Baptism vs. Confirmation

[ThatOneDudeAlex]

I have always been under the impression that baptism was the sacrament where you were declared a Christian. And that Confirmation was the sacrament where you more or less said, “Yeah, I’ve already been a Christian, but I sort of like the Catholic Church more specifically. I’m gonna’ commit to that!” Is this wrong? My whole family went through infant Baptism except my father. He was raised Baptist, and was baptized at the age of ten. When he converted to Catholicism, he was told his baptism was valid, and he wouldn’t have to be baptized again.

Now, I’m hearing that when you are baptized, you are baptized into a specific religion. Basically, what I’m asking is this: What does a person’s baptism proclaim? Their Christianity or their Catholicism?

 

[GloriousOrder]

Baptism is rarely a declaration of anything, at least for Catholics. Perhaps it is a declaration of the parents’ intention to raise the child Catholic, or simply to follow cultural norms. The baby cannot make any profession of faith, so there is no reason to believe this announcement is the central purpose of the sacrament. Baptism exists to wash us clean, open our souls to the Kingdom of Heaven, and to mark us as Christ’s Own. When we receive this very holy sacrament, the chains of Hell are broken and our Lord and Saviour flings wide the solid doors which had sealed us in. He takes us by the hand, and off we go. It is an oath of allegiance, I suppose, but of a greater sort than any spoken pledge.

If Baptism breaks the shackles, opens the great portals to the Kingdom, and brings us into the outside world, Confirmation wipes away the sleep from your eyes after the long presence in the dimmed light of sin. One bath isn’t going to be enough after the rotten stench of sin has infested our corpulent race for so long. This second sacrament of initiation opens the soul’s eyes, adjusting it to the new world, and gives it strength to move forward. Imagine that Baptism is being given a sword; Confirmation is being taught how to use it. You may flail around in the new world, accidentally hitting a demon or two for a while… but wouldn’t you rather have the precise aim of a Christian Jedi?

 

[ctkrcia]

The following must be present in order for a baptism to be considered valid by the Catholic church:

1. 
   *]Flowing Water
   *]Trinitarian formula (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
   *]The person receiving the baptism (or their parents/sponsors) must truly desire baptism.
   *]The person doing the baptizing must intend to baptize that person
   
   I know this sounds “legalistic”, but there are sound reasons for them all. The first two are scriptural. The third is there so one will not be baptized against their will. The fourth is to verify the intent of the act (as opposed to pushing your sister in the lake and then her claiming it was baptism).
   
   From a Catholic perspective, if the above conditions are all met, the person is a validly baptized Christian. This is regardless of the faith tradition in which the baptism occurs.
   
   Scripture tells us there is “One Lord, one faith, and one baptism”. For those who are validly baptized, they receive the graces of the sacrament. This puts an indelible mark on the soul of that person. St. Paul calls it the “circumcision of the heart”. There are some traditions that determine that a person needs to be rebaptized. If a person is already validly baptized and they go through another baptism, all they will get is WET!
   
   Therefore, baptism declares a person is a Christian. Baptism in a Catholic church brings additional responsibilities, but they don’t come into play until that person is at least a teenager.
   
   You mention that you heard when a person is baptized they are baptized into a specific religion. Was the person who told you this a non-Catholic? If so, that may be their interpretation. But the Catholic position is and has always been as described above.
   
   Peace and grace!

 

[Jim_Roberts]

It is absolurly CORRECT to say your father’s Baptism was VALID!!!

Once you are Baptised an any denominartion, you do not have to be baptised again.

So, remain at peace because your father’s Baptism is VALID!!!

 

[jmjconder]

**There are two sacraments that are often valid in other denominations…Baptism and Marriage.

At Baptism one becomes an adopted son or daughter of God - assuming the proper matter and form are used. Baptism is “the sacrament in which, by water and the word of God, a person is cleansed of all sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life.” Fr. John Hardon

Marriage is another that is often valid - even outside of the Catholic Church if matter and form were followed ~ even in a civil wedding.**

 

[ltwin]

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