The liturgy of infants’ Baptism between the VI and IX centuries

Abstract

The article presents the Baptismal rites which are included in two ancient ritual books with instructions for the liturgy of infants’ Baptism between the VI and IX centuries. These liturgical books are the Gelasian sacramentary and the Ordo Romanus XI. From the VI century there had been a change in the baptismal practice of the Church. Due to a vast increase in the number of infants’ Baptisms, the catechumenate institution was no longer needed, since it had served the purpose of instructing candidates for the reception of the Sacraments of Christian initiation. The liturgical books which preserved the overall structure of the former catechumenate now included clear instructions, prayers and rites which referred directly to small children. It has to be emphasized, though, that in spite of many suggested adaptations, the attempt to create rites which would adequately address the actual situation of a baptized child were unsuccessful. The article also includes a short presentation of the ancient Church’s teaching on the Baptism of infants.