Baptism for an older child

[shopkins]

My husband is a non practicing Catholic. We have a seven year old and a 20 month old and we are having them Baptized. I have no idea what to do in order to prepare my seven year old for this day. She has questions that I can not respond to.

1. What should i tell her will happen?
2. Is it normal for a seven year old to be baptized?

Thank you!

 

[Phemie]

My husband is a non practicing Catholic. We have a seven year old and a 20 month old and we are having them Baptized. I have no idea what to do in order to prepare my seven year old for this day. She has questions that I can not respond to.

1. What should i tell her will happen?
2. Is it normal for a seven year old to be baptized?

Thank you!

It’s not rare for 7 year olds to be baptized, although children are normally baptized much younger.

What kinds of questions is your daughter asking? It’s probably easier to answer specific questions. Is she being baptized during Mass, with only your family or during a parish baptismal celebration outside of Mass?

 

[kamaan]

My husband is a non practicing Catholic. We have a seven year old and a 20 month old and we are having them Baptized. I have no idea what to do in order to prepare my seven year old for this day. She has questions that I can not respond to.

1. What should i tell her will happen?
2. Is it normal for a seven year old to be baptized?

Thank you!

Baptism of older children does happen, I was 4 when I was baptized (along with my 3 year old sister and 3 month old brother)

I remember that we had lots of meetings with our priest and there were a few videos we had to watch. Have you had to do any of this? Maybe your priest can answer some of her questions?

Also, congratulations!

 

[ConstantineTG]

I guess one has to define what is normal. Of course in the Catholic Church, what is usual is that kids are baptized within the first year since birth. Normally within the first 3 months but depends on the circumstance some wait almost a full year.

If a family converts then its normal that any young children will be baptized with the rest of the family.

If you need help explaining to your child, you can get assistance from your pastor and/or the Catechists for the young children. The simplest explanation is that through Baptism she will become part of God’s family. Its simple and factual and something a child can understand. Now, followup questions will be plenty. So perhaps having your pastor and/or catechists would be very, very helpful for that eventuality.

 

[GaryTaylor]

My husband is a non practicing Catholic. We have a seven year old and a 20 month old and we are having them Baptized. I have no idea what to do in order to prepare my seven year old for this day. She has questions that I can not respond to.

1. What should i tell her will happen?
2. Is it normal for a seven year old to be baptized?

Thank you!

Unfortunatly this has probly become the norm and not the exception these days. Its a teaching process which hopefully your own lifestyle validates. And its wonderfull thinking, God Bless you.

You will watch them grow into grounded adults rooted in a moral lifestyle which promotes life and God. Of course some struggle on the path. But being baptism is a supernatural imposed virtue, and its a blessing from God. Once that takes place Gods existance will be there. There will be a right and wrong process that exists within that child.

Learned behavior also plays an important role. Its each one teach one, and hopefully delete that which you have found in your life to be negative.

Children validate our better thinking and our negative thinking proves to show us our wrongs through them. Its a interesting process without a doubt. They brought me closer to God by confirming my better thinking…

 

[Ignatias20]

My husband is a non practicing Catholic. We have a seven year old and a 20 month old and we are having them Baptized. I have no idea what to do in order to prepare my seven year old for this day. She has questions that I can not respond to.

1. What should i tell her will happen?
2. Is it normal for a seven year old to be baptized?

Thank you!

Let your heart NOT be troubled! You are wanting to do what is best for your child! You are a good Mother!

Listen… I was Baptized at age 24. I was in the USAF at the time. It was simple. A proest and I went into the Church and without sponsors or witnesses and he Baptized me. Just the proest and me!

Lately im some parishes I think the priests have become LAZY. They want to get a large group together and do 30 to 40 youngsters all ay once - not like it used to be when at age 2 weeks you brought the baby for Baptism and that was it. Some places the priest will say the parents have to undergo “instruction”.

Why not just go see the priest IN PERSON and tell him you have a 7 year old who needs to be Baptized. That is it! Do it!

 

[Phemie]

Lately im some parishes I think the priests have become LAZY. They want to get a large group together and do 30 to 40 youngsters all ay once - not like it used to be when at age 2 weeks you brought the baby for Baptism and that was it. Some places the priest will say the parents have to undergo “instruction”.

It’s not laziness, it’s Canon Law which says

Can. 851 The celebration of baptism must be prepared properly; consequently:
1/ an adult who intends to receive baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and is to be led insofar as possible through the various stages to sacramental initiation, according to the order of initiation adapted by the conference of bishops and the special norms issued by it;
2/ the parents of an infant to be baptized and those who are to undertake the function of sponsor are to be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it. The pastor personally or through others is to take care that the parents are properly instructed through both pastoral advice and common prayer, bringing several families together and, where possible, visiting them.

Canon Law also says:

Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:
1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;
2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.

If not celebrated at Mass, bringing several families together for a baptismal celebration ensures that the community is present for what is a truly a moment of community catechesis. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this:

**1234 **The meaning and grace of the sacrament of Baptism are clearly seen in the rites of its celebration. By following the gestures and words of this celebration with attentive participation, the faithful are initiated into the riches this sacrament signifies and actually brings about in each newly baptized person.