Liturgical Guidelines for Baptism During Mass

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The “Rite of Baptism for Children” doesn’t provide specific guidelines for what to do when a baptism cccurs during Mass. What are the best resources for determining the proper form for celebrating a baptism during Mass?
 
thank you for this thread…I also would like to know what is proper. this past weekend three infants were baptised and it appeared that the congregation didn’t know when to stand or sit what to repeat or respond even though Father was explaining these things as the baptism was taking place. My kids looked ta me as if to ask what’s going on with everybody. We thought we knew what to do but those few moments made mass look like a circus. 😦

There are several posters that immediately come to mind that should be able to answer, Lilym, Puzzleannie, are two that I can name off the top of my head. I’m sure there are many more who will soon grace us with their responses! I await in anticipation. 🙂
 
litcom.net.au/liturgy_lines/displayarticle.php?llid=168

Perhaps this will help.

The Sunday Mass need not be any longer than usual when the celebration of baptism is included. The rite of reception replaces the penitential rite and Gloria, with the opening prayer following directly after the signing of the infants. Instead of reciting the Creed, the assembly can be invited to join the parents and godparents in responding to the questions about the rejection of evil and profession of faith.
It is inappropriate to regularly substitute the readings for baptism for those set down for the Sunday. Only rarely might it be considered necessary to replace one of the readings with a passage more apt for the occasion.
The assembly’s participation is enhanced if they can both see and hear what is happening during the ritual. People should be invited to be seated and small children, family and friends encouraged to gather round the font.

So as you can see, at the place where the penitential rite & gloria would take place & the congregation is standing, the greeting & signing will take place.

Then during the creed, when the congregation would normally would be standing…we respond to the profession of faith in a question & answer “I do” as we would during Easter season…and we would be standing.

However, during the actual baptism. We should be seated.
😉
 
Thanks that does help.

Does anyone know anything about petitions at a mass with a baptism? Can the normal parish petitions be used, or should the general intercessions from the “Rite of Baptism for Children” be used instead?
 
runnerryan said:
Thanks that does help.

Does anyone know anything about petitions at a mass with a baptism? Can the normal parish petitions be used, or should the general intercessions from the “Rite of Baptism for Children” be used instead?
Click to expand...
It doesn’t have to be “either/or” … a couple of intercessions from the Rite can be added to those read during the other Sunday masses.
 
quiet52 said:
It doesn’t have to be “either/or” … a couple of intercessions from the Rite can be added to those read during the other Sunday masses.
Click to expand...
As far as I know, the text of the rite appears to envision something a little different here.

The introduction of the approved Rite of Baptism for Children addresses baptism during Mass in paragraph 28-30 (English translation approved by NCCB and confirmed by Holy See; ICEL 1968). The introduction is usually printed in the celebrant’s version of the liturgical book.
  1. If baptism takes place during Sunday Mass [the Easter vigil is treated in a preceeding paragraph 28] , the Mass for that Sunday is used, and the celebration takes place as follows: . . .
  1. In the liturgy of the word: . . .
d) The general intercessions are taken from those used in the rite of baptism (nos. 47-48, 217-220). At the end, however, before the invocation of the saints, petitions are added for the universal Church and the needs of the world.

The particular law or norms in the diocese should also be consulted.
 
I am not understanding the problem
the book with the rite for baptism clearly states how everything is to be done when baptism takes place during Sunday Mass (the preferred option), and the priest or deacon directs the congregation. maybe it is just the sound system that needs adjustment so the congregation can hear those directives.
 
runnerryan said:
The “Rite of Baptism for Children” doesn’t provide specific guidelines for what to do when a baptism cccurs during Mass. What are the best resources for determining the proper form for celebrating a baptism during Mass?
Click to expand...
Four of the Roman Rite’s liturgical books discuss how a child can be baptised at Mass.
  1. Rite of Baptism for Children, particularly in the introduction, n. 28-30 available from catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RBC .
  2. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This includes a section “1 CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED CATECHETICAL AGE”. In the introduction to this used in England, available at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA it is on page 32. The book (but not the PDF on the internet) provides a detailed description of the ceremony. In the edition used in England and Australia it begins with n. 285, in the USA edition n. 309.
  3. Roman Missal. Baptism is listed under Ritual Masses. This provides specific Opening Prayers etc. and additions to the Eucharistic Prayer. (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 830).
  4. Ceremonial of Bishops.
    This provides a comprehensive description on the baptism of children in Mass in n. 433-448. It is the sort of description lacking in the Rite of Baptism for Children. For example:
    “435 After the usual entrance into the church, the bishop first puts aside the miter and pastoral staff, then with the presbyters, deacons and ministers, reverences the altar and, as circumstances suggest, may incense it. Then he goes to the chair (cathedra) and greets the people, then puts on the miter and sits.
    436 The parish priest (pastor) or another presbyter goes with the ministers to the door of the church and carries out the rite of reception of the children as set out in the Rite of Baptism for Children.”
    (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 142.)
 
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