Private Baptism

Try to read these rules before administering private baptism, if there is time.

If an unbaptized child, or person who desires to be baptized, is in danger of death, and it is convenient to call the Priest, he should be summoned without delay.

But if there is danger of such a child or person dying before the priest can reach them, let any one present who has the use of reason, administer baptism.

The parents themselves, however, ought not to do it, if any one else present is able to do so.

To baptize privately simply follow these instructions: Take common water from the faucet or well, or wherever you can get it. Don’t bother about holy water, Easter water or any other particular kind of water; take common water.

Pour this water on the head of the child or person; don’t merely sprinkle it with your fingers; but pour it from some vessel, parting the hair if it is thick, with one hand, so that the water will touch the skin of the top of the head, or forehead at least.

Whilst pouring the water say these words and no others: I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Be sure to say the words: I baptize thee, and not merely the words: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Don’t bother about making the sign of the cross, but only pour the water over the head, saying the above-mentioned words.

Don’t be concerned about a name for the child or about the selection of a Godparent. All that is unnecessary at a private baptism. Lose no time.

If a child baptized at home, whether by Priest or by lay-person, should recover, it must, nevertheless, be brought to the church, as though it had not been baptized at all; so that the priest may supply the prayers and ceremonies prescribed at baptisms in church. A Godparent must stand for it then, and a name must be given to it.

When such a child is brought to church, the fact of private baptism must be mentioned to the Priest at once before he begins the ceremonies of baptism, so that he may know exactly which prayers and functions he is to perform and which he is to omit.

The Priest does not baptize such a child again, if it has been properly baptized at home, but has only to supply the remaining ceremonies and prayers.

Let the one who baptized such a child privately, if possible, accompany it to the church, so that the Priest may ascertain whether the child had been validly baptized or not.

See that the private baptism of a child is duly recorded by the Priest in the parish records of baptism, whether the child survive or not.