Renewal of Baptismal Promises
This renewal of the baptismal promises is a pious and salutary exercise, recommended to be made on the anniversary of one’s baptism, or on the eve of the New Year, or in time of retreat or special devotion. It is a powerful means to reanimate our faith and to rekindle in our hearts the grace of the sacrament by which we were made children of God and heirs of heaven.
The Renunciation of Sin
V. Dost thou renounce Satan?
R. I do renounce him.
V. And all his works?
R. I do renounce them.
V. And all his pomps?
R. I do renounce them.
The Profession of Faith
V. Dost thou believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do believe.
V. Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born, and who suffered?
R. I do believe.
V. Dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R. I do believe.
Concluding Prayer
O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast regenerated us by water and the Holy Ghost, and who hast given unto us the remission of all our sins, preserve us by Thy grace in the same Jesus Christ our Lord, unto life everlasting. Amen.
Contexte Historique
The Renewal of Baptismal Promises is a devotional practice rooted in the very rite of Baptism itself. Since the early Church, the catechumen (or their sponsors) has been required to renounce Satan and profess faith in the Blessed Trinity before receiving the sacrament. This formula, traditionally performed during the Easter Vigil for the whole congregation, became a private devotion for the faithful to reaffirm their baptismal vows. It serves as a powerful reminder of one’s identity as a child of God, a rejection of evil, and a conscious recommitment to the Catholic faith into which one was incorporated at the font.