198 Normally, a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon Administers Baptism

YOUCAT Lesson 198

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

198  Who can administer Baptism?

Normally a bishop, a priest, or a deacon administers the sacrament of Baptism.  In an emergency, any Christian, indeed anyone, can baptize by pouring water over the head of the recipient and pronouncing the baptismal formula, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  [1256, 1284]

…….Photo above: …..An immersion baptism of a military person  by a chaplin using a heavy equipment bucket to contain the water. …..198

Baptism is so important that even a non-Christian can administer it.  In doing so, however, he must have the intention of doing what the Church does when she baptizes.

(He) desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  1 Timothy 2:4

…….WHO CAN BAPTIZE?

…….1256   The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon.( compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 861 § 1; Corpus Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, can. 677 § 1)⁵⁷    In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 861.2)⁵⁸ ,  by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.(compare 1 Timothy 2:4.)⁵⁹ –Catechism of the Catholic Faith, Second Edition

…….IN BRIEF

…….1284 In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."