When Should You Baptize?

[Basilisa Marie]

Blah double post. 

Edited April 22, 2013 by Basilisa Marie

[Apotheoun]

I can't help but note the Old Testament roots of that. Do they do eight days for men and forty for women, or is this gender-neutral and depends on which Eastern Church?

Most common forty days is done for both boys and girls. The Churching of the mother and child are done at the same time.

[Lilllabettt]

My mom had twins her first go round as a parent, so she had terrible nerves about us falling and hitting our heads and dying unbaptized. So one day while she was giving me and my sister a wash, she baptized us in the bathtub. She told no one and went through with the "real" baptism at the local parish in case the one she did "didn't take."  Mom was/is not a theologian.

 

By the time she got to #4, my brother, she was more relaxed, and he was pushing like 6 months when he got his. She just drove up with us to St  Patricks in NYC and demanded they baptize him. They said, "um no, not how it works." There was an incredible scene.  So ... they did it quick, and they just grabbed some random seminarian who was there to be the godfather. No one says no to Mom.

 

 

[Slappo]

Families are different. I know mine is spread out all across the country AND would make a HUGE stink about not being present for my potential future child's baptism. It doesn't seem like waiting a couple of extra weeks is going to make any difference at all in the grad scheme of things. If my kid was having complications and was in danger of death, I'd get him or her baptized. Otherwise I'm in the "wait until your family can get there" camp. 

 

Technically the norm in the Church is still adult baptism. So... yeah. 

 

Umm??? Source for that? Canon law requires parents have infants baptized.

 

A few weeks doesn't make a difference unless your kid gets SIDS and dies in the middle of the night. No opportunity to baptize in danger of death if you wake up and the child is already dead. Or if your child gets into a car crash on the way to a doctor's appointment. Or any number of possible things that could cause an infant to die very early and very quickly without an opportunity for baptism in danger of death. Yes those things are somewhat rare. No they are not fun to talk about, but when talking about the immortal soul of a child whom you are responsible for you have to take them into consideration.

 

The spiritual wellbeing of my children far outweighs the emotional well being of my extended family.

[Apotheoun]

I like the Eastern Christian practice, which is to give all the mysteries of initiation (Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion) to the child at the same time, so that he is a fully initiated Christian as a baby. Plus then the child can be given communion from infancy onwards.

[PhuturePriest]

My mom had twins her first go round as a parent, so she had terrible nerves about us falling and hitting our heads and dying unbaptized. So one day while she was giving me and my sister a wash, she baptized us in the bathtub. She told no one and went through with the "real" baptism at the local parish in case the one she did "didn't take."  Mom was/is not a theologian.

 

By the time she got to #4, my brother, she was more relaxed, and he was pushing like 6 months when he got his. She just drove up with us to St  Patricks in NYC and demanded they baptize him. They said, "um no, not how it works." There was an incredible scene.  So ... they did it quick, and they just grabbed some random seminarian who was there to be the godfather. No one says no to Mom.

 

Your mother sounds like an interesting woman.

[Apotheoun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l09khpR4XVk

 

[Archaeology cat]

I like the Eastern Christian practice, which is to give all the mysteries of initiation (Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion) to the child at the same time, so that he is a fully initiated Christian as a baby. Plus then the child can be given communion from infancy onwards.

So do I.

Kieran was 2 months old when baptised. He was born at the beginning of Advent. Our parish had 1 priest, and he actually oversaw 3 parishes. He asked us to let him get through Christmas. If I were to do it over, I might've spoken to a priest I knew at the Cathedral to see if he'd do it.

Charlotte was 3 weeks old, I think. She was born the day before Palm Sunday. We had to schedule in advance, and that's when Deacon could do it (different parish run by Benedictines).

Leo was 6 weeks. We again had to schedule in advance, and then he was born at 38w1d instead of closer to his EDD. The baptism wouldve been a week earlier had my husband not been out of town. We were lucky, though, in that he was baptised in December, because now my parish does baptisms en masse once a month.

For each, we told people the date and if they made it fine, if not, fine. My first two were born in England (we're from the US), so not many came. My parents aren't Catholic and didnt care as much. My husband's parents planned to be there each time, but missed Charlotte's due to the Icelandic volcano. Godparents made it each time, but I didn't see that as imperative. I was unable to attend my godson's baptism, actually.

[Apotheoun]

I really do not understand holding off the Mysteries of Initiation, because today more than ever before I really think that small children could use the infusion of grace that comes with the Holy Mysteries, and especially with the frequent reception of Holy Communion.

[GeorgiiMichael]

I really do not understand holding off the Mysteries of Initiation, because today more than ever before I really think that small children could use the infusion of grace that comes with the Holy Mysteries, and especially with the frequent reception of Holy Communion.

 

I tend to agree with this sentiment. Although there are some benefits to waiting. For example, I worked as a Youth Minister this past year, and a majority of my high school students were going through confirmation classes, preparing for their confirmation that happened in March. The rules that my diocese has in place for the sacraments (First Holy Communion and Confirmation) is that the students have 1 year of religious ed. prior to the year of their sacrament and 1 other year while preparing for their sacrament, in addition to specific sacrament classes. These kids had such poor catechesis at home, that most of their religious education came from these programs that the parish offered. If these kids had received all of their sacraments at birth, it's unlikely that they would have gotten any sort of catechesis. And while 4 years minimum isn't a lot, it's certainly better than none.

 

If children got good catechesis at home, I would definitely prefer the way that the East distributes the sacraments. If only we lived in such a world.

[Guest Sojonur]

Interesting question. It was once believed that not being baptized really threatened one's salvation, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I would personally do it as soon as possible based on what our Lord said, as per current teaching though seems it's not essential to baptize immediately. 

[PhuturePriest]

Interesting question. It was once believed that not being baptized really threatened one's salvation, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I would personally do it as soon as possible based on what our Lord said, as per current teaching though seems it's not essential to baptize immediately. 

 

Where did you get that idea? The Church holds that baptism is necessary for salvation. But God can work around it if need be.

[Guest Sojonur]

Where did you get that idea? The Church holds that baptism is necessary for salvation. But God can work around it if need be.

 

Unbaptized infants go to heaven despite being born with original sin, so the traditional motive for early baptism is no longer there. 

[PhuturePriest]

Unbaptized infants go to heaven despite being born with original sin, so the traditional motive for early baptism is no longer there. 

 

The Church has never said this. We hope that this is what happens, but the Church has never infallibly declared this. Which is why baptism is still necessary for infants.

Edited April 23, 2013 by FuturePriest387

[Nihil Obstat]

Unbaptized infants go to heaven despite being born with original sin, so the traditional motive for early baptism is no longer there. 

You sound rather more confident than the Catechism is on the subject. Not that I necessarily disagree with you (nor necessarily agree), but from what sources have you come to this conclusion?