Another baptism question

[notsmart]

After telling my mother after dinner that I was considering getting baptised and having my daughter baptised (if she asks, or tells me she believes) she asked if I knew what I would be admitting to by doing so. She said what about the part where the Priest asks you to say you renounce Satan? I said, what about it? (again I am not so smart) she said, when if ever a time did you embrace him? Hmm. good point. Then she said, dont you remember, how all the christians would tell you they were a child of God? Well, what then, do you suppose they think you are a child of? Hmmm.

Maybe she is just messing up my mind. Am I considered a embracer of Satan? Am I considered a child of Satan?

Doesnt it just mean I reject him as God’s adversary?

Please help me if you know.

 

[Rawb]

LoL, no you’re not a child of Satan. The phrase the priest will ask you is “do you renounce Satan and his works”; he’s asking if you reject sin, and anything contrary to God as Satan represents all that is contrary to God (not implying that’s not a real being).

 

[notsmart]

LoL, no you’re not a child of Satan. The phrase the priest will ask you is “do you renounce Satan and his works”; he’s asking if you reject sin, and anything contrary to God as Satan represents all that is contrary to God (not implying that’s not a real being).

Whew. I think. Because wouldnt I be renouncing myself also, becase I have sin? Maybe I need to take a breath. I could be overthinking this. She tends to leave me in a mental mess.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Because wouldnt I be renouncing myself also, becase I have sin?

We all sin, but we don’t love the sin.

Have you heard the expression, “Love the sinner, but hate the sin”? God still loves us, even if we are not perfect.

Don’t let your mom deter you.

and having my daughter baptised (if she asks, or tells me she believes)

By the way, how old is your daughter? This is a decision parents usually make for their young children. All of us are born with original sin (the sin we inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve). Baptism washes away original sin and makes us children of God. This is very important. Some decisions are important enough that we make them for our children (for example, you wouldn’t wait for her to ask to do things like take her to the doctor or dentist, send her to school, feed her nutritious food, etc.).

So share the gift of faith with her and assume she believes, and allow her to be baptized. Does your daughter have any reason not to believe what you teach her?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

After telling my mother after dinner that I was considering getting baptised and having my daughter baptised (if she asks, or tells me she believes) she asked if I knew what I would be admitting to by doing so. She said what about the part where the Priest asks you to say you renounce Satan? I said, what about it? (again I am not so smart) she said, when if ever a time did you embrace him? Hmm. good point. Then she said, dont you remember, how all the christians would tell you they were a child of God? Well, what then, do you suppose they think you are a child of? Hmmm.

Maybe she is just messing up my mind. Am I considered a embracer of Satan? Am I considered a child of Satan?

Doesnt it just mean I reject him as God’s adversary?

Please help me if you know.

Being unBaptized and conceived with Original Sin.

Christ’s redemptive merits are not actually applied us until, in Baptism, we are incorporated with Christ. Being born without grace and subject to the universal effects of the fall of Adam, we are born a citizen of the natural kingdom only. That means that until our rebirth in baptism, we are subjected to and influenced by Satan! This is again the reason the Church say’s that children should be baptized as soon as possible, to put them beyond Satan’s power.

 

[notsmart]

Whew! Its you again! Great, okay- she is 5. And I asked others here and they did not know, they said ask a priest.

I just get a feeling you might know. You seem to have a handle on this.

I may send her to catholic school, I have a thread on it. but, so far it looks like maybe not.

I’m open to do it.

We all sin, but we don’t love the sin.

Have you heard the expression, “Love the sinner, but hate the sin”? God still loves us, even if we are not perfect.

Don’t let your mom deter you.

By the way, how old is your daughter? This is a decision parents usually make for their young children. All of us are born with original sin (the sin we inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve). Baptism washes away original sin and makes us children of God. This is very important. Some decisions are important enough that we make them for our children (for example, you wouldn’t wait for her to ask to do things like take her to the doctor or dentist, send her to school, feed her nutritious food, etc.).

So share the gift of faith with her and assume she believes, and allow her to be baptized. Does your daughter have any reason not to believe what you teach her?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

If she is 5, you should just have her baptized as soon as possible (once you yourself are ready to embrace the Catholic faith, that is).

We baptize infants (soon after birth), and until a child reaches what we call the “age of reason” (old enough to understand right from wrong, the concept of sin, and make moral choices, usually around the age of 7 but varies by individual), they are considered infants with regard to baptism and don’t need any special classes before baptism. You as a parent make the decision for them. You share your faith with them as they grow, and when they reach the right age you can send them to Catholic school, or to religion classes offered by most parishes for children who go to public schools.

So you should have your daughter baptized as soon as you are ready to be baptized yourself.

 

[notsmart]

If she is 5, you should just have her baptized as soon as possible (once you yourself are ready to embrace the Catholic faith, that is).

We baptize infants (soon after birth), and until a child reaches what we call the “age of reason” (old enough to understand right from wrong, the concept of sin, and make moral choices, usually around the age of 7 but varies by individual), they are considered infants with regard to baptism and don’t need any special classes before baptism. You as a parent make the decision for them. You share your faith with them as they grow, and when they reach the right age you can send them to Catholic school, or to religion classes offered by most parishes for children who go to public schools.

So you should have your daughter baptized as soon as you are ready to be baptized yourself.

Can they baptize us provisionally (like I would be baptized, she would be baptized, but neither of us would be able to partake of any sacraments until I cross the river?)

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Can they baptize us provisionally (like I would be baptized, she would be baptized, but neither of us would be able to partake of any sacraments until I cross the river?)

I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “cross the river.” When you are baptized in the Catholic Church, there is nothing “provisional” about it.

For Catholics, there are three sacraments that complete your initiation as a Catholic Christian: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion (Eucharist).

For your daughter, this would mean she could be baptized right away as long as your pastor is convinced that you are fully committed to raising her Catholic — instructing her in the faith, seeing that she attends Mass regularly, seeing that she receives the rest of the sacraments at the appropriate age.

For adults, once baptized they are eligible to receive the other sacraments (Reconciliation/Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage for those who are not already married).

When would be the right time for you to do this, given your marriage situation, is a delicate question that is best discussed with a knowledgeable priest. It would be wrong to baptize someone who for some reason could not yet receive the other sacraments.

Didn’t I see a post that said you had gone to a Mass and the priest introduced himself to you? Next time you see him, be courageous and tell him you have some things you would like to talk to him about, and could you make an appointment. Hopefully he can help you find the best path to follow.

By the way, if you’re concerned about having to wait for Baptism until you get those marriage details worked out, remember that our God is a very merciful God. He knows your heart, He knows your desire, He knows you are seeking Him and that you are making an honest effort to learn and to make things right. There’s even something called a “baptism of desire,” whereby God can work outside the Sacrament of Baptism and grant salvation to a person who desires Baptism but dies before he or she was able to actually receive the sacrament. Remember, God gave us the Sacraments to aid our salvation, but He is not bound by them — He can work outside them in extraordinary circumstances if He desires to do so. We just have to do our best to seek His will and conform ourselves to it.

Don’t lose hope!

 

[notsmart]

Yes, I was very nervous when he introduced himself to me. I should go again tomorrow. But, I have already left an email, and a call to the church office leaving all my contact information (lots) to the secretary to forward to him, or one of the priests there.

I am sure they will call me when they are able, and likely are pretty busy people.

I did tell her little, so she may not be aware that I am getting worried about if my daughter should be baptized right now.

My husband wont object to that, because he says it wont do anything. And, obviously, wont change that other thing.

So, he is okay. My mother just thinks its a admission that I have been an idiot all my life, whats new there.