It never ceases to amaze me how many parents wait such a long time, even years! Last year, I attended the Baptism of two sisters, aged 10 and 12, whose parents had decided to leave the decision up to the kids. They brought the girls to classes all throughout the year. They made their First Penance and First Communion and then they were gone. The parents felt they had fulfilled their obligation. The girls are too young to drive themselves to Church on Sunday. It is simply heartbreaking, especially after seeing the joy on their faces when they celebrated the sacraments.
When was the thief on the cross baptized?
Isn’t Baptism a Sacrament that can be performed by anybody? I recall that discussion from the good Sisters and all the enthusiasm only 4th grade boys possess.
This is an issue in our Spanish-speaking congregation. One reason is that many of the families did not have regular access to a priest and parish before settling in our community. We've had baptisms of whole families of children, from infants to teenagers!
Our deacon has discussed the problem in his homilies, encouraging everyone to have Baptisms held promptly. He does instruction after Mass on the second Sunday each month, and does baptisms after Mass on the last Sunday each month.
It’s not the parents’ decision. The “child” decides when he wants to be baptized following his salvation. Baptism is a profession the church, community, etc., of one’s acceptance of Christ as personal Savior. Since a baby cannot accept Christ, he shouldn’t be baptized. It doesn’t get someone closer to Heaven.
In the Bible, a baby is NEVER baptized. Baptism occurred only after a person’s salvation. When in doubt, people should read the Bible and give it the same respect for accuracy that they give the Constitution. We don’t like it when people “make up stuff” that’s not Constitutional. Why is it OK to make up stuff that’s not Biblical?
I believe that when a baby or mentally retarded person dies he goes to Heaven since he did not have a capacity to make a decision for or against salvation. (Others believe they don’t go to Heaven.)
Well, I would not be judgmental on their decision. Many factors could be involved in their decision that you are unaware of.
My first two were christened before 3 months, but my last child was just about 14 months old when I had her christened. There were many things that put off the christening, and there were also many that judged me for it.
Makes you kind of wonder why god fearing people would judge you on the decisions you make or have to make due to problems beyond your control. I thought that judgement was left for only 1, but hey that’s my belief!
She should be Baptized before doing a photo shot with Roman Polanski.
When they can make a decision about Christ themselves.
Baptism is a choice; babies can’t make that choice.
Once a child has reached the age they are mature enough to make that choice, then the child should ask to be baptized. However, that age is dependent on the child.
Such was the case with Martin Luther, born November 10, 1483, baptized the next day, November 11 (the festival day for St. Martin of Tours, hence Luther's Christian name).
My daughter was born on a Sunday afternoon. On the first Sunday morning of her life, then--i.e., one week later--she was baptized.
The idea of baptizing a child comes from the belief that the baptism is what saves you. However, it is wrong to trust in your baptism as much as you trust in Christ Himself? If one believes that baptism saves them, they have moved too much of their trust to a symbol and away from the Savior, Jesus Christ.
It matters not what I or any other person thinks because it is what the Scriptures teach that is important. I believe in baptism and teach it as did Peter and the Apostles. Every one who trusts in Jesus Christ should be baptized. No one who truly trusts in Jesus will refuse biblical baptism. The biblical manner of baptism for the NT church (and the modern church) is by immersion in water with the name of Jesus Christ spoken over the believer. In Acts 2:38 Peter meant by, “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” that one is to “be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ.” [A Translator’s Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles, UBS, ‘72, p. 60] The “name” stands for the person in which one has faith.
All of this being true, it is very important to realize that baptism is not something someone does. The verbs for “be baptized” and “you shall receive” are passive voice. This means that those to whom Peter spoke in Acts 2 were to be acted upon. It was not something that they do to or of themselves. Baptism in this sense is not a work. They are to SUBMIT to baptism and they are to RECEIVE the Spirit, all as a result of their faith. Baptism is not saving. One is not justified through baptism. One is saved when they are justified. Justification comes at the point when Jesus is trusted in true faith. True faith is the confident trust that one is right with God through the gift of Jesus Christ as one’s forgiveness and righteousness. This is a personal relationship between the believer and God. It is not merely a confession or mental acknowledgment. It is a profound assurance or confidence in Jesus. Since baptism come after this faith, baptism is not an act of obedience for salvation.
It is act of obedience to the God who has saved them, and that is something that can only be done by one who is mature enough to make that decision on their own, at what ever age that may be. However a baby does not have the ability to choose whom they will follow.
We thought ourselves lax to wait nearly three weeks to baptize our guys. But we had folks coming from out of town, and as a favor to them, we delayed the baptisms.
In our situation, our second child was born, and dh had just started a job in another state. Every other weekend, he came home.
Seven months later, another job out of state. Training. Selling house, moving across the country. My father suffered a massive heart attack during the move. The next year was mostly about him, husband flying & hardly home. Again, packed up our apt., and moved into new home in PBC, FL.
This was 8-9 years ago, too, when it was being discovered that many Priests were sexually abusing minors in the Catholic Church. I was disgusted with what was happening even in my own Diocese.
That said, when I approached a Priest in PBC, I’d asked him about Baptizing my nearly 4 yo, and I was told I’d needed to attend classes. EVEN though, I’d done that with my firstborn, I was already a Godparent times 2, and I’d attended Catholic School & received every Sacrament available to me. The Priest was unsympathetic that dh was flying for an airline, in a Reserve unit in WPB, and working a third job as an instructor at My Gym to help pay our bills and continue to keep our older child attending Christian School.
The following year, we moved out of FL, and into the DFW area. The Priest at our nearest Catholic Church wouldn’t told us right away that he wouldn’t Baptize our then 6 yo. until we were Parishoners for at least 6 months. We needed to take classes, too. And to save our child from a group Baptism with tens of babies, my inquiry about having a Baptism performed privately was falling on deaf ears. Oh...plus both of our child’s Godparents were over 2k miles away. That too was an issue with the Priest.
SO, ffw to today. My child is now 11 and where am I to turn? I’ve been so disheartened with the RC Church over the past decade. My children have both attended only Christian Schools. Priests don’t appreciate that I’ve fallen away from what once was my anchor to the Lord. I’m tired of the hypocrisy.
Anyone here a Priest in the Dallas area, willing to work with us?
My Daughter baptized at Four Months, Nephew at Nine Months, and myself at Forty-Four. At least where I reside and live in New York the rules are not that rigid. I assume it differs from parish to parish.
Doctrine or no, I do not believe that someone else’s action, or lack thereof, can condemn your immortal soul.
That just seems a tad bit rude and pointless.
Other than that, as soon as is convenient.
I once baptized a more than 2 month's premature baby in her isolette. I had the great pleasure of attending her wedding a couple of years ago.
As soon as the first Catholic family member can do it, within minutes if possible. Any Catholic not in a state of mortal sin may do so. Then at the church within 6-8 weeks, not longer than that.
Since original sin is a myth, I’d go with whenever the “baby” can affirmatively answer the condition stated by the evangelist Phillip in Acts 8:37.