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geojack
Guest
I was taught that a baby is not supposed to be in church until they are baptised. Is/was this true or were the nuns wrong?
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viktor_aleksndr
Guest
I think babies even baptised are not yet required to attend a Holy Mass for they cannot understand yet the Liturgy.
But there is nothing wrong of bringing a child (batized on unbaptized) in the church but make sure that it will not disturb the on going liturgy.
But there is nothing wrong of bringing a child (batized on unbaptized) in the church but make sure that it will not disturb the on going liturgy.
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kleary
Guest
Actually in the past baptismal rite the baptized person or infant was given a three time exorcism before entering the Church to be baptized.
In the past, even before Trent I believe, the catechumens (those studying to be Catholic and not yet baptized) were allowed to attend Mass, yet had to leave the church before the Mass of the Faithful began which is now called in the Novus Ordo the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Good gravy, of course babies can be in a church building before they are baptized!!! What is one to do with them before that when one must meet their Sunday obligation, lock them in the car with the window partially opened as one would a pet?!?
Clearly, you were told this in a time when mothers stayed off their feet for weeks after birth, and stayed in the hospital for days, even a couple weeks, at a time. Back then, a week’s stay in the hospital after birth was not unusual. Today, if all goes well, the mother and baby barely stay in there 24 hours. If not, it’s two or three days in most cases.
Now, there was a sacramental called “churching” for the mother, to thank God for the safe delivery of her new baby and her own safety. Devout mothers did not go to church until this had been accomplished. Mothers often did not go to their own babies’ baptisms. But again, they were told specifically to stay off their feet for eight weeks.
And parents did not go through a catechesis in baptism sessions before the baby could be baptized. One called the church, set an appointment, gathered the godparents, and had the baby baptized. It was expected that the parents knew what baptism was, and didn’t need to go through any classes (not always true today).
Clearly, you were told this in a time when mothers stayed off their feet for weeks after birth, and stayed in the hospital for days, even a couple weeks, at a time. Back then, a week’s stay in the hospital after birth was not unusual. Today, if all goes well, the mother and baby barely stay in there 24 hours. If not, it’s two or three days in most cases.
Now, there was a sacramental called “churching” for the mother, to thank God for the safe delivery of her new baby and her own safety. Devout mothers did not go to church until this had been accomplished. Mothers often did not go to their own babies’ baptisms. But again, they were told specifically to stay off their feet for eight weeks.
And parents did not go through a catechesis in baptism sessions before the baby could be baptized. One called the church, set an appointment, gathered the godparents, and had the baby baptized. It was expected that the parents knew what baptism was, and didn’t need to go through any classes (not always true today).
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geojack
Guest
I was told this in the early 60’s. By the way I wouldn’t leave a pet in the car either.
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LeahInancsi
Guest
Candidates (those who have been baptized in religions other than the Catholic church) must also leave Mass after the Word of the Liturgy.
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GoLatin
Guest
That is not an absolute requirement. Anyone who wants to, even a Candidate or Catechumen, may stay for the entire Mass.
The original reason for the Catechumens departing after the Liturgy of the Word, was, I believe, that during the era of the Early Church, pagans would sometimes accuse Catholics of being cannibals, because the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. It was thought that it would be better to keep Catechumens from seeing the Eucharist, I guess so that they wouldn’t blab to the pagans, and get the Catholics in trouble.
In the modern era, people have easy access to descriptions of What the Eucharist is. Therefore we have no need to dismiss the Catechumens after the Liturgy of the Word. Parishes that do this are, in my opinion, unnecessarily cruel, and should be reprimanded.
Currently, in RCIA, or religious instruction, we are SUPPOSED to be instructed on what the Eucharist is BEFORE Baptism, so it makes sense to see the actual Eucharist.
If there is a Catechumen who is being prevented from staying for the entire Mass, he should:
- Make a courteous complaint about it.
- If he is actually being prevented from staying for the entire Mass, he should attend another Mass.
- If the situation cannot be resolved, so that he attends the entire Mass, then he should find another Parish, which will “allow” him to attend the entire Mass.
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MusicMan
Guest
My baby (a month old – not yet baptised) was at Mass on Christmas. She slept through it. She’s already better behaved than her father was at that age. 
We’re certainly planning to take her more once she’s baptised, but we see no reason not to in the weeks prior to the baptism either.
We’re certainly planning to take her more once she’s baptised, but we see no reason not to in the weeks prior to the baptism either.
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puzzleannie
Guest
well I went to 12 years of Catholic school, so did my kids, and I never heard this one. What was the custom, even when I had my kids, was that you did not take a newborn out of the house into public places until 6 weeks, I guess to protect against infection etc. When my mom had her kids the custom was 2 weeks in the hospital and another 4 weeks at home recovering, called “lying in”. since back then babies were baptized as soon as possible, often the mother was not even able to come to Church for the ceremony. There was also a custom called “churching” when the new mother came back to Mass for the first time after the baby’s birth and received a special blessing, I believe about 40 days after the birth. Adult Catholics preparing for Confirmation must attend the entire Mass.
with regard to RCIA, the catechumens are the unbaptized, and they may be dismissed after the readings and homily for “breaking open the Word”, an expanded catechesis on the scripture. Candidates are those already baptized in a non-Catholic denomination, and they may stay for the rest of the Mass, and join the class afterwards (or at another time during the week) for the doctrinal portion of the class. the logistics of this vary from parish to parish depending on resources, Mass schedules, needs of the volunteer catechists etc.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
The Church requires that a baby be Baptized within a few weeks of birth. Usually they do not travel outside the home much for those first weeks. Nothing prevents you if you wish to bring a newborn to Mass.
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MusicMan
Guest
Br. Rich SFO:
Sadly, in this day and age, it appears to be a tad bit difficult to coordinate priest’s schedules in order to get a child baptized within a few weeks of birth. My child was born at the end of November and we will not be able to get her baptized until Feburary. I suspect this isn’t quite what the Church had in mind, but what recourse do I have?
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
With the assumption that plans were started well before the baby was born. There should not be any problem with a Baptism within a few weeks of birth. If there is then the Bishop should be contacted. Baptism should not be delayed for scheduling reasons, a Baptism only takes 10 or 15 minutes at most. Church also does not require that they take place during a parish Mass, they should if possible. I can understand that there can be problems that pop up at the last minute. A pastor has an obligation however to follow Canon Law which says that a baby should be Baptized within a few weeks of birth.
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ChristianWAB
Guest
You can bring an unbaptized baby to church. My only pet peeve is the parent who won’t bring her baby outside when the kid starts wailing during the service.
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