Can baptized infants who die be venerated as saints?

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danhager

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With the death of Alfie Newman, (May he rest in peace, and may eternal light shine on him) I habe a question. Can an infant who dies after he or she has been baptized be venerated privately as a saint? After all, they would possess sanctifying Grace. And the vocation of children with medical problems, so to speak, is to love and be loved for as long as they live.
 
there have to be a couple of miracles and other requirements , if not martyred
 
The first step to Sainthood which is conducted by the Vatican is the status of Venerable. To attain this state of veneration, the prospective Saint must be declared to have lived a life of heroic virtue. The youngest non-martyr to have been declared thus was Jacinta Marto, one of the visionaries of Fatima. Many involved of the process actually saw her age as an impediment, as they were unsure if someone so young could be declared as having lived a life of heroic virtue without being martyred. The primary reason that the Venerable status was originally granted was due to the fact that she, along with the other visionaries, were threatened with martyrdom to recant of the Visions and yet they still stood firm in their faith. They readily accepted the potential martyrdom. Jacinta was 10 when she died, past the age of reason. Both the acceptance of martyrdom and the fact that she was past the age of reason allowed the commission to rule that she lived a life of heroic virtue, thus allowing for the subsequent Beatification and Canonization.

Infants, as they have neither not yet reached the age of reason nor could they to their own martyrdom, cannot fulfill the requirements for Venerable status. There would have to be a special indult by the Pope to allow the Venerable status to be granted or for it to be skipped in favor of direct initiation of the process for Beatification.

This is not to say that private veneration is not possible. There are multitudes of people in heaven who are not recognized by the Church. They may be a saint, but not a Saint, and still intercede for us on earth.
 
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We know that it is God’s intention is to make saints of us all. Therefore, we accept that the actual number of saints in heaven cannot be numbered, as we learn in Revelation. The special distinction of mention in the Liturgy is given to very few of the saints, of course. But the modern world has new assaults on the human person. The claim that life before "viability " is not truly life is one. But there is also the claim that a difficult or medically challenged life is not worth living. Clearly the ordinary magisterium has taught clearly about the absurdity of that claim. But it seems to me that the Church should show concretely that grace, and not human effort, is the means for sanctification. I believe that an infant, having been baptized, is living a life of heroic virtue by being loved, even for a short life, even enduring discomfort or pain.
 
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danhager said:
Can an infant who dies after he or she has been baptized be venerated privately as a saint?
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You do realize that there are unbaptized children who have died that have been made into saints: the Holy Innocents.
 
if they are martyred, it might be appropriate to canonize an infant.

But that would probably be as part of a group I think.
 
What is a saint? A saint is someone who’s in heaven and enjoys the beatific vision.

What is canonization? Canonization is the process by which the Church determines that a specific individual X is, indeed, in heaven and enjoys the beatific vision. But canonization doesn’t add anything to a saint’s greatness-- it’s just a formal acknowledgement of a reality that says, “Yes, this person is definitely in heaven. It’s safe to rely on them.”

In the case of a baby or a small child, there’s nothing to indicate that that there’s anything to keep them from being in heaven-- because they’re too young to have that attachment to sin that would separate them from God.
 
There is nothing wrong with praying for their souls, or asking their intersession with God.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
there have to be a couple of miracles and other requirements , if not martyred
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that’s only to be canonized…there are billions of saints who are not canonized, and venerating those we feel are, only shows the theological virtue of Hope, and is not heretical.
 
Everyone living in heaven is a saint.
Communion of saints, remember?
They might not have performed miracles, or have their mug on a holy card, but they are saints (with a lower case “S”) nonetheless.
I would pray for the repose of their soul over praying as an intercessor.
 
Well, we can be assured of Alfies salvation. He doesn’t even need our prayers.
 
I thought we were discussing baptized infants. Why would they be in purgatory?
 
I think to be considered a martyr, you have to be beyond the age of reasoning, and to be intellectually engaged in spiritual faith/belief. Those who get caught up in such as the Massacre of the Innocent - are holy victims - yes on entering Heaven they join the saints.
 
It is a huge consolation knowing that my grandson who was born at 20 weeks but lived long enough to be baptized is a saint in heaven. The priest even wears white at the funeral mass for a baptized baby to acknowledge this sainthood.
 
Interesting term, “venerated privately.” Other posters have indicated that all baptized babies who have not reached the age of reason, would be with the Father in heaven. As to private veneration, I don’t see anything wrong with it, unless you are in some way trying to deny accepted church teaching as to the canonization and public recognition and devotion to saints. An infant in the situation you state is part of the communion of saints and I believe we pray to and WITH the saints for our needs. To privately pray to Jesus through you little infant is not, IMO, wrong in any manner.
 
Do you mean Alfie EVANS? Poor little one, praying for him and his family.
 
This.

Alfie was baptised prior to his death, and thus we as Catholics can rest assured of his eternal salvation. He died before the age of reason, and if his funeral is a Catholic one, then the colour of vestment and probably casket will be white, and there will be no prayers said for his soul. Instead, prayers for the grieving family will be offered. He is in Heaven. We have no reason to doubt it. He was a poor innocent, and surely joins the ranks of the saints in Heaven as God carried him through this miserable incident that ended his life.

I don’t know if we truly understand the gravity of treatment given to this child. It is horrific, and I am not at all impressed with that hospital nor the presiding judge.
 
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