Can I baptize my own kids?

[TravisandJill]

Hi, I recently signed up with my husband to attend RCIA in september. I am not baptised but my husband is (although done in a protestant church). After reading this message board I am concerned about my children (ages 5 and 3) being unbaptised. The RCIA director said we could have them baptised once we start our RCIA classes, but that is several months away and I am worried that if they should (God forbid) die before their baptism I will not see them in heaven.This is causing me alot of anxiety…obviously. Would it be ok If I baptised them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy spirit and then had them re-baptised by the priest in several months?

I want be sure they will be in heaven with me.

Thank You, Jill

 

[puzzleannie]

no you may not, only if they were in danger of death and no priest or deacon could be found to do it. You may have your children under age 7 baptized asap, as soon as you can take the parent classes and baptisms are scheduled in your parish. or you may choose to wait until Easter and let the whole family be received at one time. have another conversation with the RCIA director and explain your concerns. If she does not seem to understand, speak with the pastor. Children over 7 participate in the RCIA with their peers at the same time you are in the process with other adults, and you will come together, most likely, for celebration of various rites that punctuate the process, and be baptized, confirmed and make first communion together at Easter.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi, I recently signed up with my husband to attend RCIA in september. I am not baptised but my husband is (although done in a protestant church). After reading this message board I am concerned about my children (ages 5 and 3) being unbaptised. The RCIA director said we could have them baptised once we start our RCIA classes, but that is several months away and I am worried that if they should (God forbid) die before their baptism I will not see them in heaven.This is causing me alot of anxiety…obviously. Would it be ok If I baptised them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy spirit and then had them re-baptised by the priest in several months?

I want be sure they will be in heaven with me.

Thank You, Jill

No, you should not Baptize them unless they are truly in danger of dying before a priest can arrive. You should know how to Baptize, but you should not Baptize them except in a true emergency. If they were to becone seriously ill or injured, contact the parish priest where you will attend RCIA and he will come out to Baptize them if necessary in the hospital.

 

[Christy_Beth]

The hospital may also have a catholic chaplain, if it comes to that. The children are too young to get anything out of the RCIA classes. At their age, baptism would be appropriate, but not first communion, confession and confirmation. These are for a later age.

 

[Muzhik]

Also, I don’t believe you can offer the Sacrament of Baptism since you haven’t been baptized yourself. (I may be wrong on that.)

However, don’t worry about the state of your children’s souls if they should die before they are baptized. The Catholic Church recognizes three forms of baptism: Baptism by Water (what everyone thinks of as baptism); Baptism by Fire (aka Baptism by Blood), when you are martyred for the sake of Christ Jesus while not being baptized by water; and Baptism by Desire, when you’ve made your desire to be baptized known but have not had the opportunity to complete the act. If your children were to die now, they would be covered under Baptism by Desire: you’ve made your desire to have them baptized known, and so G_D would treat them as baptized.

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[1ke]

In danger of death, anyone can baptize whether or not they themselves are baptized. This should be done by pouring water over the head while saying “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” In a case such as this, you should report it to the parish priest as soon as you do the baptism so it can be recorded in the parish records.

Unless there is truly an emergency or danger of death, you should follow the advice of your priest. Do not be troubled over this. God knows your heart, and your desire to baptize your children and your own desire for baptism.

Also, there is no such thing as “rebaptism” so if you were to baptize them, the priest would not be able to baptize them. However, he would be able to complete the Rite of Baptism with anointing.

 

[puzzleannie]

Also, I don’t believe you can offer the Sacrament of Baptism since you haven’t been baptized yourself. (I may be wrong on that.)

However, don’t worry about the state of your children’s souls if they should die before they are baptized. The Catholic Church recognizes three forms of baptism: Baptism by Water (what everyone thinks of as baptism); Baptism by Fire (aka Baptism by Blood), when you are martyred for the sake of Christ Jesus while not being baptized by water; and Baptism by Desire, when you’ve made your desire to be baptized known but have not had the opportunity to complete the act. If your children were to die now, they would be covered under Baptism by Desire: you’ve made your desire to have them baptized known, and so G_D would treat them as baptized.

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(1st paragraph) is wrong, most of second is irrelevant to OPs question.

she needs to speak to her pastor about her child’s baptism it the lay staff people are not giving consideration to her questions

 

[BennyBoy89]

Somewhat irrelevant… but RCIA is not the be-all and end-all of reception into the Church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Also, I don’t believe you can offer the Sacrament of Baptism since you haven’t been baptized yourself. (I may be wrong on that.)

However, don’t worry about the state of your children’s souls if they should die before they are baptized. The Catholic Church recognizes three forms of baptism: Baptism by Water (what everyone thinks of as baptism); Baptism by Fire (aka Baptism by Blood), when you are martyred for the sake of Christ Jesus while not being baptized by water; and Baptism by Desire, when you’ve made your desire to be baptized known but have not had the opportunity to complete the act. If your children were to die now, they would be covered under Baptism by Desire: you’ve made your desire to have them baptized known, and so G_D would treat them as baptized.

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ANYONE Baptized or not can validly Baptize another person who is not Baptized. Two forms of Baptism apply to infants, Water or Sacramental Baptism and Baptism of Blood (Martyrdom).

 

[CalifMomma]

My husband and I had our two young children, ages two and four at the time, baptized last year at our church. I have been baptized, my husband is not. Our priest graciously welcomed the children to be baptized. In turn we have been in RCIA, take our children to Mass, and we are even sending our oldest to Catholic school this year. We made a promise to raise our children in the faith and we are.
It took us a while to get them baptized because we were misinformed about the fact that we couldn’t baptize them in the faith since neither of us were Catholic. After we spoke with the priest and found out yes indeed we could we didn’t waste anymore time.
Speaking with your priest might be a good idea. He will lead you in the right direction.
Best of luck to you.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Speak to the pastor about this. If there is a founded hope that they will be raised Catholic he should be willing to baptize the children. This would be his judgement call. If you have close Catholic friends who would be godparents, that could help to reassure him the children would be raised in the church. Parents of children to be baptized usually go through a short preparation period about the sacrament and this would be a good introduction for you too.

 

[kristie_m]

ANYONE Baptized or not can validly Baptize another person who is not Baptized. Two forms of Baptism apply to infants, Water or Sacramental Baptism and Baptism of Blood (Martyrdom).

Actually, according to my pastor, Baptism of Desire also applies, if you are unable to have the child (prior to the age of consent) baptised, such as the case of miscarriage or still birth. If the parents intend to baptise the child, but are unable to, then that intent will suffice.

(you’re welcome to disagree with me on this, but as this explanation brought my husband and I a great deal of comfort after the loss of our infant daughter, I’d appreciate it if you’d avoid putting any doubt in our minds now.)

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Actually, according to my pastor, Baptism of Desire also applies, if you are unable to have the child (prior to the age of consent) baptised, such as the case of miscarriage or still birth. If the parents intend to baptise the child, but are unable to, then that intent will suffice.

(you’re welcome to disagree with me on this, but as this explanation brought my husband and I a great deal of comfort after the loss of our infant daughter, I’d appreciate it if you’d avoid putting any doubt in our minds now.)

Ok, I won’t.