Mode
Q: Sacraments must be done according to ____ and _____.
A: Matter and Form
Q: What is the Trinitarian baptismal formula?
A: “N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
*in some protestant ecclesial communities, particularly the conservative Lutheran synods, substitute the Holy Spirit with the Holy Ghost. This also counts.
Q: What is the matter of baptism?
A: water
In most cases, with the exception of emergency, pure water should be used, with no additives.
Q: Who are the ordinary ministers of the Sacrament of baptism?
A: A bishop, priest, or deacon.
Q: The Baptismal Covenant is based on the stanzas of this prayer, which is recited in the Rosary, and sometimes at the Mass.
A: The Apostles' Creed is stated by the people in the baptismal covenant. The affirmations of the Apostles' Creed are made by the people in response to the celebrant's first three questions in the baptismal covenant. These questions and responses correspond to the three sections of the Apostles' Creed
Sarah has never been baptized. She desires baptism. While in the shower she says "with this water, I be blessed."
Q: Is this a valid baptism, why or why not?
A: it is invalid. You cannot baptize yourself. A shower is distinct from baptism. The Trinitarian baptismal formula was not used.
Tikiya is about to be baptized at United Pentecostal church International. This religion baptizes by immersion. It only baptizes adults. The preacher says "I baptize you in Jesus' name for the remission of sins, you have now received the Holy Ghost. Amen!"
Q: Why is this baptism invalid?
A: No. Because it is not done according to the Trinitarian baptismal formula. All mainline Christians, both Catholics and protestant denominations agree on this.
Morgan and Pat just adopted a 5-month-old baby, Sawyer. They are very active at the local Metropolitan Community church. They had Sawyer baptized last Sunday. Pastor Penny said “Sawyer, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” and poured sparkling water over baby Sawyer’s head. It is the tradition of the local branch of this ecclesial community to baptize with mineral water.
Q: Is the baptism valid?
Q: Is the baptism licit?
A: Valid, but illicit
Pure water should be used for baptisms. Exceptions are made in cases of emergency.
Certainly, valid liquids include water as found in rivers, oceans, lakes, hot springs, melted ice or snow, mineral water, dew, slightly muddy water (as long as the water predominates), and slightly brackish water. Sawyer’s baptism was planned. Not an emergency.
Q: Who is an extraordinary minister of the Sacrament of baptism?
A: In an extraordinary circumstance, like an emergency, anyone may minister baptism.
Q: In the early Church, what did new converts wear when they were baptized?
A: Naked.
In the early centuries, converts were often naked. Only around the 5th century did they begin wearing white albs (gowns)
Daan and Anika Vandeven were excited to have their son Arnoud baptized at Calvin Memorial Reformed church in Grand Rapids Michigan. Daan's family was among the early Dutch settlers who built the church. On Sunday, Pastor Hoekstra baptized Arnoud. He sprinkled him with water and said "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
Q: Is the baptism valid?
Q: Is it licit?
It is valid but illicit.
Pastor Hoekstra did use a variation of the Trinitarian baptismal formula, which is valid. However, sprinkling is an illicit form of baptism.
Ebenezer Lutheran church also called "Herchurch" is an ecclesiastical community loosely associated with the Evangelical Lutheran church in America. The pastor Stacy Bonn baptizes members by pouring. The one of the baptismal formulas used is "I baptize you in the God who is mother, the God who is child, and the Holy Soul."
Q: Is this valid?
A: No, If someone wishes to pray to God and imagine God in these roles, they may. But we cannot change the baptismal formula.
Miguel and Sean are best friends. They both joined the army. They were sent to Afghanistan. While in a foxhole, they were ambushed by renegade soldiers. They were able to fight them off, but Sean was badly injured. Miguel is strong in his Catholic faith. Sean had never been baptized and asked Miguel to baptize him. Miguel remembered what he was taught in CCD, in an emergency, anyone can baptize as long as they do it according to form and matter. He took water from his canteen and poured it over Sean's head, using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.
Fortunately, they were rescued, and Sean's wound was not fatal.
Q: Was this baptism valid?
A: Yes, it was valid. Miguel did everything correctly in the case of an emergency.
True or false
"Since baptism is necessary for salvation and God wills the salvation of all, the Church recognizes all validly administered baptisms, including baptisms performed by protestant pastors."
True
As long as the baptism is done with real water and in the Trinitarian baptismal formula, it is valid and recognized by the Church.
Q: This person is a convert to Christianity receiving training in doctrine, discipline and scrutinies before their baptism.
A: Catechumen.
A Christian convert under instruction before baptism.
Comes from the Greek word κατηχούμενος katēkhoumenos, which means "the one being instructed."
Tiffani was baptized as a baby at her grandmother's AME church. Methodists baptize infants by pouring and use the Trinitarian baptismal formula. She joins a non-denominational group on her college campus. They told her that her baptism doesn't count. Believing what they said, she gets baptized at one of their revivals.
Q: Is this new baptism efficacious (does it confer grace)?
A: No.
Catholics and all mainline protestant Christians (including Methodists) believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Getting rebaptized does not confer grace.
Next July, Dakota, and Amy will get married at First Congregational, United church of Christ. Dakota wanted to get baptized before the wedding. Last Sunday, Rev. Bonnie baptized Dakota. She used pure water and poured the water over Dakota’s head saying “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier.”
Q: Is the baptism valid?
A: No, it is invalid. It was not done according to the Trinitarian baptismal formula.
Kyle is an evangelist and the head clown-pastor of "Juggalos for Christ." Tyler and his baby-mama, Crystal heard Kyle's evangelism while at the ICP concert. Their hearts felt strangely warmed, they wanted to get saved. They said the sinner's prayer with Kyle. He took them into the mosh pit and over each of them he said "I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." pouring a bottle of Faygo red pop over them.
Q: Was this baptism licit?
A: It is definitely illicit.
Is it valid?
According to Bishop LeFebvre, it is
"doubtfully valid"
*Doubtfully valid liquids are those that are a mixture of water and some other substance, such as beer, soda, light tea, thin soup or broth, and artificially scented water such as rose water.
Jenny is a new Christian. She got saved by Campus Crusade, a non-denominational/evangelical campus ministry on her college campus. On the day of her baptism, surrounded by her new friends, Jenny and two missionaries wade in the swimming pool. One missionary dunks Jenny while the other missionary says "Having been commissioned by Jesus Christ, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Q: Was her baptism valid?
A: No.
The missionary dunking her should have been the one saying the Trinitarian baptismal formula, not the second missionary.
Q: Traditionally this rite is performed before the baptism. Special prayers of deliverance from evil are said by the priest. The candidate for baptism is asked to reject the devil and spiritual forces of wickedness.
A: Minor Exorcism
Heather and Josh are a nice, young protestant couple. They are active members of St. Paul Episcopal church. They had their 6-month-old Cayden baptized at the Sunday service. The vicar (Episcopalian minister) baptized Cayden and said “Cayden, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” With a seashell, the vicar poured water over the Cayden’s head.
Q: Is the baptism valid
A: Valid
It is done according to the Trinitarian baptismal formula. He was baptized by infusion.
Deacon Angelo Ciccone is a newly ordained deacon at Madonna Della Strada Catholic Church. This is the first baptism he will perform. What's even more special is that this is the baptism of his newest grandson Guiseppi! Angelo immerses Guiseppi and says "we baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit." However, the priest, Father Pio Fortunata realizes that a mistake has occurred. Fortunately, this is corrected, and baby Guiseppi is validly baptized.
Q: What was the mistake
A: Deacon Angelo said "We baptize..." not "I baptize..."
It had been the tradition of some Orthodox Christians in Armenia to use perfumed water, like mixing rosewater with the water in the baptismal font.
Q: Although this tradition is less common today, why would some people object to this?
A: Pure water, unless in the case of an emergency should be used. In those rare cases, and because of the intention, this would fall under "doubtfully valid."
Tom and Linda Nillson are nominally Christian. They are protestants. They were married by a Lutheran pastor and had their oldest daughter, Quinn baptized by that same pastor. These days they do not belong to a church or ecclesial community. While on vacation at their family cabin, Tom becomes sentimental. He feels guilty because their youngest daughter, Charlotte has not been baptized. Tom tells Linda that he would like to baptize Charlotte in the creek behind the cabin. Linda and Charlotte agree to this. The family stands in the creek, Tom dunks Charlotte in the creek and says “Charlotte, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Q:Is the baptism valid?
Q: Is the baptism licit?
A: Valid but illicit.
It is valid because it was done according to form. The parents and candidate consent. She is baptized according to the Trinitarian baptismal formula. She is immersed in real water.
It is illicit because Tom is not the ordinary minister of the sacrament, and this is not an emergency.
Q: The Greek word for baptism.
A: βαπτίζω
Transliterated as baptizō. It generally means immersion.