Preliminary communication

https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.95.4.5

Baptism and Speech Acts

David Grčki orcid.org/0000-0001-9068-5995 ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Ema Luna Lalić orcid.org/0009-0006-0313-7477 ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

This paper explores baptism as a speech act, linking J L Austin’s classic theory of speech acts with H P Grice’s pragmatic intentionalist tradition, and considering contemporary sacramental issues. In the first part, the authors analyse Austin’s conventionalism and its felicity conditions, with particular emphasis on infelicities, demonstrating how the strictly prescribed liturgical formula provides a necessary conventional framework for baptism. In the second part, conventionalism is contrasted with Grice’s intentionalist theory, in which the speaker’s intention, recognized by the audience, constitutes the basis of communicative success. The third part of the paper focuses on the case of Pastor Andres Arango, whose baptisms were proclaimed invalid for using the pronoun »we« instead of »I«. Through the analysis of this case, we establish that baptism succeeds only if both conventional (e g, appropriate formula, authorized speaker) and intentional conditions (e g, the priest’s intention to allow Christ to act through him) are simultaneously met. We conclude that sacramental speech operates in accordance with the »double condition« model, in which institutional norms and inner intention mutually support each other. This model provides a methodological framework for further research on other sacraments and ritual speech acts, and points to the practical consequences of conventional correctness or intentional appropriateness in the liturgical practice.

Keywords

baptism; sacraments; speech acts; convention; intention

Hrčak ID:

343709

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/343709

Publication date:

23.1.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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