Baptism Wait 15 Months

[1ke]

Right, and apparently the Pastor said no, so the answer is RCIC.

Two things:

The pastor didn’t say no. “They” (whoever they is) implied it was a no.

And, there’s no such thing as RCIC. There is only RCIA. When it involves children, separate catechesis is necessary by age groups. But the rites are all the same regardless of age.

 

[1ke]

May I ask why the delay for Baptism…I understand RCIA for confession and confirmation and taking the Eucharist but not for Baptism.

RCIA is the process of initiation for the unbaptized. That’s who it is for.

Those baptized in other denominations can also go through RCIA to be received into the Church and complete their sacramentS, but it isn’t strictly necessary for the baptized.

She’s 10 years old so I don’t think that’s the reason here

Yes, it is. Those over age 7 are adults per Church law as it pertains to baptism.

 

[Allegra]

In our diocese, children who are over the age of seven but under the age of 13 are usually not put in RCIA, but do their instruction through the parish director of Catholic education. Usually, they study privately and meet with the director. It’d be sort of weird to have young kids in an RCIA class and there usually aren’t enough young kids to have their own class.

 

[Annie]

Even though she wants baptism, she does not know enough for the Church to be sure she wants it.

It’s like if I want a car. I may really, really, really want it, but when I find out more about it, say, it’s been in an accident, or it needs work that will cost hundreds of dollars, I may decide against it. As a result, many states require these flaws be revealed before the sale, and other protections for buyers.

Same with the Church

 

[JulianN]

Since she’s 10, she is treated as an adult. This schedule is pretty normal. But you could talk to your pastor about an exception—nothing is hard and fast.

 

[JulianN]

Yes, that’s often (inaccurately) called RCIC. But it’s really just age-appropriate RCIA.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

In our diocese, children who are over the age of seven but under the age of 13 are usually not put in RCIA, but do their instruction through the parish director of Catholic education. Usually, they study privately and meet with the director. It’d be sort of weird to have young kids in an RCIA class and there usually aren’t enough young kids to have their own class.

No one said that children and adults go to class together. That would be inappropriate for either group. But they do go through the rites together. When it’s time for the Rite of Election, for example, both children and adults go to the bishop together.

In parishes with large numbers of unbaptized children, there may be separate classes for them. In parishes with a small number of unbaptized children, it might be handled differently. When I worked with RCIA we sent the children to weekly religious education classes with their peers, then had the children and at least one of their parents meet monthly with our children’s RCIA catechist. That way they got to meet and socialize with other kids their age while receiving the preparation they needed on topics like prayer, the Mass, and the sacraments.

 

[Diaconia]

Actually she will be prepared to receive all three sacraments of initiation simultaneously.

Children over the age of reason (7) are to be baptized, confirmed and communicated at the same Liturgy, typically with all the other RCIA candidates.

At the beginning of the instruction period she will be anointed with the oil of catechumens to help protect her as she studies.

Deacon Christopher

 

[CaptainRedBeard]

As a confirmation Catechist, I can tell you that there is no instructional requirement for the sacrament of baptism. If that is the only sacrament you wish your child to partake in due to parental choices regarding future sacraments, there should be nothing stopping a priest from baptizing.
However, that being said, a priest may not want to do so immediately, because he’d like to see the child on the path toward other sacraments such as first Reconciliation, first Communion and Confirmation. It is likely your priest told you what he did, because he’d like to see your child confirm in a community of their peers and see all four sacraments come to fruition on a singular journey. While it is not required by Catechism or Canon to do so, some priests encourage it due to the responsibility of the Church and Parents in regard to the religious formation of the child.
It’s important to have further dialogue with the priest to really understand his intent and whether or not it fits into the formation journey you have in mind for your child. Perhaps the priest will baptize your child without the initial journey to the other sacraments. Perhaps you will decide that you’d like your child to pursue all four of the initial sacraments. It’s a choice you need to make together with your priest after having all of the information and after you both take time to understand each other.
It sounds like there are some gaps in understanding at this time and further discussion is needed.
Also, many undervalue or don’t understand the journey of confirmation. This journey prepares any who have reached the age of reason to choose whether or not to first participate in the Rite of Acceptance acknowledging basic acceptance of teaching regarding salvation and next to give the Profession of Faith at confirmation. To truly understand what you are professing at confirmation takes time to learn those teachings and then a conscious choice whether or not to adhere to them. So many confirm and say the Profession of Faith without knowing what it is or believing what they say out of culturally going through the motions or because they feel pressured to by family. It’s important that anyone, child or adult, really means the Profession of Faith when they publicly declare it.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

If that is the only sacrament you wish your child to partake in due to parental choices regarding future sacraments, there should be nothing stopping a priest from baptizing.

Doing what you suggest is a problem if the pastor is going to pay attention to pesky things like canon law.

Can. 866 Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, an adult who is baptized is to be confirmed immediately after baptism and is to participate in the eucharistic celebration also by receiving communion.

You also said that no preparation is required for baptism, but again canon law says something else.

Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

 

[1ke]

As a confirmation Catechist, I can tell you that there is no instructional requirement for the sacrament of baptism.

As a confirmation catechist (or any level of catechist) you should know that instruction is required for baptism of adults, and that a child over age 7 is an adult for this purpose.

Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.

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.

Can. 852 §1. The prescripts of the canons on adult baptism are to be applied to all those who, no longer infants, have attained the use of reason.

Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

If that is the only sacrament you wish your child to partake in due to parental choices regarding future sacraments, there should be nothing stopping a priest from baptizing.

It is not the parent’s choice. The norm is RCIA and the priest may choose another avenue for pastoral reasons.

Can. 866 Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, an adult who is baptized is to be confirmed immediately after baptism and is to participate in the eucharistic celebration also by receiving communion

 

[1ke]

Perhaps you will decide that you’d like your child to pursue all four of the initial sacraments.

There are three sacraments of initiation and an unbaptized person does not receive the sacrament of reconciliation during RCIA.

This journey prepares any who have reached the age of reason to choose whether or not to first participate in the Rite of Acceptance acknowledging basic acceptance of teaching regarding salvation and next to give the Profession of Faith at confirmation.

Um…

That’s not what the Rite of Acceptance is. The Rite if Acceptance is for the unbaptized and accepts them into the Order of Catechumens.

It sounds like there are some gaps in understanding

I’ll say.

 

[JulianN]

I can tell you that there is no instructional requirement for the sacrament of baptism. If that is the only sacrament you wish your child to partake in due to parental choices regarding future sacraments, there should b

Yes. There is a requirement for instruction. This is a 10-year-old, who, in the Church’s eyes, has the rights and requirements of an adult. In addition to instructing her, the pastor needs to ensure she desires baptism, confirmation and Communion freely—not because her mother wants it.

And all three sacraments should be administered at the same time.

 

[CaptainRedBeard]

The assumption was that other sacraments are intended. I was responding with that assumption. There are a number of reasons a parent would want their child baptized without the rest of the sacraments initially. I.e. When I was younger I was divorced after having a child (since annulled). I wanted my daughter baptized, but since her mother is Protestant Non-Denominational and my daughter was unable to engage in RCIC and the rest of the sacraments, and won’t be able to until either I am the custodial parent or she is an adult, a priest could allow the baptism with the understanding that I intend to raise her in as Catholic a manner as I am able.
I do not refute anything you said nor did I intend to contradict it. As I stated:

“It’s important to have further dialogue with the priest to really understand his intent and whether or not it fits into the formation journey you have in mind for your child. Perhaps the priest will baptize your child without the initial journey to the other sacraments. Perhaps you will decide that you’d like your child to pursue all four of the initial sacraments. It’s a choice you need to make together with your priest after having all of the information and after you both take time to understand each other.”

 

[JulianN]

But you’re presuming this is someone the Church considers a child. Not a 10-year-old. At 10, it’s important to ascertain that the parent is not the one making the choice —the10-year-old is. And again, all three (not four) sacraments of initiation should happen together and in the proper order.

 

[CaptainRedBeard]

You are correct in that the Rite of Acceptance brings them into the Order of the Catechumens, but you are neglecting what is going on in the Rite. It is a declaration that they have accepted salvation doctrine, particularly the Gospels. See Rite of Christian Initiation For Adults, Rite of Acceptance into the Order of the Catechumens, Candidates’ First Acceptance of the Gospel, p. 52 A-C.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

And now you’re acknowledging that instruction is required since one cannot accept what one doesn’t know.

 

[CaptainRedBeard]

If you are replying to me, I will quote myself again.

“Also, many undervalue or don’t understand the journey of confirmation. This journey prepares any who have reached the age of reason to choose whether or not to first participate in the Rite of Acceptance acknowledging basic acceptance of teaching regarding salvation and next to give the Profession of Faith at confirmation. To truly understand what you are professing at confirmation takes time to learn those teachings and then a conscious choice whether or not to adhere to them. So many confirm and say the Profession of Faith without knowing what it is or believing what they say out of culturally going through the motions or because they feel pressured to by family. It’s important that anyone, child or adult, really means the Profession of Faith when they publicly declare it.”

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

It’s important that anyone, child or adult, really means the Profession of Faith when they publicly declare it.”

Which they do at baptism.

 

[JulianN]

Quoting yourself doesn’t make it clearer. Or correct.

Once the person has reached the age of reason, and is unbaptized, there is no separation of preparation for baptism and confirmation. The person is prepared for, and receives, the sacraments at once, and in the proper order: baptism, confirmation, Communion.

A 10-year-old, for the purpose of this discussion, is not a child. She is an adult.