Diocese of Davenport

Davenport, IA

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Baptismal Formula

- Liturgy Homepage

August 7, 2020

Once again, the formula for baptism is in the news. In 2008, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) at the Vatican made it clear that the formula for baptism had to be used as given in the ritual. That is, for a baptism to be valid, the words I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT must be used as water is poured over the head of the individual or the individual is submerged. At that time, the problem was that people were baptizing in the name of the “Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.” Those baptisms were ruled invalid, and anyone ‘baptized’ using those words had to be baptized properly using the given formula. For more information, please see:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20080201_validity-baptism_en.html and https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20080201_validity-baptism-miralles_en.html.

Now, in some places, the use of “WE baptize” (instead of “I” baptize) has crept in. And, again, the CDF has ruled that such baptisms are invalid and must be done again using the proper formula. The reason for this is that in any sacrament it is Christ who acts (the “I” referring to the minister acting in the person of Christ). It is not the community (“we”) that baptizes. For more information, please see: http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/08/06/0406/00923.html#rispostein.

A further explanation from America magazine is found here: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/08/06/vatican-says-baptisms-used-modified-formula-are-not-valid.