Achildoftheking. You asked . . .
I am not speaking of an adult becoming a Catholic and being Baptized. I was told something that I never heard of and need some clarification. I was told that there is a second baptism that is done as a completion for a Catholic. . . . Please inform!!!
I believe in
ONE Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (From the “Profession of Faith” in the Catholic Mass in the Latin Liturgy)
St. Paul likewise reminds us there is ONE Baptism.
EPHESIANS 4:4-6 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5 one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, 6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
Pope Francis reaffirms this 2000 year old Christian teaching (
here).
Achildoftheking.
When you were told there was a “second baptism” it was probably from a Catholic who was likely talking about how Confirmation “completes” Baptism.
It would be easy for a non-Catholic to confuse this (many Catholics who are not catechized may not know it either).
They were almost certainly thinking of Confirmation and not a literal “second baptism”.
I hope that helps answer your question.
(End of short answer.)
God bless.
Cathoholic
If you want more info. I have included it below.
Or they may have been trying to explain there are three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, reception of the Holy Eucharist [Jesus Himself Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity substantially present under the appearance of bread and wine], and Confirmation.
Sacraments of Initiation
- Baptism (can only be received once in a lifetime)
- Confirmation (can only be received once in a lifetime)
- Reception of The Holy Eucharist
CCC 1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded.
It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”
Most likely he/she was thinking of Confirmation though.
CCC 1288a "From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ’s will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that
completes the grace of Baptism. . . .
CCC 1303a From this fact,
Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
- it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”;117
- it unites us more firmly to Christ;
- it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
- it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;118
- it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross:119 . . .
CCC 1304 Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.121
CCC 1305 This
“character” perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and "the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio)."122
CCC 1306 Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation.123 Since
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that "the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time,"124 for
without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete.
But Confirmation is not a “second” Baptism.
In Baptism we receive infinite gifts. We receive God Himself. Yet some of these gifts remain unopened or unwrapped so to speak until Confirmation (CCC 1289 states: . . . . “Confirmation suggests that this sacrament both confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.”).
Confirmation is often referred to as our “personal Pentecost”. The Apostles likewise received special gifts at Pentecost.
Incidentally. Confirmation, like Baptism (which it completes) can only be received once (as CCC 1304 says above and CCC 1317 reasserts below).
CCC 1317 Confirmation, like Baptism, imprints a spiritual mark or indelible character on the Christian’s soul; for this reason
one can receive this sacrament only once in one’s life.
