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Blessing
Priest / Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
The Priest/Deaconblesses theMother(s) who hold their babies intheir arms, the Father(s) and then the entire assembly.
Priest / Deacon:God the Father through his Son, the Virgin Mary’s child has brought joy to all Christian mothers as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children, may He bless YYYY, the mother(s) of this child (these children). Mayshe(they) be one with him in thanking Him forever in heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All:Amen.
Priest / Deacon:God is the giver of all life human and divine. May He bless XXXX, the father(s) of this child (thesechildren). He and his wife(they and their children)will be the first teachers of their child (children) in the ways of faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All:Amen.
Priest / Deacon:By God’s gift, through water and the Holy Spirit we are reborn to everlasting life. In His goodness may He continue to pour out His blessing upon these sons and daughters of His. May He make them always, wherever they may be, faithful members of His holy people. May He send His peace upon all who are gathered here, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All:Amen.
Priest / Deacon:May the peace of God which is beyond all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and His Son Jesus Christ.
And may Almighty God bless you all, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All:Amen.
Dismissal
Priest / Deacon: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
All Thanks be to God.
Appendix
You may like to choose one reading from the Old Testament, a Responsorial Psalm and one from the New Testament. You may also choose one Gospel reading to be read by the Deacon or Priest.
Hymns:(A list of musicians is available from the office, fees to be arranged with the musicians).
Water of life, cleanse and refresh us (Number 512)
O praise ye the Lord (Number 406)
O living water (Number 931).
Liturgy of the Word
Examples - list of readings
Old Testament:
Exodus 17; 3-7
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm: 23
Choose two or three verses.
Response: The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want.
Psalm 26
Choose two or three verses.
Response: The Lord is my light and help.
New Testament:
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Corinthians 12; 12-13,
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians 3:26-28,
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the to the Romans 6; 3-5
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 4; 1-6
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 2:4-5.9-10.
Gospel read by Priest/Deacon(One)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22; 35-40,
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mathew 28:18-20.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 22:35-40
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 1: 9-11,
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10: 13-16,
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 12:28-31
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:1-6.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:1-11
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 19; 31-35
Bidding Prayers for the Sacrament of Baptism outside Mass:
Priest / Deacon: My dear people let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on this child (these children) who is (are) to be baptised, on his/her (their) parent(s) and godparents and all the baptised.
Reader: By the mystery of your death and resurrection bathe this child (these children) in light, give him/her (them) the new life of Baptism and welcome him/her (them) into your Holy Church. Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: Through Baptism make him/ her (them) your faithful follower(s) and a witness (witnesses) to your gospel. Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: Lead him/her (them) by a holy life to the joys of God’s kingdom. Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: Make the lives of his/her (their) parents and godparents examples of faith to inspire this child (these children). Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: Keep his/her(their) family(s) always in your love. Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: Renew the grace of Baptism in each of us. Pause
Lord Hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Reader: We ask Mary, the Mother of Jesus who knew the joys and the traumas of being a parent to unite her prayers with us as we say:
Hail Mary ---
Priest / Deacon: Lord God this precious child is (these precious children are) yours now. Hear our prayers for xxx (them) touch his/her heart(their hearts)with your grace and goodness, enfold him/her (them) in your tender care today and always. This we ask through Christ your Son. Amen