'Baptized' by grandmother?

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Grandparents can definitely have an influence on later generations. I’ve had people in RCIA before who were influenced by having gone to Mass with their grandparents when they were young. I think thats a wonderful gift that the grandparents have given their grandchildren!

I just have real problems with taking an action and keeping it secret. The parents should know what’s happening to their child and the child should know his or her status. If you hide what you’re doing then you know you shouldn’t be doing it.

 

[babochka]

If your grandmother was “deeply devout” she would have known to report the baptism to the parish priest so there would be a record of it.

Not necessarily. Many people know that anyone can baptize in the case of an emergency and how to validly baptize, but have no idea that they should follow up.

 

[Steeevyo]

I am excited to find out if she reported the baptism with her parish and a record was made of it. I am not expecting it though. My aunt told of my grandmother’s response as a certain stubborn reaction that would have been typical for her character when self aware of her wrong doing.

 

[Phemie]

Putting bureaucracy ahead of spirituality… not good.

I would say just the opposite. He put confidence ahead of bureaucracy.

 

[babochka]

Did she intend to baptize you into the Mystery of Christ, that you may die to the world so as to become a member of His Body? Valid intention is a must.

A person baptizing must intend what the Church intends. They don’t have to understand or even know what the church intends.

 

[Spyridon]

person baptizing must intend what the Church intends. They don’t have to understand or even know what the church intends.

Very true.

If they intend to baptize you in order to clean your skin, that would be invalid.

If they intend to baptize you to baptize you into the Church and the Gospel, that would be valid.

 

[Ginmer]

I am a grandma who did it 15 years ago and never er reported it

 

[Arkansan]

How is what he said doing that?

 

[Arkansan]

You need to:

Can. 878 If the baptism was not administered by the pastor or in his presence, the minister of baptism, whoever it is, must inform the pastor of the parish in which it was administered of the conferral of the baptism, so that he records the baptism according to the norm of ⇒ can. 877, §1.

 

[Steeevyo]

Did you tell your grandchildren? If not you definitely should.

 

[Ginmer]

No I didn’t but I will

 

[Augustinian]

If they intend to baptize you in order to clean your skin, that would be invalid.

More realistically, if the baptism was part of a theatrical performance- like the baptism of Michael Frances Rizzi in The Godfather, it isn’t valid

 

[1ke]

You need to talk to your pastor about this!

 

[pianistclare]

Then you should. The parish of record needs to make note of it for possible future reference.