I noticed there was a lack of the 'Trinitarian formula (i.e. "I Baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit)' in the Baptisms. Was this normal in the 9th century England, or was it just a goof on the part of the makers of the show? Anyone know?
Thanks so much!
I all but guarantee you that it is an oversight. Catholics have been using the Trinitarian formula for nearly 2000 years.
"After the foregoing instructions, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. If you have no living water, then baptize in other water, and if you are not able in cold, then in warm. If you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Before baptism, let the one baptizing and the one to be baptized fast, as also any others who are able. Command the one who is to be baptized to fast beforehand for one or two days" (Didache 7:1 [A.D. 70]).
In fact, the Bible explicitly commands it:
"make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).
Given that the majority of this series in heavily edited history with a very strong bias against Catholics, it would not surprise me that they are ignorant of the Church's practices. Bernard Cornwell has a wonderful habit of turning venerated Saints into the greatest of all villains and turning deplorable rapists and murderers into heroes.