Baptize my mother?

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Well here is an interesting turn of events with my mother converting to Catholicism. I have been trying to tell her to go through RCIA, but she has been telling me that she has been busy and maybe after the holidays. I found out she wasn’t baptized so I told her they would do everything for her at the end of the RCIA process.

Well tonight she calls me and told me she found out that anyone could baptize someone and that she wanted me to do it First I don’t want to. I wouldn’t feel comfortable (I’ve been Catholic for 7 months) and secondly I want her to do it in the Church. What is the Churches stance on this? Am I right to say I don’t want to, or would I be with holding baptism to someone who desired it? I don’t know why she can’t wait until the RCIA, but I think it may be because she doesnt want to be baptized in front of a lot of people but I can’t be sure, she may just not want to wait after I told her she needed to be baptized.

I checked the Catechism and it does say anyone can do it but it also says that the ordinary ministers are the bishop and priest.

1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.

Any advice on this?

God bless

 

[Karin]

Tell her to wait for RCIA, unless she is on deaths door…if her issue is that she does not want to be baptized infront of people she should discuss this with the parish priest…they can make accomodations

 

[puzzleannie]

the option for a non-ordained person to baptize is intended only for cases of impending death. you cannot do this.

If her issue is embarrassment at a baptism in front of “all those people” at the Easter Vigil, you and she should meet together with the priest and discuss her concerns. We have a couple of baptism most years on Easter day before a Mass for various reasons, including this one, we just don’t publicize the option. Usually this is a conditional baptism, something highly likely given your mother’s age.

If she has not even started the process and is waiting until after Christmas, it is not likely she will be ready by Easter 2007, unless she already is very firm in her knowledge of the Catholic faith.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Great thanks you two. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt withholding baptism to someone who desired it. I will continue to tell her she needs to have it done in the Church.

God bless

 

[Cristiano]

Great thanks you two. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt withholding baptism to someone who desired it. I will continue to tell her she needs to have it done in the Church.

God bless

This topic has been brought up several times in this forum. Just remember that if she wants to be baptized now and that if she dies by any accident before she is baptized by a priest, I understand that the sacrament of baptism by desire will be automatically conferred to her. Just relax and help her to study to better understand her faith. I also want to congratulate you to be a good role model.