Baptism Age of Reason

[sleigh]

Hi all!

I am a fully sacramented Catholic. My two sons are 7 and 5. They attend Catholic school, but neither are baptized. We are a military family and moved so much that we just never established a home church. They were dedicated in the Christian church, but I know…not the same. We are now in our hometown and back at the church that I was raised in and my boys attend the school there. I inquired about Baptism and my 5 year old is good to still do Infant Baptism, but my 7 year old (turned 7 two months ago - I inquired about it two weeks after his bday and just now heard back) has to do RCIA. He is in 1st grade so will have to do it from now until next Easter vigil where he will end up getting First Communion before his classmates. This makes no sense to me. I have googled and see that this is in fact Church Law and that the age of reason is 7. I guess my question is, is there any point in me trying to speak to the Priest or get an exception somehow? Is this even a possibility? My oldest son is devastated that he can’t be Baptized with his brother and will be doing things different than his classmates. He is so upset that I may end up having to wait the entire year and a half to Baptize my younger son because he just won’t understand why his brother can and he can’t. I could see if he was in 2nd grade and we were scrambling to get this done before First Communion in the Spring, but we have a whole year and a half and he gets so much Catholic teaching in school. I guess just looking for opinions on if this is set in stone or how I would plea for an exception if it’s possible.

Thank you!

 

[1ke]

• I inquired about it two weeks after his bday and just now heard back) has to do RCIA.

Inquired with whom?

I suggest you have a sit down meeting with the priest and your boys.

Below the age of reason, you are making promises on behalf of your child, and above the age of reason your son is making his own promises. The age of reason is around 7, but it depends on the child. It is something that the priest should determine through an interview with the child.

Make an appointment, discuss the whole situation with the pastor. It is up to his discretion.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I agree with 1KE. The age of reason isn’t an exact thing. Particularly if your child is very immature, you could make the case that he is still an infant.

But if your pastor thinks that RCIA is the way to go, then embrace it and encourage your son in his particular journey. Whichever way he ends up receiving the sacraments, it’s all good.

 

[sleigh]

My inquiry was to the Church office. The secretary has spoken to the priest.

 

[TheLittleLady]

It is not uncommon for children age 7 to be fully initiated into the Sacraments in this way. What a blessing! Your son will receive the graces of these Sacraments throughout his childhood!

 

[1ke]

I encourage a meeting directly between you and the pastor.

 

[13pollitos]

Can I ask why you never baptized your children at the military chapels where you were stationed? I teach sacramental prep (RCIC which is RCIA for children, and also 2nd grade First Communion) at our current post.