A 39 year old man died in his sleep, has never had any religious training. Was not baptized but expressed the desire to be baptized but never got around to it. His
fiance is concerned with the state of his soul.
Unfortunately no one can tell you about the state of his soul or his eternal destination. All we can do is pray for those who have died without Christ.Baptism is required for salvation, however there is the “baptism of desire” If the man had the desire to be baptized and made perfect contrition for his sin, that would make up of the omission of water baptism.
Fr. Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary
Baptism of desire: the explicit or implicit desire for sacramental baptism associated with perfect contrition (contrition based on charity).
Catechism of the Catholic Church
1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
1260 “Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.”
62 Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.
**From the Catechism of St. Pius X **
“If he is outside the Church through no fault of his, that is, if he is in good faith, and if he has received Baptism, or at least has the implicit desire of Baptism; and if, moreover, he sincerely seeks the truth and does God’s will as best he can such a man is indeed separated from the body of the Church, but is united to the soul of the Church and consequently is on the way of salvation.”
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
