Bible Encyclopedias
Spittle in Baptism

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Spittle

Next Entry
Spittler, Louis Timotheus von

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

in the Roman Catholic Church, is that part of the ceremony of baptism which follows the "sign of the cross." The priest recites an exorcism, touching with a little spittle the ears and nostrils of the person to be baptized, and saying, "Ephphatha; that is, Be thou opened into an odor of sweetness; but be thou put to flight, O devil, for the judgment of God will be at hand." This ceremony is taken from the example of Jesus when he cured the deaf and dumb man (Mark 7:33). See Elliot, Delineation of Romanism, p. 125.