Baptism Prayers: Catholic Prayers for a Baby and Godparents

Catholic baptism prayers surround a child, or an adult, on the day they are born again “of water and the Holy Ghost”: prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of new life, prayers for the parents and godparents who promise to raise the child in the faith, and blessings for the newly baptized. Below are a prayer for a baby being baptized, prayers for parents and godparents, a blessing to say after the baptism, a prayer for the anniversary of baptism, the Scripture behind the sacrament, and short wishes for baptism cards. For the ceremony itself, see our Catholic baptism guide.

A short baptism prayer, written for this page:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of (name).
Today, through the water of Baptism, make (name) your child, a member of your Church and a temple of your Spirit.
Keep (name) in your love all the days of their life. Amen.

A prayer for a baby being baptized

Written for this page.

Lord Jesus, you welcomed little children and blessed them.
Bless (name) on this day of Baptism.
Wash away original sin, fill (name) with your grace,
and let the light of faith received today shine brightly through all of life. Amen.

A prayer for parents

Lord, you have given us this child and entrusted (name) to our care.
Help us to be the first teachers of the faith: to pray with (name), to bring (name) to Mass,
and to show by our love what it means to follow Jesus. Amen.

A prayer for godparents

Lord, I have promised to help (name) live as a child of God.
Make me a faithful example and a constant friend,
and help me to keep (name) in my prayers every day. Amen.

A baptism blessing

After the baptism, parents and godparents can trace a cross on the child’s forehead and say:

May God the Father, who made you his child today, keep you in his love.
May Jesus, who called you by name, walk with you always.
May the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, make you holy. Amen.

Prayer on the anniversary of baptism

Many families celebrate the anniversary of baptism by lighting the baptismal candle:

Lord, on this day (year) I (name) was baptized and became your child.
Thank you for the gift of faith. Renew in me the grace of Baptism,
and help me to reject sin and live as a child of the light. Amen.

The prayer of the Baptism of the Lord

The prayer of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, from the 1916 daily missal:

O God, whose only begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh, grant, we beseech thee, that through him whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves, we may deserve to be inwardly made anew. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture on baptism

Jesus said (John 3:5, Douay-Rheims):

Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The command to baptize (Matthew 28:19–20, Douay-Rheims):

Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

St. Paul (Galatians 3:27, Douay-Rheims):

For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ.

The promise of new water and a new heart (Ezechiel 36:25–26, Douay-Rheims):

And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you from all your idols.
And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.

Wishes for baptism cards

“May God bless and protect you on your baptism day and always.”
“Welcome to the family of God! May the light of Christ shine in your life.”
“May you grow in faith, hope and love, surrounded by those who love you.”
“On your baptism day we thank God for the gift of your life. You are in our prayers.”

Emergency baptism

In danger of death, anyone can baptize. From the Baltimore Catechism:

Pour common water on the head or face of the person to be baptized, and say while pouring it:

“I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

N.B. Any person of either sex who has reached the use of reason can baptize in case of necessity, but the same person must say the words while pouring the water.

Frequently asked questions

What prayer is said at a Catholic baptism?

The priest or deacon prays the Church’s prayers of the rite, including the blessing of the water, the renunciation of sin and profession of faith, and the words of baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

What can godparents say at a baptism?

Godparents answer the questions of the rite with the parents and profess the faith. They can also pray the godparent’s prayer above for their godchild.

What should I write in a baptism card?

A short blessing and a promise of prayer, such as “May God bless and protect you on your baptism day and always.”

More sacrament pages

Texts and sources

The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), Baptism of the Lord (Octave of the Epiphany), Collect, public domain (archive.org).
Lay baptism, Baltimore Catechism No. 1 (1885/1891), public domain (Project Gutenberg #14551).
John 3:5; Matthew 28:19–20; Galatians 3:27; Ezechiel 36:25–26 (Douay-Rheims).