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likuske
Guest
Why do some dioceses allow baptisms during lent while others do not?
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japhy
Guest
You’d have to ask those dioceses. There is nothing in Canon Law or the Church’s tradition which forbids baptisms during Lent. Infants should be baptized as soon after birth as is reasonable (in the early Church, they would not even wait a week!).
Now, adult baptism is another matter. The Easter Vigil is the preferred time for adults to enter the Catholic Church through the sacrament of baptism.
Now, adult baptism is another matter. The Easter Vigil is the preferred time for adults to enter the Catholic Church through the sacrament of baptism.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Lent is a penitential season, celebrations are prohibited except on Sundays which are not penitential days. The old canon law used to prohibit Baptism during this season, except in cases of necessity. The current canon law does not prohibit Baptism during Lent. A local Bishop however can place certain restrictions on the celebration of Sacraments that apply only in his diocese. Which is why you may see a difference between diocese.
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pro_multis
Guest
Since sundays between ash wednesday and easter are not part of lent, will bishop allow baptisms on those days? Also, be advised that you, personally, can baptize a person at any time, if it is necessary. Do you know someone who desires to be baptized during lent?
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Chatter163
Guest
I do not believe that this is accurate. Please provide a citation. Thanks.
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cameron_lansing
Guest
I do not think that is found in the 1917 Code. Canon 770 of that code read quam primum (generally translated as soon as possible) and the obligation was grave. In one case before that (1902), the Congregation for Propaganda set a time of 8 days, and when needed, private rather than solemn baptism should be given rather than waiting. Canonists of the day held that baptism could not be delayed more than a month without gravely sinning against the law. Both private and solemn baptism could be given on any day.
However, there might be some canon of a particular council of a much earlier period, and someone familiar with the pre Tridentine period might address that.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
I will accept a correction but something, if not canon law, strongly suggested that solemn Baptism not be celebrated during Lent prior to the 1960’s, or maybe that was Marriage? At this time most Baptisms were private usually on Saturday morning. Today nothing prohibits baptism but many older priests still won’t Baptize or allow Marriages during Lent.
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puzzleannie
Guest
no you may not except if the candidate is in danger of death, and then only of a cleric is not available. It is illicit to attempt it otherwise. If you know someone who has an infant in need of baptism, send them to their pastor. If you know an adult who desires baptism, send him to the pastor of the closest Catholic Church.
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Phemie
Guest
I don’t think that was about Baptism because everyone I know was brought to church for baptism on the first Sunday out the hospital, regardless of when that was. I’m looking at a copy of my home parish’s registers and seeing lots of baptisms during Lent in the years between 1848 - 1920.
I haven’t found that it’s typically the older priests who don’t want to celebrate Baptisms during Lent but rather the same priests who would empty the fonts and put sand in them.
Marriages OTOH are ‘to be discouraged’ during Lent and Advent. If celebrated they must conform to the season (following the rubrics regarding flowers, music, etc.)
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Brendan
Guest
I would strongly disagree, if anything, the pre_Vatican II Church encouraged, if not mandated, that Baptism be done as soon as possible. Within a few days after the baby came home from the hosptial.
My brother was Baptized during Lent.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
It was Marriage that could not be celebrated in Lent. My 1949 Baltimore Catechism says that the ceremony etc must be kept low key and the Nuptial Mass is not allowed in Lent or Advent. The 1908 Our Church, Her Children, and Institutions [Angel Guardian Press] says the solemnity of marriage is not allowed from the First Sunday of Advent till after Twelfth day and from Ash-Wednesday till after Low Sunday [now the Second Sunday of Easter.]
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benedictgal
Guest
The only source that I remember is from Pope Benedict’s autobiography, Milestones. He was born on the morning of April 16, 1927, Holy Saturday morning, and was taken to his parish church and baptized a few hours later. While this may not be canon law, maybe this reference would help.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
It may very well be Marriage that I have confused Baptism with.
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likuske
Guest
I just had a baby and want to baptize him and we are doing it at my husband’s home parish but we and the godparents are taking classes close to where the godparents live (so it’s more convenient for them and so they don’t have to travel far for the class). They live very close to the boundary between two dioceces and I was looking into classes at two different churches that are closest to them but each belong to a different dioceses and found out each had different rules regarding baptism.
One was very strict about it and does not allow baptisms during lent and have many requirements just to take the class (permission from pastor of parish where child is being baptized, baptism, holy communion, confirmation, and marriage certificate of godparents and parents, and a whole list of other requirements just to take the class). I talked to the person in charge and they said we would have to make an appointment and talk to another person who is in charge of the classes about it. While this other parish we went to for info was very simple and clear. I spoke to the deacon and he said that we don’t need any certificates we just show up and take the hour long class and he would give us a certificate for attending the class that we can take to the parish where we are baptizing plus they do allow baptisms during lent. With the other parish everything was so confusing and discouraging while with the last one it was so easy and simple. I was just wondering why such the big difference.
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Chatter163
Guest
True, as advent and lent were “closed” seasons to marriage. In the present day, advent is not closed, but in lent pastors are reminded that weddings should be simple affairs, if they are done at all. There are traditional-minded pastors of any age who will not permit marriages at all during lent. EF communities do not, and many of those would not even permit them in advent.
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Phemie
Guest
One parish is insisting on being sure that the rules on godparents are observed, the other is taking people’s word for it or not being vigilant.
Godparents have to be baptized Catholics, 16 or older who have received the sacraments of Eucharist & Confirmation and who are living lives consistent with what the Church teaches. That means that they can’t be living common-law (reason for all the certificates the first place requires). Some parishes/dioceses are stricter than others on how they go about verifying these things.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
I think it was Mother Angelica who related that she was 2 or 3 months old by the time she was baptized. The priest commented to her mother something to the effect -Were you waiting until she could walk in on her own?
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
These two lines were found in the diocesan (diocese of Norwitch) guidelines for Lent:
"The celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism is discouraged during the Season of Lent. Because of the nature of the Season, Easter is the most appropriate time for Baptism.
Following the ancient tradition of the church, the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage is also discouraged."
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