The rubrics for Baptism allow for baptisms during Sunday Mass, but do not require it. It is praiseworthy to celebrate baptism (occasionally, but not often) during Sunday Mass – after all, it builds an understanding that the sacrament brings a person into a community (and not just creates a celebration for a particular family). Moreover, it gives the opportunity to preach on the sacrament.
While I understand that having Baptism at Mass every week could become a problem, I do not understand why you would not want it at all.
We do it all the time, and the few minutes it takes is barely noticeable. The Creed is omitted when there is a Baptism, and that shortens things somewhat. Usually Father does the opening of the Baptismal rite at the back of the church before the procession, so that cuts some time too. And if there is a reason to be really conscious of a few minutes, the music director can choose shorter music. But this isn’t really necessary. I have never heard anyone complain, and since they vary Masses , if someone minds a few extra minutes, they can go to another Mass. Most people love to see the babies.
I don’t mind a long Mass at all…but to have every Mass extended by baptism would probably cause me to seek Mass elsewhere. Mass is about the Eucharist.
The Mass is about the Eucharist. To have baptism at every Sunday Mass suddenly puts the focus on the baptism. Not to mention those that are there for picture taking that probably won’t be there again til Christmas or Easter. And that seems part and parcel of many baptisms.
Why does everyone presume that having a baptism during Mass will take more time? A carefully-enough planned homily, and the (prescribed) omission of the Creed means that you can easily enough have a baptism and yet not run longer than a regular Sunday Mass!
I don’t know of any parish that does Baptisms at every Mass. They usually are scheduled for one Mass a week, and some weeks there aren’t any. Our parish has 3200 families, and we don’t have them every week. One week they will be at 9am Mass, another at 1045 Mass, another week at 1230 Mass, and one week at 2PM. Other parishes may designate a certain Mass at which they do Baptisms. Last month I didn’t attend one Mass, except for the Easter Vigil, which had a Baptism. Your concerns are unfounded, most parishes are not as big as ours and don’t have that many Baptisms.
This is true. I stand corrected on that on. But your stipulations are not always included…particularly the homily.
I don’t have any concerns…aside from the baptism is usually a side show (and I am not being critical of the sacrament at all) that is attended by people who may well not be there again. I’ve seen that more often than not.
Perhaps it shows the parish is growing. Perhaps it is just a mindless requirement for many.While I understand that having Baptism at Mass every week could become a problem, I do not understand why you would not want it at all.
Baptism is not a “private” thing. We are welcoming, in most cases, a child into the community. WE should not practice our faith in a vacuum, and when Baptisms are done, as a general rule, outside of Mass, I think we are forgetting the fact that we are Community.
In my diocese, funerals are out-pacing Baptisms by 3:1. I welcome a Baptism at Mass anytime, it shows that the parish is growing!!
