Baptism and Freemasonry

[WannabeMonk]

About a decade ago I joined the Freemasons. At that point in my life, I was very interested in occultism, and in studying about the “Western Esoteric Tradition,” the common thread I would encounter time and time again was Freemasonry, so I joined. At that time I had an aversion to anything Christian and chose to take my Masonic oaths on the Corpus Hermeticum instead of the Bible. But then something happened. I developed an interest in Jesus and in Mary, I learned to pray the rosary and developed a strong connection to the Blessed Virgin. I began to see Freemasonry as a stumbling block on my journey to Christ, and after reading about Saint Maximillian Kolbe’s experience with Freemasons in Rome, I put my massive collection of Masonic books and regalia into my car, drove them to my lodge, and left them all there with a note saying I quit.

Now, nearly 8 years after this happened, having undergone continuing catechesis for several years and growing closer and closer to Jesus, I am on my path toward baptism and becoming part of the Body of Christ in the Church. They say that once you’re a Mason, you’re always a Mason. Technically, Masons would probably argue that I am still one, although I quit, and that I’m just not in “good standing” as I haven’t paid dues in years. Would my baptism free me from the bonds to the Masonic order?

 

[edward_george1]

Of course it would. I know of converts who were Masons for a number of years who left it behind. As I recall, the one fellow I know who’d been a Mason pre-conversion was already baptized, and a priest prayed with him some deliverance prayers to renounce the spiritual ties he’d incurred by his Masonic oaths. But I imagine baptism would cover that as well.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There are also the scrutinies before baptism – minor exorcisms. The OP should be well covered.

 

[MT1926]

Now, nearly 8 years after this happened, having undergone continuing catechesis for several years and growing closer and closer to Jesus, I am on my path toward baptism and becoming part of the Body of Christ in the Church.

Welcome Home!

God Bless

 

[WannabeMonk]

I figured it would, but I wasn’t sure. And my past as a Mason isn’t something I really like to admit publicly anymore. When I announced I was leaving I got some pretty intimidating messages on Facebook and the like (I used to blog about Masonry a lot and so I felt it was appropriate to be public about leaving just as I had been public about being a member), but the discomfort that caused led to me legally changing my name, but I still feel there is, as Fr. ACEGC put it, strong spiritual ties to the Order that the ritual and oaths imposed upon me. As a side note, stay as far away from Freemasonry as you can!

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Yet they exist and have spiritual efficacy.

 

[edward_george1]

Never mind the fact that the grace of the sacrament of baptism itself would be more powerful than a thousand exorcisms, major or minor. Exorcisms are sacramentals. They dispose us to receive Divine Grace, but they do not themselves impart it.

 

[Mary888]

Saint Cyprian was a witch. A friend of the devil that is. When he realized Jesus is God he destroyed all his books and converted.
God welcomes all. I am glad you leave. If I were you I would also burn all those books and scatter the ashes.
It doesn’t matter what some silly organisation says on this grain of sand, once a mason always one. Not true.
I read that they may harrass you once you leave but that is just hearsay. Don’t look back. Dogs bark but the carriage keeps on going!

 

[edward_george1]

I never said they were irrelevant. Quite the opposite, they dispose us to receiving divine grace. And I don’t disagree that the older formulae were better. I’m just saying that the grace of the sacraments is more powerful than something meant only to dispose us to it.

I would appreciate if you would refrain from putting words in my mouth, and do watch your tone.

 

[WannabeMonk]

If I were you I would also burn all those books and scatter the ashes.

If I still had the books, I would do just that. But as I mentioned in my first post, when I quit, I left my massive trove of Masonic and other occult books at my Masonic Lodge with my letter of resignation. I then was accepted into a “monastic life retreat” where I went and lived with Trappist monks for 30 days, which was a nice safe way to get away from the evils of my past and embrace a new life of prayer. The monastic life is such a beautiful one, but I am not in a position to be seeking that since I am planning to get married. I’ll probably join a Third Order at some point, though. But baptism must come first. It’s been nearly 8 years since I left Freemasonry, and I feel bad that it has taken me this long to finally near the point of baptism.

 

[Fauken]

It’s always nicer to get baptized sooner rather than later, but maybe you could think of it this way: you simply weren’t ready. Your baptism would not be as desired nor appreciated then than it is now. You may have been a Freemason, but you aren’t one now. Your baptism will wash all of your sins away, so put what you did in the past too. If God can forgive your sins, you can forgive them too. Plus, with your knowledge of Masonic beliefs, you can talk to people who are still Masons and also remind people about why Masonic beliefs are incompatible with the truth!

 

[Mary888]

I feel bad that it has taken me this long to finally near the point of baptism.

Don’t feel bad. We live so we figure things out. St. Augustin took more than 8 years to finally have faith in God. St. John Chrysosthom came from a Christian family yet he was baptized at 20 when he felt ready to receive it.
Maybe it’s the rush of the world todat that makes us fear we failed even when we make the right choices just because it doesn’t happen fast enough.
On the other hand your choice is mature and done with pure conviction so maybe it is stronger than say the case of someone baptized as a baby and later on in life they struggle to understand why are they Christian and not something else.