What do you need to review and get together before you perform a Traditional Catholic Baptism?
Here is our Checklist for the Administration of Baptism:
Points to Consider Beforehand:
- Both parents should be practicing Catholics, or at least there must be a reasonable hope the child will be raised Catholic.
- In the case of Adults, they must be properly instructed in the Faith.[1]
- Check that the Godparents are both practicing Catholic.
- There must be a warranty that the child will be reared in the Catholic Faith.
- Check that the name of the Child is a Catholic name.
Materials necessary:
- Baptismal Water.
- Oil of Catechumens (O.C.) and Holy Chrism (S.C.) of the current year.
- Salt. (It may be blessed beforehand)
- Shell to pour Baptismal Water.
- Clean Basin to receive this water, (unless it is poured directly in the sacrarium).
- Cotton to wipe the places anointed with the Holy Oils.
- Bread to clean the Priest’s hands from the oils. (Modern custom uses cotton instead).
- Surplice and Purple-White Stole.
- White Garment for the Child, to be given during the ceremony.
- Baptismal Candle, and matches.
- Rituale Romanum or Collectio Rituum, or the Priest’s Ritual.
- Paper and pen to write down the information necessary for the certificate.
Information required from the Parents:
(Use Form annexed in the Priest’s Resources Page).
Name of the Child:
Name of the Father:
Name of the Mother:
Date of Birth:
Parish of Baptism:
City:
State:
Name of the Priest:
1st Sponsor:
2nd Sponsor (if any):
Date of Baptism.
Note: Information regarding the marriage is not absolutely necessary, but occasionally, baptism may provide the opportunity to validate a marriage.
[1] For the Case of Conditional Baptism, consult “The Administration of the Sacraments” by Halligan, Pages 50, 52, etc.