Baptism during Mass

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yinekka

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I have always had reservations about baptisms during Mass and a family Baptism which is to take place on Sunday during Mass has confirmed these reservations.

There are only two practising Catholics in my family and so I tactfully informed the mother of the child and the godparents that they should not receive Holy Communion without sacramental confession. The mother rang me today and told me that the Pastoral Associate said that father says a prayer of reconciliation at the beginning of Mass and then everyone is forgiven. She went on to say that “after all no one has committed murder.” The mother of the child [product of 12 years of Catholic schooling] now doesn’t know who to believe and what I had hoped would be a moment which would bring her back to the practise of the Faith has become one of confusion. I had hoped that she would not find out about the mess the Church is in until she had fallen in love with the Faith. Any suggestions as to what I should do now?
 
yinekka said:
I have always had reservations about baptisms during Mass and a family Baptism which is to take place on Sunday during Mass has confirmed these reservations.

There are only two practising Catholics in my family and so I tactfully informed the mother of the child and the godparents that they should not receive Holy Communion without sacramental confession. The mother rang me today and told me that the Pastoral Associate said that father says a prayer of reconciliation at the beginning of Mass and then everyone is forgiven. She went on to say that “after all no one has committed murder.” The mother of the child [product of 12 years of Catholic schooling] now doesn’t know who to believe and what I had hoped would be a moment which would bring her back to the practise of the Faith has become one of confusion. I had hoped that she would not find out about the mess the Church is in until she had fallen in love with the Faith. Any suggestions as to what I should do now?
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When you say “Pastoral Associate”, are you talking about a priest?

Remind her that there are 9 other commandments besides “You shall not murder” (not to mention ‘deadly sins’ and the ‘precepts of the Church’) and that the Penitential rite, which by the way is usually omitted at a Baptism, only remits venial sins.
 
yinekka said:
I have always had reservations about baptisms during Mass and a family Baptism which is to take place on Sunday during Mass has confirmed these reservations.

There are only two practising Catholics in my family and so I tactfully informed the mother of the child and the godparents that they should not receive Holy Communion without sacramental confession. The mother rang me today and told me that the Pastoral Associate said that father says a prayer of reconciliation at the beginning of Mass and then everyone is forgiven. She went on to say that “after all no one has committed murder.” The mother of the child [product of 12 years of Catholic schooling] now doesn’t know who to believe and what I had hoped would be a moment which would bring her back to the practise of the Faith has become one of confusion. I had hoped that she would not find out about the mess the Church is in until she had fallen in love with the Faith. Any suggestions as to what I should do now?
Click to expand...
When you say “Pastoral Associate”, are you talking about a priest?

Remind her that there are 9 other commandments besides “You shall not murder” (not to mention ‘deadly sins’ and the ‘precepts of the Church’) and that the Penitential rite, which by the way is usually omitted at a Baptism, doesn’t absolve from mortal sins although full attendance at Mass remits venial sins.
 
yinekka said:
There are only two practising Catholics in my family and so I tactfully informed the mother of the child and the godparents that they should not receive Holy Communion without sacramental confession.
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Well, I am not really sure why you think this was your business or place to do so. It wasn’t.
yinekka said:
what I had hoped would be a moment which would bring her back to the practise of the Faith has become one of confusion.
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it seems to me she was already back as she was having her child baptized.
 
And you know they are guilty of mortal sin how exactly?

It’s not your place to tell relatives that they need confession before communion. You can however say “if you think you require confession before communion, I’ve asked Father to be available before Mass”. It really is a matter of individual conscience, especially for adults.
 
Their spiritual life is none of your business. Stay out of it.

Reb Levi
 
yinekka said:
I have always had reservations about baptisms during Mass and a family Baptism which is to take place on Sunday during Mass has confirmed these reservations.
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Well, aside from your other concerns, Sacraments should be celebrated with the congregation at all times. Baptism during Mass on Sunday is the proper way to celebrate it.
 
When you say “Pastoral Associate”, are you talking about a priest?
The Pastoral Associate is a consecrated religious sister; I don’t know of any Pastoral Associates who are priests in Australia.

*And you know they are guilty of mortal sin how exactly?
*
The mother and godmother are my nieces and the godfather in married to my niece and so I know them very well.

It’s not your place to tell relatives that they need confession before communion.

If I have a well founded idea that the said relatives are not in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion and I don’t suggest that they go to confession or don’t receive Holy Communion I am letting them commit sacrilege. If I saw someone down a bottle of whisky before getting in the car to drive home would I not be negligent if I didn’t suggest that they sober up before driving?

Their spiritual life is none of your business. Stay out of it.

I am not sure that whether one is in the state of grace is part of the spiritual life.
One of the spiritual works of mercy is to “counsel the ignorant”. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are based on the teaching of Christ and on Church practice since apostolic times.
I would find it very difficult to wash my hands of the potential sacrilegious reception of the Eucharist because I happen to believe that it is the Body and Blood of Christ.

Now that I have told my relatives what they should do I will leave the matter to them and their consciences but I would have gone against my informed conscience not to have told them, all of whom attended Catholic schools for as many years as I did, that they should not receive Holy Communion when not in the state of grace without sacramental confession.

Sacraments should be celebrated with the congregation at all times. Baptism during Mass on Sunday is the proper way to celebrate it.

Objectively speaking Con you are correct. The potential of many people who aren’t in the state of grace committing sacrilege and non-Catholics ditto is a good enough reason as far as I am concerned not to have Baptisms celebrated during Mass. If we ever return to orthodox Catholic Faith instruction from the pulpit and in our schools the problem should disappear.
 
yinekka said:
*And you know they are guilty of mortal sin how exactly?
*
The mother and godmother are my nieces and the godfather in married to my niece and so I know them very .
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That still doesn’t give you the right, and much less the ability, to know the state of their souls. You are appropriating for yourself a power that is God’s alone.
 
1ke said:
it seems to me she was already back as she was having her child baptized.
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Seems to me that Mom’s little reminder gave a little kick to the conscience such that a little extra research was warranted.
 
I think that the OP handled the situation properly. She did not make a pest of herself, but neither did she knowingly encourage non-practicing Catholics to receive communion.
 
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