Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Objection 1: It seems that in Baptism it is not necessary for someone to raise the baptized from the sacred font. For our Baptism is consecrated by Christ's Baptism and is conformed thereto. But Christ when baptized was not raised by anyone from the font, but according to Mt. 3:16, "Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water." Therefore it seems that neither when others are baptized should anyone raise the baptized from the sacred font.

Objection 2: Further, Baptism is a spiritual regeneration, as stated above (Article 3). But in carnal generation nothing else is required but the active principle, i.e. the father, and the passive principle, i.e. the mother. Since, then, in Baptism he that baptizes takes the place of the father, while the very water of Baptism takes the place of the mother, as Augustine says in a sermon on the Epiphany (cxxxv); it seems that there is no further need for someone to raise the baptized from the sacred font.

Objection 3: Further, nothing ridiculous should be observed in the sacraments of the Church. But it seems ridiculous that after being baptized, adults who can stand up of themselves and leave the sacred font, should be held up by another. Therefore there seems no need for anyone, especially in the Baptism of adults, to raise the baptized from the sacred font.

On the contrary, Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii) that "the priests taking the baptized hand him over to his sponsor and guide."

I answer that, The spiritual regeneration, which takes place in Baptism, is in a certain manner likened to carnal generation: wherefore it is written (1 Pt. 2:2): "As new-born babes, endowed with reason desire milk without guile." Now, in carnal generation the new-born child needs nourishment and guidance: wherefore, in spiritual generation also, someone is needed to undertake the office of nurse and tutor by forming and instructing one who is yet a novice in the Faith, concerning things pertaining to Christian faith and mode of life, which the clergy have not the leisure to do through being busy with watching over the people generally: because little children and novices need more than ordinary care. Consequently someone is needed to receive the baptized from the sacred font as though for the purpose of instructing and guiding them. It is to this that Dionysius refers (Eccl. Hier. xi) saying: "It occurred to our heavenly guides," i.e. the Apostles, "and they decided, that infants should be taken charge of thus: that the parents of the child should hand it over to some instructor versed in holy things, who would thenceforth take charge of the child, and be to it a spiritual father and a guide in the road of salvation."

Reply to Objection 1: Christ was baptized not that He might be regenerated, but that He might regenerate others: wherefore after His Baptism He needed no tutor like other children.

Reply to Objection 2: In carnal generation nothing is essential besides a father and a mother: yet to ease the latter in her travail, there is need for a midwife; and for the child to be suitably brought up there is need for a nurse and a tutor: while their place is taken in Baptism by him who raises the child from the sacred font. Consequently this is not essential to the sacrament, and in a case of necessity one alone can baptize with water.

Reply to Objection 3: It is not on account of bodily weakness that the baptized is raised from the sacred font by the godparent, but on account of spiritual weakness, as stated above.

Articulus 7

Argumentum 1

Ad septimum sic proceditur. Videtur quod in baptismo non requiratur aliquis qui baptizatum de sacro fonte levet. Baptismus enim noster per baptismum christi consecratur, et ei conformatur.

Sed christus baptizatus non est ab aliquo de fonte susceptus, sed, sicut dicitur Matth. III, baptizatus iesus confestim ascendit de aqua.

Ergo videtur quod nec in aliorum baptismo requiratur aliquis qui baptizatum de sacro fonte suscipiat.

Argumentum 2

Praeterea, baptismus est spiritualis regeneratio, ut supra dictum est.

Sed in carnali generatione non requiritur nisi principium activum, quod est pater, et principium passivum, quod est mater.

Cum igitur in baptismo locum patris obtineat ille qui baptizat, locum autem matris ipsa aqua baptismi, ut Augustinus dicit, in quodam sermone epiphaniae; videtur quod non requiratur aliquis alius qui baptizatum de sacro fonte levet.

Argumentum 3

Praeterea, in sacramentis ecclesiae nihil derisorium fieri debet.

Sed hoc derisorium videtur, quod adulti baptizati, qui seipsos sustentare possunt et de sacro fonte exire, ab alio suscipiantur.

Ergo videtur quod non requiratur aliquis, praecipue in baptismo adultorum, qui baptizatum de sacro fonte levet.

Sed Contra

Sed contra est quod dionysius dicit, II cap. Eccl. Hier., quod sacerdotes, assumentes baptizatum, tradunt adductionis susceptori et duci.

Corpus

Respondeo dicendum quod spiritualis regeneratio, quae fit per baptismum, assimilatur quodammodo generationi carnali, unde dicitur I Pet. II, sicut modo geniti infantes rationabiles sine dolo lac concupiscite.

In generatione autem carnali parvulus nuper natus indiget nutrice et paedagogo. Unde et in spirituali generatione baptismi requiritur aliquis qui fungatur vice nutricis et paedagogi, informando et instruendo eum qui est novitius in fide, de his quae pertinent ad fidem et ad vitam christianam, ad quod praelati ecclesiae vacare non possunt, circa communem curam populi occupati, parvuli enim et novitii indigent speciali cura praeter communem. Et ideo requiritur quod aliquis suscipiat baptizatum de sacro fonte quasi in suam instructionem et tutelam.

Et hoc est quod dionysius dicit, ult. Cap. Eccl. Hier., divinis nostris ducibus, idest apostolis, ad mentem venit et visum est suscipere infantes secundum istum modum quod parentes pueri traderent puerum cuidam docto in divinis paedagogo, et reliquum sub ipso puer ageret, sicut sub divino patre et salvationis sanctae susceptore.

Ad 1

Ad primum ergo dicendum quod christus non est baptizatus ut ipse regeneraretur, sed ut alios regeneraret. Et ideo ipse post baptismum non indiguit paedagogo tanquam parvulus.

Ad 2

Ad secundum dicendum quod in generatione carnali non requiritur ex necessitate nisi pater et mater, sed ad facilem partum, et educationem pueri convenientem, requiritur obstetrix et nutrix et paedagogus. Quorum vicem implet in baptismo ille qui puerum de sacro fonte levat. Unde non est de necessitate sacramenti, sed unus solus potest in aqua baptizare, necessitate imminente.

Ad 3

Ad tertium dicendum quod baptizatus non suscipitur a patrino de sacro fonte propter imbecillitatem corporalem, sed propter imbecillitatem spiritualem, ut dictum est.