Baptism and Limbo?

[waxwing]

In RCIA today the topic was Baptism, our guest speaker spoke of its origins and the importance of this sacrament in our lives today. Someone asked the question of those who weren’t baptized; perhaps those were brought up without awareness Christianity and its first sacrament, others are aware and deeply wish to be baptized but are in the RCIA process or just beginning their search, etc. The question was what happens to those people if they die before being Baptized, do they go into Limbo or where? The answer was only God really knows and this is somewhat of a gray area…Would like to get the good people of CA to provide some (name removed by moderator)ut on this question?

Thanks
ww

 

[itsjustdave1988]

According to Trent, only through baptism “or its desire” are we translated from that state in which man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Does the desire need to be explicit? No. It can be implicit.

Since infants don’t have the capacity of intellect and will to “desire”, what happens to them? The Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus’ tenderness toward children. We can, therefore, hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.

See more here:

The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Baptism

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In RCIA today the topic was Baptism, our guest speaker spoke of its origins and the importance of this sacrament in our lives today. Someone asked the question of those who weren’t baptized; perhaps those were brought up without awareness Christianity and its first sacrament, others are aware and deeply wish to be baptized but are in the RCIA process or just beginning their search, etc. The question was what happens to those people if they die before being Baptized, do they go into Limbo or where? The answer was only God really knows and this is somewhat of a gray area…Would like to get the good people of CA to provide some (name removed by moderator)ut on this question?

Thanks
ww

Well that is a good general answer.

Limbo is a possibility, but we can just say we don’t know, and leave it up to God. Those who have never heard the Gospel have the possibility of Salvation by a means known only to God. Those in RCIA who have made a public statement of their desire for Baptism at the Rite of Acceptance into the Catechumenate. If they were to die suddenly before Baptism. They would receive what is known as Baptism of Desire. Baptism of Desire is not equal to the Sacrament of Baptism as it does not provide the Sacramental mark on the soul, but does provide the Sacramental Grace and removal of Original Sin necessary for entry into Heaven.