Baptism of Desire

[mouse333]

I recently decided to believe what a priest taught me (believing what you believe is a good thing!) about baptism of desire. Because of my family, a disability that makes it difficult to be around people, and my location in a hostile environment, I have not had the opportunity to join RCIA classes. I am not baptized in any faith. Neither was my mother or her mother, so obviously she didn’t take care of getting her kids baptized and my father, tho baptized, didn’t take care of it either. After a lifetime of religious confusion and many years of listening to Christian pop rock on the car radio, I have become a confirmed believer in what I know of the holy apostolic church. I pray the rosary; I pray. I do no work on Sundays. I wear a cross. I pray constantly and efficaciously. I have recently sorted out a lifetime illness through faith.

The priest said that if you desire a sacrament you may ask God for it and he will give it to you. He also said that I should formalize the baptism when possible, but that time has not come. I am stating this because I am a trial member and I have called myself Catholic and don’t want to mislead. I truly believe what the Priest said in hope and faith. I have waited so long for the opportunity to formalize baptism that the time seems to have passed me by.

 

[tm21]

Mouse 333 - Christ awaits you in the Sacrament of Baptism! Why wait any longer? Your relationship with Christ and the Church is your first priority, Entrust your other relationships to Jesus your Savior. See your priest right away…don’t wait any longer. He will likely want you to take some classes at the Church first. God bless you. I’ll be praying you have the courage to start the process of receiving the Sacraments. Remember…Christ was willing to enter humanity, suffer and die so that you could have the benefit of a Sacramental life!

 

[MarcoPG]

Exactly, if you WANT to, you are actually ready. You could read acts and see how sudden the decision can be! Sure it would be better and necessary to study the Word, but baptism is the beginning.

Oh and just this. The desire to be baptised is not the baptism of desire . the baptism of desire is for people who want to but can’t receive it (because of death principally), so the family or so can pray- God to baptise him/her, knowing that is what he/her wanted.
If you saw a priest once, it could be that you see him twice! So don’t wait too long if you know it is for you.

Acts 8

Philip and the Ethiopian
…35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”…

 

[mouse333]

The Priest who told me about Baptism of Desire is in Florida. I have relocated to Pennsylvania. It is hard to get to know people here. My mother and father live here and my son is here with me, but I have been chiefly preoccupied with getting some serious medical concerns resolved. I attended the local Catholic Church once, couldn’t take communion of course; they were a warm and joyful group of people. It is a very large congregation. I would like to join, but feel like a stranger here. My parents both profess atheism although my father’s father was Catholic; and even at their elderly age they have considerable social influence.

 

[grannymh]

The Priest who told me about Baptism of Desire is in Florida. I have relocated to Pennsylvania. It is hard to get to know people here. My mother and father live here and my son is here with me, but I have been chiefly preoccupied with getting some serious medical concerns resolved. I attended the local Catholic Church once, couldn’t take communion of course; they were a warm and joyful group of people. It is a very large congregation. I would like to join, but feel like a stranger here. My parents both profess atheism although my father’s father was Catholic; and even at their elderly age they have considerable social influence.

Thank you for sharing. I admire your courage.

I do not know if any of my suggestions will work. However, I hope you will consider them and then make your own decision as to what you will try.

Since you mentioned that the Church was a very large congregation, I bet there are a lot of “strangers” there. My suggestion is that it is o.k. to feel like a stranger there. As you have said in other places, you are not a stranger to Jesus.

Large congregations have Sunday bulletins with loads of information. They usually have a website with all kinds of interesting items. My suggestion is to read the bulletin and visit the website. The website should be listed in the bulletin. If it cannot be found, a quick phone call to the Parish Office will give you that information. Obviously, this means going back to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to get a bulletin. Or it means that you visit the Church if it is open during the day. Bulletins are usually some place in the Church lobby or near Church doors. Or it means a brief visit or phone call to the Parish Office to get the internet address for the Parish website.

In my humble opinion, it is always good to learn about a Church Parish. Parish secretaries have met every kind of person so, in a sense, you would not be a stranger.

Another suggestion is to read some of the stories in the four Gospels. You probably do this already. You have the courage to imitate those people who came to Jesus for help. Please think about using that courage to go to another Sunday Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Please keep the desire to be baptized.

If you wish, we can continue this conversation.

 

[Cider]

I suggest you contact a local priest where you are living now and explain whatever your personal impediments are to RCIA and see what he says. Maybe you can work something out so that you can be baptized. I can tell you that when I was in RCIA and had a very close call with a serious car accident it made me very uncomfortable that I wasn’t baptized yet, even though I do trust my priest and RCIA director when they told me even if I had died, baptism of desire would have applied in my case.

 

[WilT]

The Priest who told me about Baptism of Desire is in Florida. I have relocated to Pennsylvania. It is hard to get to know people here. My mother and father live here and my son is here with me, but I have been chiefly preoccupied with getting some serious medical concerns resolved. I attended the local Catholic Church once, couldn’t take communion of course; they were a warm and joyful group of people. It is a very large congregation. I would like to join, but feel like a stranger here. My parents both profess atheism although my father’s father was Catholic; and even at their elderly age they have considerable social influence.

Mouse333, what I have found and it seems you have as well is to find Christ and keep Him close. Focus on God and His love throughout the day even in the hellish environment you say you live in. Focus and pray throughout the day with quick prayers such as; I love you Lord, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary pray for me. God give me strength. And when and if you get a chance, read the bible. To know Christ is to Love Him. He will be known in the Bible as well. I’ll keep you in my prayer. May the Lord our God assist you with all your needs. Amen.

 

[mouse333]

Thank you for these many helpful replies. I will make another effort to visit the local parish Church, and continue to pray throughout the day. Thank you for your support.