Note sur le baptême par immersion unique en Hispanie

Abstract

The author argues that the baptismal rite in visigothic Spain performed with a single immersion was most certainly not a liturgical innovation against Arianism, as it is often heard, and despite the apologetical reasons given by the Spanish theologians of the time. Internal and external evidence point out on the contrary to an ancient and marginal custom preserved in the peninsula as well as in some Celtic churches. Thus, it would have remained unaltered in spite of the liturgical changes, along with some other well known liturgical archaic features. It would seem that the single immersion bears witness to the ancient custom of the Church before the triple immersion became normative at some very early stage.