Treatise on the Sacraments
Question. 67 - OF THE MINISTERS BY WHOM THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM IS CONFERRED (EIGHT ARTICLES)
We have now to consider the ministers by whom the sacrament of Baptism
is conferred. And concerning this there are eight points of inquiry:
(1) Whether it belongs to a deacon to baptize?
(2) Whether this belongs to a priest, or to a bishop only?
(3) Whether a layman can confer the sacrament of Baptism?
(4) Whether a woman can do this?
(5) Whether an unbaptized person can baptize?
(6) Whether several can at the same time baptize one and the same
person?
(7) Whether it is essential that someone should raise the person
baptized from the sacred font?
(8) Whether he who raises someone from the sacred font is bound to
instruct him?
Art. 1 - Whether it is part of a deacon's duty to baptize?
Objection 1: It seems that it is part of a deacon's duty to baptize. Because the duties of preaching and of baptizing were enjoined by our Lord at the same time, according to Mat. 28:19: "Going . . . teach ye all nations, baptizing them," etc. But it is part of a deacon's duty to preach the gospel. Therefore it seems that it is also part of a deacon's duty to baptize.
Objection 2: Further, according to Dionysius (Eccl. Hier. v) to
"cleanse" is part of the deacon's duty. But cleansing from sins is
effected specially by Baptism, according to Eph. 5:26: "Cleansing it by
the laver of water in the word of life." Therefore it seems that it
belongs to a deacon to baptize.
Objection 3: Further, it is told of Blessed Laurence, who was a deacon, that he baptized many. Therefore it seems that it belongs to deacons to baptize.
On the contrary, Pope Gelasius I says (the passage is to be found in
the Decrees, dist. 93): "We order the deacons to keep within their own
province"; and further on: "Without bishop or priest they must not dare
to baptize, except in cases of extreme urgency, when the aforesaid are
a long way off."
I answer that, Just as the properties and duties of the heavenly orders
are gathered from their names, as Dionysius says (Coel. Hier. vi), so
can we gather, from the names of the ecclesiastical orders, what
belongs to each order. Now "deacons" are so called from being
"ministers"; because, to wit, it is not in the deacon's province to be
the chief and official celebrant in conferring a sacrament, but to
minister to others, his elders, in the sacramental dispensations. And
so it does not belong to a deacon to confer the sacrament of Baptism
officially as it were; but to assist and serve his elders in the
bestowal of this and other sacraments. Hence Isidore says (Epist. ad
Ludifred.): "It is a deacon's duty to assist and serve the priests, in
all the rites of Christ's sacraments, viz. those of Baptism, of the
Chrism, of the Paten and Chalice."
Reply to Objection 1: It is the deacon's duty to read the Gospel in
church, and to preach it as one catechizing; hence Dionysius says
(Eccl. Hier. v) that a deacon's office involves power over the unclean
among whom he includes the catechumens. But to teach, i.e. to expound
the Gospel, is the proper office of a bishop, whose action is "to
perfect," as Dionysius teaches (Eccl. Hier. v); and "to perfect" is the
same as "to teach." Consequently, it does not follow that the office of
baptizing belongs to deacons.
Reply to Objection 2: As Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii), Baptism has a
power not only of "cleansing" but also of "enlightening." Consequently, it is outside the province of the deacon whose duty it is to cleanse only: viz. either by driving away the unclean, or by preparing them for the reception of a sacrament.
Reply to Objection 3: Because Baptism is a necessary sacrament, deacons
are allowed to baptize in cases of urgency when their elders are not at
hand; as appears from the authority of Gelasius quoted above. And it
was thus that Blessed Laurence, being but a deacon, baptized.
Art. 2 - Whether to baptize is part of the priestly office, or proper to that of bishops?