Baptism during Lent

[sfp]

So, is a pastor doing anything wrong by not performing baptisms during lent? (I’m not referring to special circumstances, such as babies in danger of death, etc.) I’m only referring to the sacrament “in general” not being performed. Is that o.k. for the local church to deny this?

It sort of puts the parents in an uncomfortable situation, doesn’t it? I mean, they don’t want to cause a stink with the pastor or sacramental coordinator by saying, “well the documents say that you can’t deny us the sacrament…” when their baby is not in any emminent danger.

But at the same time, they don’t want to have to wait until Easter, either. Is it right for them to even give the impression that baptisms are not available during lent? (because most people won’t question it, they’ll just think that “these are the rules…”)

Sorry if my question is vague, but I’m asking about the practice in general, not special circumstances with respect to Church law, those things are pretty clear.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[Cobbfmly]

AMAZING …so I wonder why so many parents wait MONTHS to baptize their children after they are born??

Most parishes (maybe all) require preparation classes for both the parents and Godparents before they will baptize a healthy infant. Unless a parent realizes this and starts the process a couple of months before the infant is born it is likely to be a few months after birth that baptism takes place.

I started the process of getting my daughter baptized around two months before she was born. She was almost 3 wks old when she was baptized.

When I did this I was told that I needed to wait until she was born, but I would not take no for an answer as I felt a strong need to have her baptized ASAP after birth. God had his hand in this as my mother and grandmother came up for the baptism and we had 4 generation portraits taken. My mother had a brain anryism 4 days later and died 5 days after that.

 

[frommi]

When one considers that Lent is only 6 weeks long…its not like the sacrament is being unnecessairly withheld.

In many parishes, baptisms are celebrated at Sunday liturgy (my personal preference btw)…and to have a baptism in the middle of a penitential season just doesn’t make sense and more than confirming outside of easter does (but thats another topic I suppose).

Im not saying we should never baptise a child who is in danger of death.

Simply pointing out that the absolute MAXIMUM number of days a child would go without baptism is about 42.

 

[Illini]

I think the answer of the CDWDS to the holy water question answers the Baptism question:

2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of her sacraments and sacramentals is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The “fast” and “abstinence” which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church.
(emphasis added)

If this applies to holy water, a reminder of our baptism, it must equally apply to Baptism itself. Omitting it during Lent reflects bad theology.

-Illini

 

[jediliz]

My goddaughter was born during Lent (March 17) and she was baptized on Palm Sunday (I think that was April 11th in 2004?)

And my nephew who is due in about 4 weeks will probably be baptized during Lent as well as he’s due right after Lent begins.

So, I suppose there are exceptions depending on the Diocese?

 

[sfp]

I think the answer of the CDWDS to the holy water question answers the Baptism question:

2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of her sacraments and sacramentals is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The “fast” and “abstinence” which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church.
(emphasis added)

If this applies to holy water, a reminder of our baptism, it must equally apply to Baptism itself. Omitting it during Lent reflects bad theology.

-Illini

That’s my thoughts exactly. So, how do I tactfully bring this up with my pastor?? Not only do they remove the holy water from the font (which they promised NOT to do this year, since I brought up the above letter last year), but they do not do baptisms either.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

How about the same way you brought up the holy water issue?

You might also sign up for those baptism prep class ASAP, if you have not done so already.

 

[sfp]

How about the same way you brought up the holy water issue?

You might also sign up for those baptism prep class ASAP, if you have not done so already.

Yes, I’m bringing it up, I just don’t know if I’m going to offend my pastor (who is also my boss).

We’ve attended the baptism class for our previous children, so that’s not a problem for us.

 

[jmcrae]

Part of the reason that it is not customary to have weddings or baptisms during Lent is that we are supposed to be fasting and abstaining - no parties allowed - and since it is customary to have parties after Baptisms and after weddings, this is why most parishes won’t do them during Lent, so that they don’t have to explain endlessly to the families that they aren’t allowed to have a party afterwards - if they just say, “Sorry, no baptisms or wedding during Lent, other than in danger of death,” it saves a lot of time and energy.

But what is really not allowed is the parties, and I’m sure that if someone wanted to do a very quiet baptism or a very quiet wedding with no flowers or decorations and no parties afterwards, it would be permitted - and obviously if there is a danger of death they would certainly not refuse.

 

[Brendan]

When one considers that Lent is only 6 weeks long…its not like the sacrament is being unnecessairly withheld.

In many parishes, baptisms are celebrated at Sunday liturgy (my personal preference btw)…**and to have a baptism in the middle of a penitential season **just doesn’t make sense and more than confirming outside of easter does (but thats another topic I suppose)…

Ah yes Frommi, I see how the forgiveness of sin, and the infusion of Grace are so contrary to a penitential season

It can hardly do for us to be sorry for our sins and to see them actually be forgiven. Sheesh, what was the Vatican thinking

 

[sfp]

Part of the reason that it is not customary to have weddings or baptisms during Lent is that we are supposed to be fasting and abstaining - no parties allowed - and since it is customary to have parties after Baptisms and after weddings, this is why most parishes won’t do them during Lent, so that they don’t have to explain endlessly to the families that they aren’t allowed to have a party afterwards - if they just say, “Sorry, no baptisms or wedding during Lent, other than in danger of death,” it saves a lot of time and energy.

But what is really not allowed is the parties, and I’m sure that if someone wanted to do a very quiet baptism or a very quiet wedding with no flowers or decorations and no parties afterwards, it would be permitted - and obviously if there is a danger of death they would certainly not refuse.

WOW, I’ve never thought of it that way, but that makes sense! I bet your right, that’s probably why most don’t do it. Our parish has weddings during lent, so

 

[CRW]

During Lent in my former parish, the holy water was removed from the baptismal font and from the tiny bowls. Small rocks were placed in the small bowls devoid of holy water. Of course, the idea was to remind us of the dryness of our Lenten “desert experience” before the joy and life of Easter. (Isn’t it strange to note that the water as a symbol for life was removed yet what happens at Mass is the very essence of life.) I found it amusing during Lent to see many of the school children picking up the rocks in the bowls and blessing themselves with them as they would with water when entering the sanctuary. After I left, I became aware of the above statement and realized that the holy water should have been present at least somewhere in the church during Lent.

This practice is normally done after Holy Thursday Mass, and the stripping of the altar. After the Saturday Vigil Easter Mass, the Holy Water is returned with the “New” water of life.

 

[frommi]

Ah yes Frommi, I see how the forgiveness of sin, and the infusion of Grace are so contrary to a penitential season

It can hardly do for us to be sorry for our sins and to see them actually be forgiven. Sheesh, what was the Vatican thinking

You mean when easter is the season that follows Lent which signifies our victory over death through the waters of Baptism…

I didn’t say no one should ever be baptised during Lent…especially in emergencies.

My question would be…why wouldn’t you want the joy of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist (indeed the sacraments that bind us to the church) to be celebrated sunday after sunday during the easter season at liturgy?

 

[Brendan]

My question would be…why wouldn’t you want the joy of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist (indeed the sacraments that bind us to the church) to be celebrated sunday after sunday during the easter season at liturgy?

The better question is, why not want to give the Gift of Salvic Grace to my child as quickly as possible?

Why would I want to deny my child that gift for any time longer than necessary.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

This practice is normally done after Holy Thursday Mass, and the stripping of the altar. After the Saturday Vigil Easter Mass, the Holy Water is returned with the “New” water of life.

Some so-called “progressive” parishes attempt to take the holy water out of the fonts on Ash Wednesday, and don’t return it until the Easter Vigil. That’s why the little pebbles make such great liturgist fodder. It is supposed to create a “desert experience” and it is clearly forbidden by the documentation listed above.

Every year at our parish, somebody thinks it would be a “novel” approach. And every year, a bunch of us go to CAF and press the “print” icon for the information to stop it, and give the prints in turn to Father, the DRE (who usually has made her own prints), the liturgists, and the Arts & Environment Committee. And every year, everybody that wants it hems and haws, as if they hadn’t seen it last year. It’s becoming a Lenten tradition in our parish.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

The better question is, why not want to give the Gift of Salvic Grace to my child as quickly as possible?

Why would I want to deny my child that gift for any time longer than necessary.

And why not on a Sunday in Lent, which really is a sort of break from Lent, in that it is Sunday, or Little Easter?

 

[Brendan]

And why not on a Sunday in Lent, which really is a sort of break from Lent, in that it is Sunday, or Little Easter?

that would be perfectly fine.

My parish DOES Baptize during Lent, so I don’t have a concern here, I was mostly addressing Frommi’s point.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

that would be perfectly fine.

My parish DOES Baptize during Lent, so I don’t have a concern here, I was mostly addressing Frommi’s point.

I know that. I just added that little piece there. People forget about Sunday being the “break” in Lent every week.

 

[frommi]

The better question is, why not want to give the Gift of Salvic Grace to my child as quickly as possible?

Why would I want to deny my child that gift for any time longer than necessary.

Why not just confirm at birth then to Brendan? Why hold off on the fruits of the holy spirit until your child is in their early teens?

Heck…Jesus wasn’t even baptized till he was 30…a baby cant wait for 6 weeks?

 

[Brendan]

Why not just confirm at birth then to Brendan? Why hold off on the fruits of the holy spirit until your child is in their early teens?

Confirmation (and Communion) for infants is the standard practice of the Eastern Catholics, the Orthodox and of the Early Church.

I would dearly love to see our bishop restore this practice. B9dhops are entitled to set the qge of Confirmation and I know several who have joved the age to it’s theologically correct position of being before First Holy Communion.

Even now, if an infant is in danger of death, and a priest is present to baptise, the priest is also to to Confirm the dying child.

Heck…Jesus wasn’t even baptized till he was 30…a baby cant wait for 6 weeks?

The difference is that Christ could hardly die in a state of Original Sin, an unbaptized infant can.