Christian Initiation,

General Introduction

1. In the sacraments of Christian initiation we are freed from the power of darkness and
joined to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. We receive the Spirit of filial adoption
and are part of the entire people of God in the celebration of the memorial of the Lord’s
death and resurrection.1
2. Baptism incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God’s people. This first sacrament
pardons all our sins, rescues us from the power of darkness, and brings us to the dignity of
adopted children,2 a new creation through water and the Holy Spirit. Hence we are called
and are indeed the children of God.3
By signing us with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation makes us more completely the im-
age of the Lord and fills us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear witness to him before
all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible.4
Finally, coming to the table of the eucharist, we eat the flesh and drink the blood of the
Son of Man so that we may have eternal life5 and show forth the unity of God’s people. By
offering ourselves with Christ, we share in the universal sacrifice, that is, the entire com-
munity of the redeemed offered to God by their High Priest,6 and we pray for a greater
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that the whole human race may be brought into the
unity of God’s family.7
Thus the three sacraments of Christian initiation closely combine to bring us, the faithful
of Christ, to his full stature and to enable us to carry out the mission of the entire people
of God in the Church and in the world.8

DIGNITY OF BAPTISM
3. Baptism, the door to life and to the kingdom of God, is the first sacrament of the New
Law, which Christ offered to all, that they might have eternal life.9 He later entrusted this
sacrament and the Gospel to his Church, when he told his apostles: “Go, make disciples of
all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.”10 Baptism is therefore, above all, the sacrament of that faith by which, enlightened
by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we respond to the Gospel of Christ. That is why the
Church believes that it is its most basic and necessary duty to inspire all, catechumens,
parents of children still to be baptized, and godparents, to that true and living faith by
which they hold fast to Christ and enter into or confirm their commitment to the New
Covenant. In order to enliven such faith, the Church prescribes the pastoral instruction of
catechumens, the preparation of the children’s parents, the celebration of God’s word, and
the profession of faith at the celebration of baptism.
4. Further, baptism is the sacrament by which its recipients are incorporated into the Church
and are built up together in the Spirit into a house where God lives,11 into a holy nation
and a royal priesthood.12 Baptism is a sacramental bond of unity linking all who have been
signed by it.13 Because of that unchangeable effect (given expression in the Latin liturgy by
the anointing of the baptized person with chrism in the presence of God’s people), the rite
of baptism is held in highest honour by all Christians. Once it has been validly celebrated,
Christian Initiation, General Introduction 1
 even if by Christians with whom we are not in full communion, it may never lawfully be
repeated.
5. Baptism, the cleansing with water by the power of the living word,14 washes away every
stain of sin, original and personal, makes us sharers in God’s own life15 and his adopted chil-
dren.16 As proclaimed in the prayers for the blessing of water, baptism is a cleansing water
of rebirth17 that makes us God’s children born from on high.The blessed Trinity is invoked
over those who are to be baptized, so that all who are signed in this name are consecrated
to the Trinity and enter into communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
They are prepared for this high dignity and led to it by the scriptural readings, the prayer
of the community, and their own profession of belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
6. Far superior to the purifications of the Old Law, baptism produces these effects by the
power of the mystery of the Lord’s passion and resurrection. Those who are baptized are
united to Christ in a death like his;18 buried with him in death, they are given life again
with him, and with him they rise again.19 For baptism recalls and makes present the paschal
mystery itself, because in baptism we pass from the death of sin into life.The celebration of
baptism should therefore reflect the joy of the resurrection especially when the celebration
takes place during the Easter Vigil or on a Sunday.

OFFICES AND MINISTRIES OF BAPTISM

7. The preparation for baptism and Christian instruction are both of vital concern to God’s
people, the Church, which hands on and nourishes the faith received from the apostles.
Through the ministry of the Church, adults are called to the Gospel by the Holy Spirit and
infants are baptized in the faith of the Church and brought up in that faith. Therefore it is
most important that catechists and other laypersons should work with priests and deacons
in the preparation for baptism. In the actual celebration, the people of God (represented
not only by the parents, godparents, and relatives, but also, as far as possible, by friends,
neighbours, and some members of the local Church) should take an active part. Thus they
will show their common faith and the shared joy with which the newly baptized are re-
ceived into the community of the Church.
8. It is a very ancient custom of the Church that adults are not admitted to baptism without
godparents, members of the Christian community who will assist the candidates at least
in the final preparation for baptism and after baptism will help them persevere in the faith
and in their lives as Christians. In the baptism of children, as well, godparents are to be
present in order to represent both the expanded spiritual family of the one to be baptized
and the role of the Church as a mother. As occasion offers, godparents help the parents so
that children will come to profess the faith and live up to it.
9. At least in the later rites of the catechumenate and in the actual celebration of baptism, the
part of godparents is to testify to the faith of adult candidates or, together with the parents,
to profess the Church’s faith, in which children are baptized.
10. Therefore godparents, chosen by the catechumens or by the families of children to be
baptized, must, in the judgment of the parish priest (pastor), be qualified to carry out the
proper liturgical functions mentioned in no. 9.
1. Godparents are persons, other than the parents of candidates, who are designated by
the candidates themselves or by a candidate’s parents or whoever stands in the place

2 Christian Initiation, General Introduction

 of parents, or, in the absence of these, by the parish priest (pastor) or the minister of
baptism. Each candidate may have either a godmother or a godfather or both a god-
mother and a godfather.
2. Those designated must have the capability and intention of carrying out the respon-
sibility of a godparent and be mature enough to do so. A person sixteen years of age is
presumed to have the requisite maturity, but the diocesan bishop may have stipulated
another age or the parish priest (pastor) or the minister may decide that there is a
legitimate reason for allowing an exception.
3. Those designated as godparents must have received the three sacraments of initiation,
baptism, confirmation, and eucharist, and be living a life consistent with faith and
with the responsibility of a godparent.
4. Those designated as godparents must also be members of the Catholic Church and
be canonically free to carry out this office. At the request of parents, a baptized and
believing Christian not belonging to the Catholic Church may act as a Christian
witness along with a Catholic godparent.20 In the case of separated Eastern Christians
with whom we do not have full communion the special discipline for the Eastern
Churches is to be respected.
11. The ordinary ministers of baptism are bishops, priests, and deacons.
1. In every celebration of this sacrament they should be mindful that they act in the
Church in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. They should therefore be diligent in the ministry of the word of God and in the
manner of celebrating the sacrament. They must avoid any action that the faithful
could rightly regard as favouritism.21
3. Except in a case of necessity, these ministers are not to confer baptism outside their
own territory, even on their own subjects, without the requisite permission.
12. Bishops are the chief stewards of the mysteries of God and leaders of the entire liturgical
life in the Church committed to them.22 This is why they direct the conferring of baptism,
which brings to the recipient a share in the kingly priesthood of Christ.23 Therefore bish-
ops should personally celebrate baptism, especially at the Easter Vigil. They should have a
particular concern for the preparation and baptism of adults.
13. It is the duty of pastors to assist the bishop in the instruction and baptism of the adults en-
trusted to their care, unless the bishop makes other provisions. Pastors, with the assistance
of catechists or other qualified laypersons, have the duty of preparing the parents and god-
parents of children through appropriate pastoral guidance and of baptizing the children.
14. Other priests and deacons, since they are co-workers in the ministry of bishops and parish
priests (pastors), also prepare candidates for baptism and, by the invitation or consent of the
bishop or parish priest (pastor), celebrate the sacrament.
15. The celebrant of baptism may be assisted by other priests and deacons and also by layper-
sons in those parts that pertain to them, especially if there are a large number to be bap-
tized. Provision for this is made in various parts of the rituals for adults and for children.
16. In imminent danger of death and especially at the moment of death, when no priest or
deacon is available, any member of the faithful, indeed anyone with the right intention,
may and sometimes must administer baptism. In a case simply of danger of death the
sacrament should be administered, if possible, by a member of the faithful according to
one of the shorter rites provided for this situation.24 Even in this case a small community
Christian Initiation, General Introduction 3
 should be formed to assist at the rite or, if possible, at least one or two witnesses should be
present.
17. Since they belong to the priestly people, all laypersons, especially parents and, by reason
of their work, catechists, midwives, family or social workers or nurses of the sick, as well
as physicians and surgeons, should be thoroughly aware, according to their capacities, of
the proper method of baptizing in case of emergency. They should be taught by pastors,
deacons, and catechists. Bishops should provide appropriate means within their diocese for
such instruction.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

18. The water used in baptism should be true water and, both for the sake of authentic sacra-
mental symbolism and for hygienic reasons, should be pure and clean.
19. The baptismal font, or the vessel in which on occasion the water is prepared for celebra-
tion of the sacrament in the sanctuary, should be spotlessly clean and of pleasing design.
20. If the climate requires, provision should be made for the water to be heated beforehand.
21. Except in case of necessity, a priest or deacon is to use only water that has been blessed for
the rite.The water blessed at the Easter Vigil should, if possible, be kept and used through-
out the Easter season to signify more clearly the relationship between the sacrament of
baptism and the paschal mystery. Outside the Easter season, it is desirable that the water
be blessed for each occasion, in order that the words of blessing may explicitly express the
mystery of salvation that the Church remembers and proclaims. If the baptistery is sup-
plied with running water, the blessing is given as the water flows.
22. As the rite for baptizing, either immersion, which is more suitable as a symbol of participa-
tion in the death and resurrection of Christ, or pouring may lawfully be used.
23. The words for conferring baptism in the Latin Church are: i baptize you in the name of
the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit.
24. For celebrating the liturgy of the word of God a suitable place should be provided in the
baptistery or in the church.
25. The baptistery or the area where the baptismal font is located should be reserved for the
sacrament of baptism and should be worthy to serve as the place where Christians are
reborn in water and the Holy Spirit. The baptistery may be situated in a chapel either
inside or outside the church or in some other part of the church easily seen by the faith-
ful; it should be large enough to accommodate a good number of people. After the Easter
season, the Easter candle should be kept reverently in the baptistery, in such a way that it
can be lighted for the celebration of baptism and so that from it the candles for the newly
baptized can easily be lighted.
26. In the celebration the parts of the rite that are to be celebrated outside the baptistery
should be carried out in different areas of the church that most conveniently suit the size
of the congregation and the several parts of the baptismal liturgy.When the baptistery can-
not accommodate all the catechumens and the congregation, the parts of the rite that are
customarily celebrated inside the baptistery may be transferred to some other suitable area
of the church.

4 Christian Initiation, General Introduction

27. As far as possible, all recently born babies should be baptized at a common celebration on
the same day. Except for a good reason, baptism should not be celebrated more than once
on the same day in the same church.
28. Further details concerning the time for baptism of adults and of children will be found in
the respective rituals. But at all times the celebration of the sacrament should have a mark-
edly paschal character.
29. Parish priests (pastors) must carefully and without delay record in the baptismal register
the names of those baptized, of the minister, parents, and godparents, as well as the place
and date of baptism.

ADAPTATIONS BY THE CONFERENCES OF BISHOPS

30. According to the Constitution on the Liturgy (art. 63, b), it is within the competence of
the conferences of bishops to compose for their local rituals a section corresponding to
this one in the Roman Ritual, adapted to the needs of their respective regions, After it
has been reviewed by the Apostolic See, it may be used in the regions for which it was
prepared.
In this connection, it is the responsibility of each conference of bishops:
1. to decide on the adaptations mentioned in the Constitution on the Liturgy (art.
39);
2. carefully and prudently to weigh what elements of a people’s distinctive traditions
and culture may suitably be admitted into divine worship and so to propose to the
Apostolic See other adaptations considered useful or necessary that will be intro-
duced with its consent;
3. to retain distinctive elements of any existing local rituals, as long as they conform
to the Constitution on the Liturgy and correspond to contemporary needs, or to
modify such elements;
4. to prepare translations of the texts that genuinely reflect the characteristics of various
languages and cultures and to add, whenever helpful, music suitable for singing;
5. to adapt and augment the Introductions contained in the Roman Ritual, so that the
ministers may fully understand the meaning of the rites and carry them out effec-
tively;
6. to arrange the material in the various editions of the liturgical books prepared under
the guidance of the conference of bishops, so that these books may better suit pastoral
use.
31. Taking into consideration especially the norms in the Constitution on the Liturgy (art.
37–40, 65), the conferences of bishops in mission countries have the responsibility of judg-
ing whether the elements of initiation in use among some peoples can be adapted for the
rite of Christian baptism and of deciding whether such elements are to be incorporated
into the rite.
32. When the Roman Ritual for baptism provides several optional formularies, local rituals
may add other formularies of the same kind.
33. The celebration of baptism is greatly enhanced by the use of song, which stimulates in the
participants a sense of their unity, fosters their praying together, and expresses the joy of
Easter that should permeate the whole rite. The conference of bishops should therefore

Christian Initiation, General Introduction 5

 encourage and help specialists in music to compose settings for those liturgical texts par-
ticularly suited to congregational singing.

ADAPTATIONS BY THE MINISTER OF BAPTISM

34. Taking into account existing circumstances and other needs, as well as the wishes of the
faithful, the minister should make full use of the various options allowed in the rite.
35. In addition to the adaptations that are provided in the Roman Ritual for the dialogue and
blessings, the minister may make other adaptations for special circumstances.These adapta-
tions will be indicated more fully in the Introductions to the rites of baptism for adults and
for children.

Endnotes
1
See Vatican Council II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity Ad gentes, no. 14.
2
See Colossians 1:13; Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5. See also Council of Trent, sess. 6, Decre. de iustifica-
tione, cap. 4: Denz.-Schon. 1524.
3
See 1 John 3:1.
4
See Vatican Council II, Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity Ad gentes, no. 36.
5
See John 6:55.
6
See Augustine, De citivate Dei 10, 6: PL 41, 284. Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church Lumen gentium, no. 11; Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis, no.
2.
7
See Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, no. 28.
8
See ibid., no. 31.
9
See John 3:5.
10
Matthew 28:19.
11
See Ephesians 2:22.
12
See 1 Peter 2:9.
13
See Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio, no. 22.
14
See Ephesians 5:26.
15
See 2 Peter 1:4.
16
See Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5.
17
See Titus 3:5.
18
See Romans 6:4-5.
19
See Ephesians 2:5-6.
20
See Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 873 and 874, §§1 and 2.
21
See Vatican Council II, Constitution on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 32; Pastoral Constitu-
tion on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et spes, no. 29.
22
See Vatican Council II, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops Christus Dominus, no. 15.
23
See Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, no. 26.
24
See Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, nos. 375-399; Rite of Baptism for Children, nos. 157-164.

L i t u r g y Christian Initiation, General Introduction English translation © 1985, International

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6 Christian Initiation, General Introduction