Cradle Catholics: How old were you at your Christening?

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Anicette said:
This threat is the ideal place to know the age of the forumers! 😉
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I was afraid some members might be reluctant to give information that would divulge their age. That part can be skipped. I thought there might be more of a difference, say, between the 60s and the 80s, but at least in the USA, the difference is not so much. We tend to get Baptized very young. I remember my own mother getting antsy when we did not have our children Baptized within their first month of life.
 
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What type of preparation is available, and the amount of time required, may depend on where a person lives.

For example, in rural and smaller parishes it may be easier and quicker to arrange for Baptism simply because there’s less demand for it, and Father can initiate private instruction of the parents. For example, I was baptized in a college chapel because that’s where my parents attended Mass. It’s quite possible that with it being on campus there would be fewer young families attending the parish, and likely less demand for Baptism. Then, too, some larger parishes only baptize children on certain Sundays and there may be a wait list.

Sometimes, if there is a formal preparation program, expectant parents may be allowed to attend prior to the birth of their child. This can expedite the Baptism process because they have already completed the required preparation.
 
Anicette said:
In France, today, for all the parishes I seen, there is a preparation of three months for the parents before the christening.
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Same with me. I’ve lived in France for over seventeen years and have seen six parishes in two dioceses during that time.

All have three months of preparation prior to the baptism, but parents-to-be are encouraged to start this process before the child is born. Unless the baby comes really early, it’s still possible to baptize within two weeks following birth.
 
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I was baptised the day I was born as they thought I was dying (was born blue - feared hole in heart). Thus, in the panic, I got lumbered with an awful name too. Turns out I was just cold.:roll_eyes:
 
I was 19 days old in 1968.
My children, born between 1992 and 2002, were anywhere from 1 month to 6 weeks old.
 
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I was thrity days old when I was baptised, confirmed in 10th grade, and christened the “Aurora” - my 3 meter fishing schooner at age 35. The last of which was sold years ago. I was given more oil of chrism when I was ordained 23 years back. So there were various christenings or use of the oils of chrism for various occaisons. Got the annointing when I was medivaced in Iraq.
 
I’ve never needed my certificate of Baptism before since all my recordable sacraments occurred in the same parish.

I decided I needed to find out the date so I ordered my certificate from the parish where I was baptized, confirmed, and married, and where my first two children were baptized. Added their certificates for good measure to have a record in the family Bible.

I was a bit surprised that as the parent who had my children baptized and confirmed I needed their permission to get their certificates of Baptism. I must say that when I was secretary I never had the priest say to me that I couldn’t issue a certificate to the parents of adults and we had many who requested them because when I first started working that was still accepted as a valid document for people who were applying for the Canada Pension Plan or the Old Age Security. .
 
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So you’re waiting for your copies to arrive?

Things are a lot tighter today. When I was a kid you could apply for a social security card from this foldable post card they had in the lobby of the post office. They didn’t require any documentation that I could remember, or even attempt to verify anything. The card showed up in the mail a couple of weeks later.

Back then Baptismal Certificates were often accepted as proff of age ID as long as they had the raised parish seal.
 
I was christened in 1954 and seems everything has changed since then. God bless… Gary
 
s.cono said:
So you’re waiting for your copies to arrive?
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Yes. I suspect, having been born in 1953, that I was taken to church to be baptized on the first Sunday after Mom got out of the hospital. Was born on Fri., Oct. 2nd, so I was probably baptized on the 11th or the 18th depending on how long they kept Mom at St. Jos’.
 
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I was baptized a month after my birth.
Reverted back at age 40.
 
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