We complete the General Introduction to Christian Baptism with two brief sections discussing how the minister of baptism should use the rite:
34. Taking into account existing circumstances and other needs, as well as the wishes of the faithful, the minister should make full use of the various options allowed in the rite.
35. In addition to the adaptations that are provided in the Roman Ritual for the dialogue and blessings, the minister may make other adaptations for special circumstances. These adaptations will be indicated more fully in the Introductions to the rites of baptism for adults and for children.
And starting in the next post, we’ll move to the 35-section introduction for RCIA proper. Keep in mind that this whole rite is designed for folks thinking a bit beyond “say the black; do the red.” Good ministers must judge between many possible options that will help the rite work well for different parishes, different cultures, different individuals, and various needs and situations.
