Baptism at Sunday Mass

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Today, a baptism was celebrated during Sunday Mass. Although my children were baptised at a separate ceremony, (we were parishioners elsewhere at the time) I have seen this often in my current parish. Ditto First Holy Communion for the non-Catholic school kids.

What is the history of this practice? Is this an old practice made new again or is this simply a new practice? Is this common?

I have mixed feelings as it seems to combine the celebration of the joy of welcoming new life with the solemnity of the sacrifice of the Mass and our sabbath worship. I understand the concept of welcoming the new member of the community but am still not at all at ease with mixing of the two completely different ceremonies.

Any thoughts?
 
It is appropriate that baptisms and weddings are done during the context of the Mass, according to Canon Law. Personally, I would rather have see it done after Mass, because there are prayers that kind of get “cut” when the priest is worried about time constraints for the rest of the congregation.

Edited to add: In September, during the Sunday noon Mass, the priest at my husband’s parish is having a wedding. Boy, that oughta be good. :rolleyes:
 
I like it a lot when a baptism takes place during
Sundaymass instead of seperate masses.
I feel a baptism is part of the community,
so there for it should take placei during Sunday mass.

Emmy
 
Detroit Sue:
Edited to add: In September, during the Sunday noon Mass, the priest at my husband’s parish is having a wedding. Boy, that oughta be good. :rolleyes:
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You mean the wedding will be during a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass, not a special Nuptial Mass? That certainly is odd. Are they an older couple who don’t want a big ceremony?
 
Unless the parents request it, our baptisms take place during Sunday Mass. I understand the reasoning for it but they are some practical problems.

Our baptismal font and immersion font (don’t know the technical name) are located in the entrance of the Church. The people in the pews cannot really see what is going on and the choir sure can’t see. So, it loses all meaning. I usually use this time for a potty break if I need one. I know a lot of people avoid the “baptism Mass”.

My cousin’s grandson was baptised at a ceremony outside of Mass. However, they had readings and other stuff which made it really special. There were several babies being baptised so the Church was just as full as at a Mass. I really liked this ceremony.
 
It is appropriate to have the Sacraments of Initiation performed at mass. This allows the catholic community to be involved with the individual’s entry in the church, to pray for them specifically, and to welcome them into the community of faith.

I do feel that mass should not be cut short because there presence, so if timing is an issue, you may want to do it at a mass where an extra 10-15 minutes added to it does not cause any problems.

I would like to see the priests have the congregation pray more for those being initiated.
 
Which prayers are being cut for time’s sake? If anything, celebrating sacraments should extend the time of Mass, not the other way around. I find that suprising.

My understanding is that the sacraments of initiation are not intended to be individual celebrations. Whenever possible, they should be a rite within the Mass. Have you ever been to a Confirmation or First Communion that wasn’t part of a Mass? Why then should Baptism be treated differently? Even the sacraments of healing and commitment are encouraged to be celebrated within community (Penance services with individual confession, healing Masses for Anointing of the Sick) whenever possible. Holy Orders is always celebrated within the Mass. In our archdiocese it is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Everyone is invited to attend.

Never heard of a marriage being held within a Sunday Mass, but what a great idea! The best way to teach about sacraments is to give people the opportunity to experience and be part of them.
If they ever did that in my parish, I would have all of the families, children and youth in faith formation at that Mass!

Peace…
 
In particular, the baptismal exorcism prayer is being omitted during the Mass/baptisms. The others, I cannot name for sure, but the reason they are omitted is that they are NOT required prayers. No matter what, this priest will not go over 1 hour for Mass. His homiles are [sarcasm]nice & long [/sarcasm], but he will race thru the consecration like he’s late for a plane.

And yes, the wedding will be during a regularly scheduled Mass. I do not believe it is an older couple. There will be attendants & the whole bit. Skeery, ain’t it?
 
We had a baptisim this morning at mass, it was very nice.
Also, we have had our kids first communions during the mass, thats how it was done with I was little also, the only reason they do it at a different time is if the family has to be out of town and can’t be there for that day then our priest will do a private ceremony and I know some people have their babie baptised after mass with just family, but I really like when they are willing to do it during mass as that way everyone can be apart of it and welcome the baby to our parish.
 
Our daughter was baptised during the 5pm Mass yesterday and the congregation loved it. They usually don’t see baptisms because there is a weekly baptism service after the last morning Mass. This week was different due to another event taking place so we were offered the 5pm deal. I think it gave a lot of people a rare chance to see a baptism performed.
 
I have family members that were married during Sunday Mass. I wasn’t there (out of state) but I understand they got up right after the Mass was over, but before the final blessing and were married with the full congregation there. No special decorations or attendants, etc. They were an older couple (in their forties, marrying for the first time). I have heard that some parishes encourage this to de-emphasize the materialistic and overblown nature of many weddings. I haven’t seen it elsewhere, but I wouldn’t object to any of my daughters marrying this way some day.
 
I think baptisms during mass are great! What better way for all of us to renew our own baptisms and to welcome a new soul into our midst! If the mass runs a little longer I feel we can all spare the additional few minutes to stay connected to our sacramental faith :bible1:
 
My children were all baptized during Sunday Mass. I really enjoy them.

My two oldest (6 and 4) absolutely love to see a baptism at Mass, and it gives Daddy a great opportunity to regularly explain the Mystery of Baptism.

👍
 
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condan:
Today, a baptism was celebrated during Sunday Mass. Although my children were baptised at a separate ceremony, (we were parishioners elsewhere at the time) I have seen this often in my current parish. Ditto First Holy Communion for the non-Catholic school kids.

What is the history of this practice? Is this an old practice made new again or is this simply a new practice? Is this common?

I have mixed feelings as it seems to combine the celebration of the joy of welcoming new life with the solemnity of the sacrifice of the Mass and our sabbath worship. I understand the concept of welcoming the new member of the community but am still not at all at ease with mixing of the two completely different ceremonies.

Any thoughts?
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I think it is particularly appropriate to baptize folks at Mass, since baptizm is the rite of initiation into the Church, which is, after all, at heart, a Eucharistic community.

👍
 
I love it … I think it is super that we as a community of believers get to witness our newest members either being baptized or first holy communion. Our parish makes a big deal about it … I love it 👍
 
Detroit Sue:
Personally, I would rather have see it done after Mass, because there are prayers that kind of get “cut” when the priest is worried about time constraints for the rest of the congregation.
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In baptisms that take place within the context of the Mass, I have noticed that the communal recitation of the Creed is eliminated. It is replaced, however, with the entire community of baptized faithful being asked to reaffirm their baptismal vows during the infant’s baptism. I guess these vows serve as a sort of “abridged” version of the Creed.

a pilgrim
 
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Mary1973:
Unless the parents request it, our baptisms take place during Sunday Mass. I understand the reasoning for it but they are some practical problems.

Our baptismal font and immersion font (don’t know the technical name) are located in the entrance of the Church. The people in the pews cannot really see what is going on and the choir sure can’t see. So, it loses all meaning. I usually use this time for a potty break if I need one. I know a lot of people avoid the “baptism Mass”.

My cousin’s grandson was baptised at a ceremony outside of Mass. However, they had readings and other stuff which made it really special. There were several babies being baptised so the Church was just as full as at a Mass. I really liked this ceremony.
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Mary -

One reason for this placement in some churches - particularly older ones - is very rich and meaningful symbolism. PRIOR to baptism, one is outside the Church. Baptism is the means by which one enters the Church. Hence, it is symbolically appropriate to have the font/baptistry near the church, outside it technically - like in the back just before one enters the nave - so that upon baptism, one can be seen to physically enter the Church - by entering the nave - just as one has just spiritually entered the Church in baptism. Especially in the case of babies, it is customary for the priest to take the newly baptized one, and carry him or her into the Church/nave to be “welcomed and recognized” by the community as one of their own.

Very good symbolism there. Wish more would do it. Although I DO see the value in having the baptism take place in the front of the Church in clear vision of all. I guess it’s a matter of taste or preference. But the font’s being placed at the rear of the Church was not an oversight. It was a very deliberate design for a long time.

Charis kai eirene!
 
a pilgrim:
In baptisms that take place within the context of the Mass, I have noticed that the communal recitation of the Creed is eliminated. It is replaced, however, with the entire community of baptized faithful being asked to reaffirm their baptismal vows during the infant’s baptism. I guess these vows serve as a sort of “abridged” version of the Creed.

a pilgrim
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Not “abridged”, just differently phrased.

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it.
 
Baptisms during a regular Sunday Mass are wonderful, and I am always happy to see that there will be one. It is one of the things our parish really does well…Everyone loves it. We have a baptismal pool, and i have seen our pastor literally “dunk” a naked baby,though most of the time he just pours the water over the baby’s head.

Baptisms are very important ot our parish, and we all feel privileged to be a part of them…We, all of us, stand and affirm our faith and welcome the new baby…Family is involved in the procession, recessional and the bringing up of the gifts. None of us care that the Mass is a little long…I can’t imagine actually avoiding a Mass where there is to be a baptism.
 
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