Baptism question

[ag123]

I have something of a predicament, which I was wondering if you could
help me with. My whole family (both of my parents and my sister),
converted to Catholicism about ten years ago, however at the time, I
did not feel ready to join them. A few years later, after attending
Catechism classes and masses (I attended Catholic schools for most of my childhood), praying the rosary, and doing some
traveling, I became extremely interested in becoming Catholic, and I
began to look for ways to become baptized. However, my family, because of my father’s job in the military, was unable to stay in the same community for very long, and frequently moved, or stayed with different relatives, and after going through several stages of inquiry and then needing to move, and start all over again, I decided to stop trying. I went to a University, and my course of study, and thesis, were all related to Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and at that time, I was desperate to convert. After starting another stage of inquiry, I had to move out of country for work, and then came back to the states, and started again at another church. It was at this time, I got a job as a foreign correspondent, with work involving extensive travel all over the world. My mother, when I talked about my inability to stay in the same place for a year to do RCIA, thought it was absurd that I could not be baptized, since I was more catechized than she was when she converted, and she baptized me by herself in the way she had been told (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Is this baptism valid?’ I know I do not have a certificate, and I hear that is important for other sacraments, so I want to be official in the eyes of the church, and I really do want to be a practicing Catholic. However, right now I am in the Middle East for two more months, after which I will be going to Canada for 3, and then Arizona for a few after that, so it would be impossible, from my work, to stay in a city for a year to convert. If my baptism was not valid, what do I need to do? Is it a sin for me to take communion? (I have not as of yet, because I want to be sure) What about confirmation? Please help me figure out what my options are, since I want to convert with all of my heart and soul, and I am not sure where the right path lies. What is the suggested route for me to take?

Thank you so much for your time, and thoughts,

Alex

 

[1ke]

My mother, when I talked about my inability to stay in the same place for a year to do RCIA, thought it was absurd that I could not be baptized, since I was more catechized than she was when she converted

Well, she is correct and there are options for people who find themselves in situations such as you have.

and she baptized me by herself in the way she had been told (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

This isn’t one of them. Your mother should go to confession for her part in transgressing the laws of the Church.

Is this baptism valid?’

Yes, and you should **immediately **report this to the parish priest in whose jurisdiction you live. You will need an affidavit from your mother and any witnesses with all the details of the baptism. The priest can supply the remaining parts of the Rite of Baptism (anointing with oil, for example) and can then talk with you about options for Confirmation and Eucharist.

I know I do not have a certificate, and I hear that is important for other sacraments, so I want to be official in the eyes of the church, and I really do want to be a practicing Catholic. However, right now I am in the Middle East for two more months, after which I will be going to Canada for 3, and then Arizona for a few after that, so it would be impossible, from my work, to stay in a city for a year to convert.

You need to contact a local priest (assuming you speak the language) and tell him what has been done. If the local priest is of an Eastern Rite (Chaldean or Maronite for example) then you may need to instead contact the priest in whatever location you call “home” (where your mother lives) and register the baptism there. I assume you are a Latin Rite Catholic. If you are an Eastern Rite Catholic this do-it-yourself baptism presents some other issues. So, start by talking to the local priest and then your mother’s priest if necessary.

Is it a sin for me to take communion? (I have not as of yet, because I want to be sure)
What about confirmation?

Again, you need to talk to the local priest about this situation. You should not present yourself for Communion until it is all sorted out. The priest can assist in completing the sacraments of initiation.

You and your mother have created quite an irregular situation, compounded by you being in a foreign country and possibly without access to a priest of your own Rite.

It can all be worked out, but it would have been better had you simply sat down with a priest and discussed your situation individually. There was no reason to assume you would be unable to be baptized in the right way.

What is the suggested route for me to take?

Make an appointment with your priest.

 

[paduard]

As regards your baptism, I agree it certainly sounds as if it was valid. If you are eventually received into the Catholic Church the priest would probably re-annoint you for baptism as ‘conditional’ to that of your valid one. You cannot be baptised twice - but on the whole reading through your post I think you can rest assured on the matter of validity - best to have a conditional annointing as soon as possible, preferably immediately.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

A couple points of Canon Law here-

Can. 860 §1. Apart from a case of necessity, baptism is not to be conferred in private houses, unless the local ordinary has permitted it for a grave cause.

§2. Except in a case of necessity or for some other compelling pastoral reason, baptism is not to be celebrated in hospitals unless the diocesan bishop has established otherwise.

CHAPTER II.

THE MINISTER OF BAPTISM
Can. 861 §1. The ordinary minister of baptism is a bishop, a presbyter, or a deacon, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 530, n. 1.
§2. When an ordinary minister is absent or impeded, a catechist or another person designated for this function by the local ordinary, or in a case of necessity any person with the right intention, confers baptism licitly. Pastors of souls, especially the pastor of a parish, are to be concerned that the Christian faithful are taught the correct way to baptize.

Can. 862 Except in a case of necessity, no one is permitted to confer baptism in the territory of another without the required permission, not even upon his own subjects.

Can. 863 The baptism of adults, at least of those who have completed their fourteenth year, is to be deferred to the diocesan bishop so that he himself administers it if he has judged it Expedient.

OP, I would certainly talk to a priest, and encourage your mother to do so also.
What she did, IMHO, does not fall within the purview of “necessity” (as in you were on your deathbead), and then there are all the other conditions that were not met, i.e place, permission of the Bishop, etc.
Please do not hesitate to discuss this with a priest!

 

[1ke]

What she did, IMHO, does not fall within the purview of “necessity” (as in you were on your deathbead), and then there are all the other conditions that were not met, i.e place, permission of the Bishop, etc.

All of which makes the baptism illicit, but not invalid, if it was done with proper form and matter.

But yes, absolutely the OP neds to bring the matter to his priest.