Q: I have been trying to recall whether the Rite for Baptism includes an option of placing salt in the tongue. I pretty sure that before the council it did. Does the present rite offer it? Does the revised rite?
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A: The preconciliar rite of baptism had the priest address salt, exorcize it, and ask God to sanctify it. He then addressed the child as he placed the “salt of wisdom” on the child’s tongue.
The postconciliar orders of baptism omit the use of salt.
However, the blessing and sprinkling of water in the introductory rites of the mass include the option of blessing salt and adding it to the water. The mixture of water and salt is to repulse every act of the “enemy”, namely of Satan.