Baptism Question

[MissScripture]

On the way to my son's baptism, we were driving through snow and I told my husband to be careful, because our son hadn't been baptized yet. He said it wasn't a huge problem, because we intended to get our son baptized and I said that Father hadn't taught him how to do an emergency baptism for nothing, and we didn't have any water with to use for a baptism. My husband said he would just melt some snow in his hands to make water. That caused me to wonder, would he need to melt the snow in order to baptize someone, or could you baptize someone with snow, since it is frozen water?

[cappie]

For valid baptism to occur, the Catholic Church requires proper matter, form and intention. The proper matter is “true and natural water.” The proper form requires the minister to pour, completely immerse in, or sprinkle water upon the candidate, while saying the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The minister of baptism must intend to baptize as the Church intends

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and the Rite of Baptism for Children (RCIC) provide the norms for lawful baptism in the Catholic Church. These rites allow for two options in the method: immersion or the pouring of water. If a candidate is baptized by immersion, “The celebrant, immersing the candidate’s whole body or head three times, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity.” If a child is baptized by pouring, “The celebrant, taking baptismal water and pouring it three times on the candidate’s bowed head, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity.”

So the candidate must be either immersed, or the water must be poured. So you would have to melt the snow to be able to pour the water.