Baptism in the "name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier"...

... isn't really baptism, as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has made explicitly clear in a response to the question: "Is a Baptism valid if conferred with the words 'I baptise you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier', or 'I baptise you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer'"? From the Vatican News Service:

  "Baptism conferred in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit", the note continues, "obeys Jesus' command as it appears at the end of the Gospel of St. Matthew. ... The baptismal formula must be an adequate expression of Trinitarian faith, approximate formulae are unacceptable.

  "Variations to the baptismal formula - using non-biblical designations of the Divine Persons - as considered in this reply, arise from so-called feminist theology", being an attempt "to avoid using the words Father and Son which are held to be chauvinistic, substituting them with other names. Such variants, however, undermine faith in the Trinity".

  "The response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith constitutes an authentic doctrinal declaration, which has wide-ranging canonical and pastoral effects. Indeed, the reply implicitly affirms that people who have been baptised, or who will in the future be baptised, with the formulae in question have, in reality, not been baptised. Hence, they must them be treated for all canonical and pastoral purposes with the same juridical criteria as people whom the Code of Canon Law places in the general category of 'non- baptised'".

Dr. Ed Peters has blogged about this issue before (in 2004), and has a post on it today. Read it here.

The American Papist provides further background and commentary.

And here is an excellent resource for teaching/learning about the sacrament of baptism:

Living Water | Understanding the Gift of New Life through Baptism

Not many of us consider our baptismal "birthday" as the most significant day in our lives. Yet what could be more important than receiving the sacrament that Jesus said was necessary for our salvation?

Many of us have been baptized without ever coming to understand its reality and meaning, and we, in turn, baptize our children with our eyes still veiled to the eternal significance of this important sacrament.

The Living Water Leader's Guide/Participant's Workbook cover and teach:

• the origin, purpose, and significance of the sacrament of Baptism
• how this holy sacrament was instituted by Jesus as the means through which we are incorporated into his family, the Church
• about the permanent effect that Baptism has upon our souls, and how it heals us of sin and empowers us to live a Christian life, and
• review the Rite of Baptism itself, and consider the deeper meaning of the words, symbols, and gestures.

• Living Water Leader's Guide
• Living Water Participant's Workbook

Learn more about the Catholic Faith Explorers series, which is published by Ignatius Press in cooperation with Ave Maria University.

Comments

[LJ]

I would have been astonished had the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith done anything other than it did.

[MenTaLguY]

I'm always glad to see them do their thing so clearly and emphatically, though. It's good to see that Levada is working out.

[Fr Alvin Kimel]

A young woman knocks on the door of a Lutheran pastor, introduces herself as a member of a neighboring congregation, and tells the clergyman:

"My pastor baptized my baby last Sunday in the name of 'the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.' Is my baby going to hell?"

"No my dear," the pastor replied, "but your pastor most certainly is!"

[Roger H.]

Another instance where the CDF confirms the truism that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. ;)

[Chris]

I began hearing the Trinity referred to as Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier many years ago in the United Congregational Church to which I belonged and it always made me uneasy, though I couldn't pinpoint why. Thankfully, the senior pastor always baptised with the traditional formula. As a self-described 'middle of the road Christian', he was uncomfortable with where the 'feminist-leftist' agenda was taking things. So my three children were baptised properly, so to speak.

In 2000, I had the priviledge of hearing Scott Hahn speak at Columbia University's Newman Club one evening and the entire talk revolved around the Trinity. He said something that finally explained my uneasiness.

He said the problem with substituting Creater, Redeemer and Sanctifer for Father, Son and Holy Spirit was that rather than illuminate our understanding, it truncates it and cripples our understanding of who we are through Baptism. The key is that in using this politically correct formula, we are not naming God for who He is from all eternity but for what He has done for us in history. And while what He has done for us in history is important, it does not get at the essence of who God is. And the latter is important, if we are to understand who we are when baptised as children of God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit is God's family name from all eternity and as His children we receive His name at Baptism or we should as we become adopted children. And how do we know we are His children? It is no different than for one's biological children.

We are called by His name...which we receive in the orthodox Trinitarian formula

We live in His house...the Church

We eat at His table...the table of the Lord

We share His very life, family life (in human terms DNA) in the Eucharist received at the table.

His bride is our mother...the Church

He disciplines us, wanting what is best for us

We share family life, we are always celebrating together...at Mass, Feast Days, births/baptisms, marriages etc.

I played the tape, which was never available outside that night, so many times it finally broke. I may not remember it all as eloquently as he said it, but you get the idea. When you look at it that way, the entire faith is turned upside down when the baptismal formula is changed.

[rd]

How about "Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit"? A female undergraduate student ended a very Mass-like Communion service at Seattle U with a blessing that used that formula. It must have been a test of some sort, because there was a Jesuit priest in non-clerical garb sitting in the pews taking notes as the student conducted the service.

[joseph]

baptism is a sacrament,but it is also a covenant covenants are made between persons not attributes

[Bosco Peters]

Here's a suggestion about baptism in the name of a gender-neutral Trinity:

http://www.liturgy.co.nz/worship/matters_files/baptism20080307.html

[Bosco Peters]

The saga continues as the chancellor in the Brisbane RC archdiocese confuses the many many there whom the Vatican has now declared are not baptised
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/worship/matters_files/brisbanebaptism20080311.html