Baptism classes?

[wifeNmom.02]

These classes that are offered only once a month or so at a particular parish, are as i see it dangerous in delaying the infants receiving the sacrament which should be freely given. But now you have to have a paper saying the you have attended the class.
Please understand, I have taken alot of heat from family. We had to delay the baptism of both of my children, baptisms are only offered once a month and the classes are also!! I can understand that the church is trying to make sure the parents and godparents responsibilities are, but aren’t we asked that duriing the ceremony?? I am so angry about this!!
what do you think??

 

[pnewton]

We too have baptism classes that are required. Since my wife is expecting in January, it is easy enough to attend them well in advance of the birth. I would think this should be possible in most cases.

 

[wifeNmom.02]

pnewton:

We too have baptism classes that are required. Since my wife is expecting in January, it is easy enough to attend them well in advance of the birth. I would think this should be possible in most cases.

yes, true thank you.

what about the fact that baptisms are only offered once a month?

 

[pnewton]

I do not understand the reasoning behind monthly baptisms. I think I am going to just keep a little holy water on hand and close by from the day of birth until the baptism of my child. Remember that in a pinch anyone can baptize and you don’t have to use holy water.

 

[legeorge]

Our pastor really believes in Baptismal classes. I guess there are really a lot of people out there who aren’t really living their faith and only baptize their children to please parents or out of superstition, etc… This is a really huge responsibility and too many these days don’t see that. The flip side is that it is a bit tedious and inconvenient for those who are faithful catholics and know what they are doing and why. One question, I only had to go when my first was getting Baptized and didn’t have to for the others. Do you have to go every time??

 

[wifeNmom.02]

legeorge:

Our pastor really believes in Baptismal classes. I guess there are really a lot of people out there who aren’t really living their faith and only baptize their children to please parents or out of superstition, etc… This is a really huge responsibility and too many these days don’t see that. The flip side is that it is a bit tedious and inconvenient for those who are faithful catholics and know what they are doing and why. One question, I only had to go when my first was getting Baptized and didn’t have to for the others. Do you have to go every time??

No, just the one time. I can’t help but think, though, that the classes for the parents shouldn’t be necessary for the baby the unbaptised, the one that is going to receive the sacrament that will allow him eternal life. Please please, I don’t mean to be rude or anything like that, but I have taken alot of heat from a certain member of family for delaying my childs baptisms, b/c we had to attend a class. (3 1/2 mo.)

 

[pnewton]

Our priest has an interesting perspective. He requires the classes for everyone he doesn’t know. The reasoning is as follows.

He has been the sole priest there for years. If you attend Mass regularly, he will know you. If you do not attend Mass, then he wants you in his class so he can let you know the importance of being faithful post-baptism.

I intend to go to the class this fall anyway, if for no other reason than to support the importance of being a faithful Catholic. I think I will be one of the oldest ones there (44).

 

[wifeNmom.02]

pnewton:

Our priest has an interesting perspective. He requires the classes for everyone he doesn’t know. The reasoning is as follows.

He has been the sole priest there for years. If you attend Mass regularly, he will know you. If you do not attend Mass, then he wants you in his class so he can let you know the importance of being faithful post-baptism.

I intend to go to the class this fall anyway, if for no other reason than to support the importance of being a faithful Catholic. I think I will be one of the oldest ones there (44).

Yes you should go if the church says it is so, we must be faithful. Bless you for your faithfullness, and example to me.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

The Church requires the pastor to both form the parents/godparents and to ensure that they are properly formed before baptism. We offer classes in English once a month and in Spanish once a month. We have baptisms virtually every Sunday of the month – English on the first and second Sundays and Spanish on the third and fourth Sundays. We also have baptisms at Mass as requested.

We normally suggest that as soon as a woman feels comfortable being pregnant she come tot he class – this is usually well before birth. That shouldn’t be too hard to schedule; after all, it takes nine months to make a baby!

Deacon Ed

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

These classes that are offered only once a month or so at a particular parish, are as i see it dangerous in delaying the infants receiving the sacrament which should be freely given. But now you have to have a paper saying the you have attended the class.
Please understand, I have taken alot of heat from family. We had to delay the baptism of both of my children, baptisms are only offered once a month and the classes are also!! I can understand that the church is trying to make sure the parents and godparents responsibilities are, but aren’t we asked that duriing the ceremony?? I am so angry about this!!
what do you think??

That is why it is suggested in the “rules” that the arrangements for the Baptism (and the class) be taken care of during the pregnancy, before the birth. I might even suggest to parents to be that they consider the class prior to becomming pregnant. In most parishes if you have been to the class within the last year or two you do not have to re-take it. I can understand why may pastors won’t just Baptize any baby. So many in the classes I have sat in on don’t know their Faith, many have not been practicing the Catholic Faith, and most do not in reality intend to continue after the Baptism!

 

[pnewton]

Rich,

I have a question. Are baptismal classes specifically required by canon law or just that priest sees to the formation of the parents and godparents? The reason I ask is that our priest teaches both baptismal classes and RCIA. Me and my wife both went through his RCIA class.

 

[rfk]

pnewton:

I have a question. Are baptismal classes specifically required by canon law or just that priest sees to the formation of the parents and godparents? The reason I ask is that our priest teaches both baptismal classes and RCIA. Me and my wife both went through his RCIA class.

Canon Law requires:

Can. 851 The celebration of baptism should be properly prepared. Accordingly:

1° an adult who intends to receive baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and, as far as possible, brought through the various stages to sacramental initiation, in accordance with the rite of initiation as adapted by the Episcopal Conference and with the particular norms issued by it;

2° the parents of a child who is to be baptized, and those who are to undertake the office of sponsors, are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it. The parish priest is to see to it that either he or others duly prepare the parents, by means of pastoral advice and indeed by prayer together; a number of families might be brought together for this purpose and, where possible, each family visited.

Thus, classes or private instruction are both allowed. It is obvious that the priest has a duty to make sure they are “suitably instructed.”

That is good advice to take the classes ahead of time. Canon law doesn’t explicitly require it, but it does state that arranging for the Baptism – including proper formation – is appropriate before the birth.

Can. 867 §1 Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it.

§2 If the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptized without any delay.

This is one major reason that a priest is duty-bound to make sure the parents are well instructed:

Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptized lawfully it is required:

1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;

2° that there be a well*founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

pnewton:

Rich,

I have a question. Are baptismal classes specifically required by canon law or just that priest sees to the formation of the parents and godparents? The reason I ask is that our priest teaches both baptismal classes and RCIA. Me and my wife both went through his RCIA class.

The Pastor is responsible to insure souls in his care are properly instructed in the Sacraments that they participate in. That would include parents and Godparents invloved in the Baptism of a child. Nothing that I’m aware of specifies how he is to do this. But it is possible that the Bishop has set some standard for his diocese.