The Minister of Baptism

One who confects or confers a sacrament is called its minister. In solemn or ceremonious baptism, the priest isthe ordinary minister. (In the older practice of the Church, a deacon was not permitted to baptize solemnly “except in cases of extreme urgency.” In modern days, a deacon maybaptize solemnly if there be a good reason, and the pastor or the bishop authorize the action). A deacon who baptizes solemnly, is called an extraordinary minister of baptism.

It belongs to the special office of priests (and, ofcourse, bishops) to baptize.

Because of the necessity of this sacrament, it was ordained that it is to be conferred with matter easily available,namely water, and that in case of necessity when solemn orceremonious baptism is out of question, it can be conferred by anyone who has the use of reason, and who uses the water rightly,and says the required words, and intends to baptize.

Women as well as men can validly baptize, youths aswell as adults.

Even a non-baptized person can confer this sacramentvalidly on others.

Several people cannot concur in baptizing, one saying the words of the form, another or others applying the matter. The minister of baptism takes the place of Christ;there is only one Christ; there should be only one minister of anyone baptism. If several were to concur in baptizing, applying the matter and saying the form, the first to utter the form would actually confer the sacrament. And if all spoke absolutely together, since each one would have the intention of baptizing, the baptism would be valid, but the several ministers would be guilty of improperly treating a sacrament.

The priest, after baptizing solemnly, turns over the newly baptized person to “his sponsor and guide.” The sponsor is thus said, in an ancient phrase, “to raise the baptized person from the sacred font.” That is, the sponsor receives the newly baptized person for the purpose of instructing him, and guiding him in the way of life which he takes up by being baptized.

The duty of sponsors is a real obligation laid upon them. St. Augustine (Serm. 168) says: “I admonishyou, both men and women, who have raised children (that is, who have stood sponsor) in baptism, that you stand before God assure ties for those whom you have been seen to raise from the sacred font.”