Can I ask my baptized baby daughter to pray for me?

[Kita]

I have a question regarding a previous answer given to another member’s question. It is regarding praying to deceased family members.

The answer was something about the fact that you can pray to them, however we do not really know where their souls are. But when the Church declares someone a saint, then we can absolutely pray to that saint.

My infant daughter died immediately after birth, she was baptized within the 29 minutes of her life. I was told that she would be a saint in heaven, but of course, she will not be declared a saint, so in this case, would you say she can pray for her family here on earth?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Kita:

My infant daughter died immediately after birth, she was baptized within the 29 minutes of her life. I was told that she would be a saint in heaven, but of course, she will not be declared a saint, so in this case, would you say she can pray for her family here on earth?

Yes, absolutely. Even if she had not been baptized, she could pray for her family on earth and could be asked for her prayers. What the baptism of your daughter assures you of is that she is in heaven. Babies cannot commit personal sin and baptism cleanses them of original sin, assuring us that deceased baptized babies are in heaven. Your daughter will never be declared a saint by the Church but the theology of baptism assures us that she is indeed a saint.