What happened in Medieval baptisms?

Answer 1

Baptism was considered to be extremely important in the medieval period and steps were taken to ensure that every newborn child was baptised immediately it was born.

In some situations, where no priest was available and the baby was in danger of dying, the village midwife was allowed to perform the baptism herself despite not being part of the clergy. If the mother died in childbirth, the midwife was supposed to cut her open and extract the baby so that she could baptise it. Chaplains who staffed chapels were not usually permitted to perform marriages or burials, but they had the authority to perform baptisms.

Babies were generally baptised on the day they were born - without the mother present, since she was considered unclean for some time after childbirth. Godparents would be carefully chosen and they had genuine input into the welfare and upbringing of the child.

Baptisms normally took place at the rear of the church nave (the people's section of the church), at a large stone font. These fonts were made in various styles and were usually carved with symbolic images including dragons, arches and braid patterns.

The south door (the main entrance) and the smaller north door were kept wide open - the south door for the admittance of the Holy Spirit and the north door for the exit of the demons who would be cast out during the service. The north side of the church was considered the property of the Devil - only suicides, heretics, criminals and strangers to the parish would be buried there.

People were not allowed to pay for services such as baptism, but there was a tradition of making a small financial offering in cash to the altar (which was effectively the same as paying the priest); this helped to ensure that God would protect the child throughout life.

Unlike most modern baptisms, Holy oil (the "primary unction") was used instead of water.

The priest would meet the baptismal party at the church door. Here he would ask if the child had been baptised yet and whether it was a boy or a girl. Next he would bless the baby, put salt in its mouth to represent the reception of wisdom, and exorcise any demons (who left via the north door). Then he would test the godparents' knowledge of the prayers they were expected to teach the child: the Pater Noster, Credo, and Ave Maria.

Now the party entered the church and proceeded to the baptismal font. The priest would anoint the child, immerse him in the font, and give his name. One of the godparents would raise the baby up from the water and wrap him in a christening gown. The gown, or crysom, was made of pure white linen and might be decorated with embroidery; less wealthy families might use a borrowed one. The last part of the ceremony took place at the altar, where the godparents made the profession of faith for the child. The participants would then all return to the parents' house for a celebration meal.