

And after his renunciation let him in his consociation say: 'And I associate myself to Christ and believe and am baptized into one unbegotten being'", etc. It is as follows: "Let therefore the candidate for baptism declare thus in his renunciation: 'I renounce Satan and his works and his pomps and his worship and his angels and his inventions and all things that are under him'.

The form of this renunciation a found in the Apostolic Constitutions (VIII, 4) has a quaint interest. Tertullian, in his "De Coronâ", appears to hint at a twofold renunciation as common in his time, one which was made at the moment of baptism and another made sometime before, and publicly in the church, in the presence of the bishop. Basil says this tradition ascends from the Apostles. Basil among the Greeks are at one in reckoning it as a usage which, although not explicitly warranted in the Scriptures, is nevertheless consecrated by a venerable tradition. The practice of demanding and making this formal renunciation seems to go back to the very beginnings of organized Christian worship. According to the Roman Ritual, at present in use, three questions are to be addressed to the person to be baptized, as follows: "Dost thou renounce Satan? and all his works? and all his pomps?" To each of these interrogation the person, or the sponsor in his name, replies: "I do renounce". It is obvious that these promises have not the theological import of vows properly so called. In the case of infant baptism, they are made in the name of the child by the sponsors. The name popularly given to the renunciations required of an adult candidate for baptism just before the sacrament is conferred. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more all for only $19.99.
KEVIN OIKON FULL
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