a question about baptism

[Liz1400]

I baptised both of my sons myself about an hour after they were born. My first was VERY sick and I was in a foreign country, and I was worried the same would happen to my second. I poured water on their forheads and said “I baptise thee in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” I wanted to be safe in case things took a turn for the worse.
I had them officially baptised by the church over a year ago, but forgot to mention to the priest that I had baptised them myself. Does this affect their baptism in any way? Was the Priest supposed to remove the first baptism?

 

[Trishie]

A layperson can baptise whan a child is genuinely in danger of death.
Just be happy that you have the official baptism of the Church and don’t worry regarding the other.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I baptised both of my sons myself about an hour after they were born. My first was VERY sick and I was in a foreign country, and I was worried the same would happen to my second. I poured water on their forheads and said “I baptise thee in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” I wanted to be safe in case things took a turn for the worse.
I had them officially baptised by the church over a year ago, but forgot to mention to the priest that I had baptised them myself. Does this affect their baptism in any way? Was the Priest supposed to remove the first baptism?

I find it difficult to believe that you “forgot” to inform the priest that you Baptized them in the hospital. In that case however the Baptism that took place at the Church had no effect since they were already Baptized.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

A layperson can baptise whan a child is genuinely in danger of death.
Just be happy that you have the official baptism of the Church and don’t worry regarding the other.

The “official” Baptism at the church is not somehow more valid than a Baptism in the hospital, they are both equally effective.

 

[puzzleannie]

I baptised both of my sons myself about an hour after they were born. My first was VERY sick and I was in a foreign country, and I was worried the same would happen to my second. I poured water on their forheads and said “I baptise thee in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” I wanted to be safe in case things took a turn for the worse.
I had them officially baptised by the church over a year ago, but forgot to mention to the priest that I had baptised them myself. Does this affect their baptism in any way? Was the Priest supposed to remove the first baptism?

yes you should have told the priest about the emergency baptisms as soon as you returned to the parish, and he still would have done the formal ceremony that completes the rite, anointing, candle etc., but without the pouring. The first baptism was the “real” baptism, the second had no effect, except the parts of the rite that complete it, and of course entry in the parish records.

No you did not sin, and no there is not any way to “remove” a baptism as it sets a permanent seal on the soul. Someone in a similar situation who does or witnesses an emergency baptism should take steps to immediately report it to the parish priest where it happened, or at least to your own parish priest. And it should not be done by a layperson unless a priest or deacon is not available. Understandably hard to ascertain in a foreign country.

 

[Phemie]

yes you should have told the priest about the emergency baptisms as soon as you returned to the parish, and he still would have done the formal ceremony that completes the rite, anointing, candle etc., but without the pouring. The first baptism was the “real” baptism, the second had no effect, except the parts of the rite that complete it, and of course entry in the parish records.

No you did not sin, and no there is not any way to “remove” a baptism as it sets a permanent seal on the soul. Someone in a similar situation who does or witnesses an emergency baptism should take steps to immediately report it to the parish priest where it happened, or at least to your own parish priest. And it should not be done by a layperson unless a priest or deacon is not available. Understandably hard to ascertain in a foreign country.

My pastor has a bad habit of baptizing babies in the hospital and not mentioning it to anyone. Then the babies are medevaced to the children’s hospital and baptized again. I keep telling him that if he baptizes he’s supposed to inform the staff, who will chart it so everyone will know. In one case it looks as though he didn’t even tell the parents or, if he did, they were in no condition to have it register at the time.