eto. But Christ
when baptized was not raised by anyone from the font, but according
to Matt. 3:16, "Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the
water." Therefore it seems that neither when others are baptized
should anyone raise the baptized from the sacred font.

Obj. 2: Further, Baptism is a spiritual regeneration, as stated above
(A. 3). But in carnal generation nothing else is required but the
active principle, i.e. the father, and the passive principle, i.e.
the mother. Since, then, in Baptism he that baptizes takes the place
of the father, while the very water of Baptism takes the place of the
mother, as Augustine says in a sermon on the Epiphany (cxxxv); it
seems that there is no further need for someone to raise the baptized
from the sacred font.

Obj. 3: Further, nothing ridiculous should be observed in the
sacraments of the Church. But it seems ridiculous that after being
baptized, adults who can stand up of themselves and leave the sacred
font, should be held up by another. Therefore there seems no need for
anyone, especially in the Baptism of adults, to raise the baptized
from the sacred font.

_On the contrary,_ Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. ii) that "the priests
taking the baptized hand him over to his sponsor and guide."

_I answer that,_ The spiritual regeneration, which takes place in
Baptism, is in a certain manner likened to carnal generation:
wherefore it is written (1 Pet. 2:2): "As new-born babes, endowed
with reason desire milk [Vulg.: 'desire reasonable milk'] without
guile." Now, in carnal generation the new-born child needs
nourishment and guidance: wherefore, in spiritual generation also,
someone is needed to undertake the office of nurse and tutor by
forming and instructing one who is yet a novice in the Faith,
concerning things pertaining to Christian faith and mode of life,
which the clergy have not the leisure to do through being busy with
watching over the people generally: because little children and
novices need more than ordinary care. Consequently someone is needed
to receive the baptized from the sacred font as though for the
purpose of instructing and guiding them. It is to this that Dionysius
refers (Eccl. Hier. xi) saying: "It occurred to our heavenly guides,"
i.e. the Apostles, "and they decided, that infants should be taken
charge of thus: that the parents of the child should hand it over to
some instructor versed in holy things, who would thenceforth take
charge of the