{"id":54,"date":"2015-12-06T02:30:52","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T02:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/?page_id=54"},"modified":"2015-12-06T18:50:29","modified_gmt":"2015-12-06T18:50:29","slug":"the-baptismal-booklet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/the-small-catechism-martin-luther\/the-baptismal-booklet\/","title":{"rendered":"The Baptismal Booklet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Baptismal Booklet: Translated
\ninto German and Newly Revised<\/b><\/span><\/span>1<\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>47<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Martin Luther<\/p>\n

To all Christian readers: Grace and Peace in Christ our Lord.<\/i><\/p>\n

Because daily I see and hear with what carelessness and lack of solemnity\u2014to say nothing of out-and-out levity\u2014people treat the high, holy, and comforting sacrament of baptism for infants, in part caused, I believe, by the fact that those present understand nothing of what is being said and done, I have decided that it is not only helpful but also necessary to conduct the service in the German language. For this reason I have translated those portions that used to be said in Latin<\/i><\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>48<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>in order to begin baptizing in German, so that the sponsors and others present may be all the more aroused to faith and earnest devotion and so that the priests who baptize have to show more diligence for the sake of the listeners.<\/p>\n

Out of a sense of Christian commitment, I appeal to all those who baptize, sponsor infants,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>49<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>or witness a baptism to take to heart the tremendous work and great solemnity present here. For here in the words of these prayers you hear how plaintively and earnestly the Christian church brings the infant to God, confesses before him with such unchanging, undoubting words that the infant is possessed by the devil and a child of sin and wrath, and so diligently asks for help and grace through baptism, that the infant may become a child of God.<\/p>\n

Therefore, you have to realize that it is no joke at all to take action against the devil and not only to drive him away from the little child but also to hang around the child\u2019s neck such a mighty, lifelong enemy. Thus it is extremely necessary to stand by the poor child with all your heart and with a strong faith and to plead with great devotion that God, in accordance with these prayers, would not only free the child from the devil\u2019s power but also strengthen the child, so that the child might resist him valiantly in life and in death. I fear that people turn out so badly after baptism because we have dealt with them in such a cold and casual way and have prayed for them at their baptism without any zeal at all.<\/p>\n

Bear in mind, too, that in baptism the external ceremonies are least important, such as blowing under the eyes, making the sign of the cross, putting salt in the mouth or spit and clay in the ears and nose, anointing the breast and shoulders with oil, smearing the head with chrism, putting on the christening robe, placing a burning candle in the child\u2019s hand, and whatever else has been added by humans to embellish baptism. For certainly a baptism can occur without any of these things, and they are not the actual devices from which the devil shrinks or flees. He sneers at even greater things than these! Here things must get really serious.<\/p>\n

Instead, see to it that you are present there in true faith, that you listen to God\u2019s Word, and that you pray along earnestly. For wherever the priest says, \u201cLet us pray,\u201d he is exhorting you to pray with him. Moreover, all sponsors and the others present ought to speak along with him the words of his prayer in their hearts to God. For this reason, the priest should speak these prayers very clearly and slowly, so that the sponsors can hear and understand them and can also pray with the priest with one mind in their hearts, carrying before God the need of the little child with all earnestness, on the child\u2019s behalf setting themselves against the devil with all their strength, and demonstrating that they take seriously what is no joke to the devil.<\/p>\n

For this reason it is right and proper not to allow drunken and boorish priests to baptize nor to select good-for-nothings as godparents. Instead fine, moral, serious, upright priests and godparents ought to be chosen, who can be expected to treat the matter with seriousness and true faith, lest this high sacrament be abandoned to the devil\u2019s mockery and dishonor God, who in this sacrament showers upon us the vast and boundless riches of his grace. He himself calls it a \u201cnew birth,\u201d<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>50<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>through which we, being freed from the devil\u2019s tyranny and loosed from sin, death, and hell, become children of life, heirs of all God\u2019s possessions, God\u2019s own children, and brothers and sisters of Christ.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>51<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ah, dear Christians, let us not value or treat this unspeakable gift so half-heartedly. For baptism is our only comfort and the doorway to all of God\u2019s possessions and to the communion of all the saints. To this end may God help us. Amen.<\/p>\n

The baptizer shall say:<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>52<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDepart, you unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he shall make the sign of the cross on both the forehead and the breast and say:<\/p>\n

\u201cReceive the sign of the holy cross upon the forehead and the breast.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us pray.<\/p>\n

\u201cO almighty and eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I call to you on behalf of this, your servant, N., who asks for the gift of your baptism and desires your eternal grace through spiritual rebirth. Receive him,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>53<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>Lord, and as you have said, \u2018Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open for you,\u2019<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>54<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>so give now the blessing to him who asks and open the door to him who knocks on it, so that he may obtain the eternal blessing of this heavenly bath<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>55<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>and receive the promised kingdom you give through Christ our Lord. Amen.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us pray:<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmighty, eternal God, who according to your strict judgment condemned the unbelieving world through the flood and according to your great mercy preserved believing Noah and the seven members of his family, and who drowned Pharaoh with his army in the Red Sea and led your people Israel through the same sea on dry ground, thereby prefiguring this bath of your Holy Baptism, and who through the baptism of your dear child, our Lord Jesus Christ, hallowed and set apart the Jordan and all water to be a blessed flood and a rich washing away of sins: we ask for the sake of this very same boundless mercy of yours that you would look graciously upon N. and bless him with true faith in the Holy Spirit so that through this same saving flood all that has been born in him from Adam and whatever he has added thereto may be drowned in him and sink, and that he, separated from the number of the unbelieving, may be preserved dry and secure in the holy ark of the Christian church and may at all times fervent in spirit and joyful in hope serve your name, so that with all believers in your promise he may become worthy to attain eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI adjure you, you unclean spirit, in the name of the Father (+) and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit (+), that you come out of and depart from this servant of Jesus Christ,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>56<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>N. Amen.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us hear the holy Gospel of St. Mark:<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>57<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018And they brought little children to him that he might touch them. But the disciples threatened<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>58<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, he became indignant with them and said to them, \u201cLet the little children come to me and do not prevent them. For of such is the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter into it.\u201d And he hugged them and laid his hands on them and blessed them.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n

Then the priest shall lay his hands upon the child\u2019s head and pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer along with the kneeling sponsors:<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Father, you who are in heaven, hallowed be your name, may your kingdom come, may your will come about on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n

After this the little child shall be brought to the baptismal font<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>59<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>and the priest shall say:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from now and for evermore.\u201d<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>60<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then the priest shall let the child, through his sponsors, renounce the devil and say:<\/p>\n

\u201cN., do you renounce the devil?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all his works?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all his ways?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he shall ask:<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was born and suffered?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the community of saints,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>61<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and after death an eternal life?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want to be baptized?\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point he shall take the child and immerse it in the baptismal font and say:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the sponsors shall hold the little child over the font, and the priest, while putting the christening robe on the child, shall say:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given birth to you for a second time through water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with his grace to eternal life. Amen.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeace be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Answer: \u201cAmen.\u201d<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>62<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

1<\/a>47 <\/span><\/sup>The Baptismal Booklet, based on medieval baptismal rites, was originally published in 1523 (WA 12:42\u201348; <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 53:95\u2013103). In 1526 a second edition was prepared (WA 19:537\u201341; <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 53:106\u20139 with 101\u20133), which is the basis of the text here. It was included in the second edition of the <\/span>Small Catechism <\/i><\/span>published in 1529, in all subsequent editions published in Wittenberg during Luther\u2019s lifetime, and in some 1580 editions of the Book of Concord. This translation is based on <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 53.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>48 <\/span><\/sup>The italicized text is only found in the 1523 version and in the Book of Concord. The editions of the <\/span>Small Catechism <\/i><\/span>have simply \u201cthese things.\u201d In the Roman rite only the questions to the sponsors and their responses were not in Latin.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>49 <\/span><\/sup>Kinder heben:<\/i><\/span> literally, to draw children out of the font. See the order of service below. The sponsors are to hold the child over the font while the priest puts on the christening robe.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>50 <\/span><\/sup>John 3:3<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>, 5<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>51 <\/span><\/sup>Literally: \u201cbrethren.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>52 <\/span><\/sup>In the <\/span>Small Catechism <\/i><\/span>this section is accompanied by the same woodcut used before \u201cThe Sacrament of Holy Baptism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>53 <\/span><\/sup>Luther throughout uses the masculine pronoun for the one being baptized.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>54 <\/span><\/sup>Matthew 7:7<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>55 <\/span><\/sup>Titus 3:5<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>56 <\/span><\/sup>The sign of the cross was made three times over the child.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>57 <\/span><\/sup>Mark 10:13\u201316<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>. With the edition of 1536 the text matches the Luther Bible for the first time. Until then the text in the <\/span>Small Catechism <\/i><\/span>is a free rendering, perhaps based on the Latin Vulgate.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>58 <\/span><\/sup>The <\/span>Book of Concord <\/i><\/span>and the 1536 edition read: \u201cled away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>59 <\/span><\/sup>According to the medieval rite, the exorcisms would take place at the door of the church and the rest of the service at the baptismal font.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>60 <\/span><\/sup>Psalm 121:8<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>61 <\/span><\/sup>Literally: \u201cthe holy ones.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1<\/a>62 <\/span><\/sup>Various editions of the <\/span>Small Catechism <\/i><\/span>also add other material. Editions published in Wittenberg during Luther\u2019s lifetime included in 1529: <\/span>The German Litany<\/i><\/span> (WA 30\/3: 29\u201336; <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 53:163\u201369); in 1536, 1537, and 1539: the German <\/span>Te Deum<\/i><\/span> and the <\/span>Magnificat<\/i><\/span> (WA 35:458\u201359; <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 53:171\u201379); in 1543: <\/span>A Prayer against the Turks<\/i><\/span> (WA 51:608, 6\/24\u2013610, 15\/34; <\/span>LW<\/i><\/span> 43:232\u201333).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Baptismal Booklet: Translated into German and Newly Revised147 Martin Luther To all Christian readers: Grace and Peace in Christ our Lord. Because daily I see and hear with what carelessness and lack of solemnity\u2014to say nothing of out-and-out levity\u2014people treat the high, holy, and comforting sacrament of baptism for infants, in part caused, I … Continue reading The Baptismal Booklet<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":24,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-54","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P705gD-S","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55,"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions\/55"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.immanuelnyc.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}