Abrenuntiatio diaboli

The Abrenuntiatio diaboli (Latin for “rejection of the devil”, “renunciation of evil”) is part of baptism in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches . It is attested as an early Christian rite and was also retained by the Lutheran Reformation.

The Catholic baptismal liturgy has three forms. The donor of the baptism turns to the baptismal applicants or, in the case of small children, to their parents and godparents and asks:

I. Do you resist evil in order to live in the freedom of God's children? - I disagree.
Do you resist the temptations of evil lest it gain power over you? - I disagree.
Do you oppose Satan, the author of evil? - I disagree.

or

II. Do you oppose Satan? - I disagree.
And all of his malice? - I disagree.
And all its temptations? - I disagree.

or

III. Do you oppose Satan and all the temptations of evil? - I disagree.

Then follow, also in question form, the contents of the creed with the three-fold answer "I believe."

The same rite is also part of the solemn renewal of the baptismal promise in the celebration of Easter Vigil , at First Communion , at Confirmation and on other occasions. The meaning of the rite emerges from Matthew 4: 1–11  EU , where Jesus Christ , immediately after his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan, rejects Satan: “Get away from me!” He who was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is taken into its no to the life-destroying power.