Missal of Robert of Jumièges: Holy Saturday Baptism (c. 1020)

The Making of a Catechumen

¶ Holy Saturday. Here begins the order for making a catechumen. When they have come to the church, let their names be written, and [let the males stand on the right] and the females on the left; and he shall lay his hand upon their heads [and breathe on them, saying]:

Depart, devil, from this image of God, rebuked by him, and give place to the Holy Spirit.

¶ Then sign him in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I sign thee with the seal of God the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I sign thine eyes, that thou mayest see the glory of God; thine ears, that thou mayest hear his mighty works; thy nostrils, that thou mayest perceive the odour of his sweetness; thy heart, that thou mayest believe in him; thy mouth, that thou mayest confess him. I lay the seal of God the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit upon thy whole body, that it may keep thee whole all the time of thy life, that the devil may have no part or power in thee, but the divine Trinity may reign in thee world without end. Amen.

¶ Then the priest: The Lord be with you.

Almighty and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, vouchsafe to look upon this thy servant N., whom thou hast vouchsafed to call to the first lessons of the faith. Drive out from him all blindness of heart; break all the snares of Satan with which he was bound. Open to him, O Lord, the door of thy loving-kindness, that, imbued with the sign of thy wisdom, he may be free from the foulness of all evil desires, and, rejoicing in the sweet savour of thy commandments, may serve thee in thy Church and go forward from day to day, that, having received thy medicine, he may be made fit to come to the grace of thy baptism. Through the same.

¶ Another.

Graciously hear our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by the power of the Lord's cross, with whose mark we sign him, keep this thine elect N.; that, holding fast the first lessons of the glory of thy greatness, he may by keeping thy commandments deserve to come to the glory of new birth. Through.

The Blessing and Giving of Salt

¶ The blessing of salt [to be given to] the catechumen.

I exorcise thee, creature of salt, in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. I exorcise thee by the living God and by the true God, who created thee for the protection of mankind and commanded thee to be consecrated by his servants for the people coming to belief; that in the name of the Holy Trinity thou mayest be made a saving sacrament to put the enemy to flight. Therefore we pray thee, O Lord our God, that thou wouldest sanctify this creature of salt in sanctifying it, and bless it in blessing it, that it may become to all who receive it a perfect medicine abiding in their inward parts. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall come.

¶ When this prayer is finished, let the priest take of the same salt and put it in the mouth of the infant.

Receive the salt of wisdom, for a propitiation unto eternal life.

O God of our fathers, God the maker of all things, the Truth, we humbly beseech thee that thou wouldest vouchsafe mercifully to look upon this thy servant N., and, as he tastes this first food of salt, suffer him no longer to hunger, but to be filled with heavenly food; that he may be always, O Lord, fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, ever serving thy name. Lead him to the font of the new birth, that with thy faithful he may deserve to obtain the eternal rewards of thy promises. Through.

The Exorcisms

¶ Again thou makest a cross on his forehead.

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God who didst appear to thy servant Moses on Mount Sinai and didst lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, appointing for them the angel of thy loving-kindness to guard them by day and by night: we beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to send thy holy angel to guard likewise this thy servant N., and to lead him to the grace of thy baptism. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy sentence, and give honour to the living and true God, give honour to Jesus Christ his Son and to the Holy Spirit, and depart from this servant of God; for God and our Lord Jesus Christ has vouchsafed to call him to his grace and blessing and to the font of baptism by his gift; and this sign of the holy cross which we give to his forehead do thou, accursed devil, never dare to violate. Through.

¶ Again thou makest a cross on his forehead.

O God, the undying defence of all who ask, the deliverance of those who pray, the peace of those who beseech, the life of believers, the resurrection of the dead: I call upon thee, O Lord, over this thy servant N., who, asking the gift of thy baptism, desires to obtain eternal grace by spiritual new birth. Receive him, O Lord; and because thou hast vouchsafed to say, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: give now the reward to him that asks, and open the door to him that knocks; that, having obtained the eternal blessing of the heavenly washing, he may receive the promised kingdom of thy bounty. Through.

¶ Another.

Hear, accursed Satan, adjured by the name of the eternal God and of our Saviour his Son: depart, overcome with thine envy, trembling and groaning. Have nothing in common with the servant of God, who now thinks on heavenly things, who renounces thee and thy world, and is a conqueror unto blessed immortality. Give honour therefore to the Holy Spirit who is coming, who, descending from the highest citadel of heaven, having overthrown thy deceits, may make the breast cleansed in the divine font, that is, a temple and dwelling sanctified to God; and that the servant of God, set wholly free from all the harms of past crimes, may ever give thanks to the everlasting God and bless his holy name, world without end. Through.

I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, that thou go out and depart from this servant of God. For he commands thee, accursed and damned one, who walked with his feet upon the sea and stretched out his right hand to Peter as he sank. Therefore, accursed one, [as above].

¶ These three over males; [the following] over females.

O God of heaven, God of earth, God of angels, God of archangels, God of prophets, God of martyrs, God of virgins, God of all who live well, God to whom every tongue confesses and every knee bows, of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth: I call upon thee, O Lord, over this thy handmaid, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to lead and keep her to the grace of thy baptism. Therefore, accursed one, [as above].

¶ Another.

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God who didst set free the tribes of Israel from Egyptian bondage and by thy servant Moses didst admonish them in the desert concerning the keeping of thy commandments, and didst deliver Susanna from a false charge: I humbly beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wouldest set free this thy handmaid also and vouchsafe to lead her to the grace of thy baptism. Therefore, accursed one, [as above].

¶ Another.

I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, by the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, that thou go out and depart from this handmaid of God. For he commands thee, accursed and damned one, who opened the eyes of the man born blind and raised Lazarus from the tomb on the fourth day. Therefore, accursed one, [as above].

¶ From this point onward let all be done alike over males and females, making a cross over their heads and saying:

I beseech thine eternal and most just loving-kindness, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, [author] of light and truth, on behalf of this thy servant, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to enlighten him with the light of thine understanding. Cleanse him and sanctify him; give him true knowledge, that he may be made worthy to come to the grace of thy baptism. May he hold firm hope, right counsel, holy teaching, that he may be fit to receive the grace of thy baptism. Through.

The Gospel, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed

¶ According to Matthew.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

¶ Our Father. [Then,] over the head of the infant, let him say the Creed; [then let him] lay [his hand on him], saying:

Nor is it hidden from thee, Satan, that punishments hang over thee, that torments hang over thee, that the day of judgement hangs over thee, the day of punishment, the day which shall come like a burning oven, in which eternal destruction shall come upon thee and all thine angels. Therefore, damned one, give honour to the living and true God, give honour to Jesus Christ his Son and to the Holy Spirit; in whose name and power I command thee, whatever unclean spirit thou art, to go out and depart from this servant of God, whom today our Lord Jesus Christ has vouchsafed to call to his holy grace and blessing and to the font of baptism by his gift, that he may become his temple through the water of new birth, for the forgiveness of sins. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Effeta and the Renunciation

¶ Then let him touch his nostrils and ears with spittle, saying:

Effeta, that is, Be opened, unto an odour of sweetness. But thou, devil, flee; for the judgement of God draws near.

¶ Afterwards let him touch his breast with exorcised oil, making a cross with the thumb, and, his name being called, let it be said:

Dost thou renounce Satan?

Answer. I renounce.

¶ And thou makest a cross on his breast, and sayest:

And all his works?

Answer. I renounce.

¶ And again thou makest a cross on the shoulders.

And all his pomps?

Answer. I renounce.

The Blessing of the Font with the Litany

¶ The blessing of the font with the litany.

Almighty and everlasting God, be present at the mysteries of thy great loving-kindness, be present at thy sacraments; and send forth the Spirit of adoption to create the new peoples whom the font of baptism brings forth for thee; that what is to be done by our humble ministry may be fulfilled by the working of thy power. Through.

¶ [Aloud:] World without end. Answer. Amen.

The Lord be with you. Answer. And with thy spirit.

Lift up your hearts. Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.

Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. Answer. It is meet and right so to do.

It is very meet [and right, our bounden duty and our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty] and eternal God, who by invisible power dost wonderfully work the effect of thy sacraments; and though we are unworthy to perform such great mysteries, yet thou dost not forsake the gifts of thy grace, but inclinest the ears of thy loving-kindness even to our prayers. O God, whose Spirit in the very beginning of the world moved upon the waters, that even then the nature of water might conceive the power of sanctifying: O God, who washing away by water the crimes of a guilty world didst by the outpouring of the flood signify the figure of new birth, that by the ministry of one and the same element there might be an end of vices and a beginning of virtues: look upon the face of thy Church and multiply in her thy new births; who by the stream of thy flowing grace makest glad thy city, and openest the font of baptism to all the nations of the world for their renewal; that by the command of thy majesty it may receive the grace of thine only Son from the Holy Spirit,

¶ Here thou dividest the water in the form of a cross.

Who by the secret mixing of his light makes fruitful this water prepared for the new birth of men; that, a sanctification being conceived, a heavenly offspring may come forth from the spotless womb of the divine font, born again a new creature; and that grace, as a mother, may bring forth into one infancy all whom sex divides in body or age in time. Far hence, therefore, at thy command, O Lord, let every unclean spirit depart; far away let all the wickedness of devilish deceit withdraw. Let no admixture of a hostile power have place here; let it not fly about lying in wait, let it not creep in by hiding, let it not corrupt by infecting. May this holy and innocent creature be free from every assault of the adversary and cleansed by the departure of all wickedness. May it be a living fountain, a water that regenerates, a wave that purifies; that all who are to be washed in this saving bath may, by the working of the Holy Spirit in them, obtain the grace of perfect cleansing.

¶ Here thou signest.

Wherefore I bless thee, creature of water, by the living God, by the holy God, who in the beginning by his word separated thee from the dry land, whose Spirit moved upon thee; who made thee flow out of paradise and commanded thee to water the whole earth in four rivers; who in the desert made thee, being bitter, fit to drink by putting sweetness into thee, and brought thee out of the rock for a thirsting people. I bless thee through Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who in Cana of Galilee by a wonderful sign of his power turned thee into wine; who walked upon thee with his feet, and was baptized in thee by John in the Jordan; who brought thee forth from his side together with his blood; and commanded his disciples that believers should be baptized in thee, saying: Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

¶ Here thou changest the tone, as in reading a lesson.

Do thou, almighty God, we beseech thee, be mercifully present with us as we keep these commandments; do thou graciously breathe upon them; do thou bless with thy mouth these simple waters, that besides the natural cleansing which they can give to the washing of bodies, they may also be effectual for the minds that are to be purified.

¶ Here they put in the candles [and he breathes upon the water].

May the power of thy Spirit descend into this fullness of the font, make the whole substance of this water fruitful with the effect of new birth. Here may the stains of all sins be blotted out; here may nature, made in thine image and restored to the honour of its first beginning, be cleansed from all the squalor of the old state; that every man entering this sacrament of new birth may be born again into a new infancy of true innocence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who shall come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.

¶ Here thou pourest in chrism in the form of a cross and mixest it with the water.

The Profession of Faith and the Baptism

¶ And let the priest ask, What art thou called?

Dost thou believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth?

Answer. I believe.

Dost thou believe also in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead?

Answer. I believe.

Dost thou believe also in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the flesh and the life everlasting?

Answer. I believe.

Wilt thou be baptized?

Answer. I will.

¶ Then the priest baptizes with a threefold immersion, calling only once upon the Holy Trinity:

And I baptize thee in the name of the Father,

¶ and let him dip him,

and of the Son,

¶ and let him dip him again,

and of the Holy Spirit.

¶ and let him dip him a third time.

The Chrism, the White Garment, the Candle and Communion

¶ When he has come up from the font, let the priest make the sign of the cross with chrism with his thumb on the crown of his head, and say this prayer:

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath regenerated thee of water and the Holy Spirit, and who hath given thee forgiveness of all thy sins, himself anoint thee with the chrism of salvation unto eternal life. Amen.

¶ And the infant is clothed, the priest saying thus:

Receive a white garment, pure and spotless, which thou mayest bring before the judgement-seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have eternal life and live for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ When the candle is given:

Receive a burning lamp, and keep it without blame, that when the Lord comes to the wedding thou mayest go to meet him together with the saints in the heavenly hall, unto eternal life, world without end. Amen.

¶ And if a bishop is present, he must at once be confirmed with chrism, and afterwards receive communion; [and if not,] let him be given communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord by the priest, who says thus:

The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep thee unto eternal life. Amen.

¶ After communion.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate this thy servant N. of water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given him forgiveness of all his sins: grant him continual health, to know the truth of thy whole creation. Through our Lord.