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:
1^st Sponsor:
2^nd 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.