Did I recieve the baptism of desire?

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InJesusItrust

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This might sound strange, but I assure you I am sane. I pleaded with God as an atheist to give me an experience so I could have faith.

I experienced many things over time. One of the things I experienced was invisible water being sprinkled all over me. This was after I begged God to get me baptized because I couldn’t physically do it at the time.

I have heard of invisible stigmata but never heard of a Catholic feeling a spiritual baptism. I am wondering if I have been baptized. If so, I feel scared because I have committed mortal sins since then and I do not remember all of them. Since baptism is a one time thing, have I been validly baptized? Can I be baptized again or will it be superfluous? I am afraid that I am not in a state of grace and since I cannot confess every sin (don’t remember them) I might go to hell if I die, maybe even after converting.
 
You are confusing the baptism of desire with the desire of being baptized. The first requires the latter but not vice versa. When you will be baptized with the use of water and the Trinitarian formula it will be for the first time and your sins will be washed away.
 
Not sure I can comment on the experience you had, but if anyone has the sufficient knowledge and would accept Baptism at the drop of a hat if given the chance is under a baptism of desire if he/she dies.
 
InJesusItrust said:
Since baptism is a one time thing, have I been validly baptized? Can I be baptized again or will it be superfluous? I am afraid that I am not in a state of grace and since I cannot confess every sin (don’t remember them) I might go to hell if I die, maybe even after converting.
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Only God can know if baptism of desire has taken place. The rule about baptism being a one time thing only applies to physical baptism. You should speak to a priest about getting baptized. It is not necessary to remember all one’s sins at Confession. We have to try to remember all our mortal sins and confess them, but any that we have inadvertently forgotten will also be forgiven.
 
Baptism of Desire is a theological position which holds that those who explicitly desire Baptism, however die before hand might have received the Sacramental effects of baptism; the washing away of Original Sin. However Baptism of Desire is only effected upon one’s death. This is obviously not the case in regards to you.

A valid Baptism requires the matter, form, and intent of the Sacrament.

the matter being water, the person being Baptised, and a minister of the Sacrament (usually a priest, but can be anybody with the right intent in case of emergency)

the form is the act of washing with water while saying the Trinitarian formula; “I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Ghost/Spirit.”

the correct intent is to wash away original sin, or at the very least the intent to do what the Catholic Church does in regards to the Sacrament.

It’s wonderful that you’re coming home to Christ’s Church! And don’t worry about not remembering all sins between your Baptism and first confession (or between confessions), If you confess to the best of your ability mentioning all sins (in kind and number) that you do remember, and receive absolution, then all your sins will have been absolved!

If you find you can’t confess regularly, or fall into mortal sin between confessions, try to work up perfect contrition, and say an Act of Perfect Contrition. Perfect Contrition is the sorrow one feels for having offended God, and the desire to confess through love for God. An Act of Perfect Contrition with this intent returns one to a State of Grace!

God Bless!
 
Thanks for the replies. I was afraid that I couldn’t be forgiven for forgotten sins and had a baptism.
 
Well, even Jesus was baptised with water, by John.

So, get 'er done! 😉
 
InJesusItrust said:
Thanks for the replies. I was afraid that I couldn’t be forgiven for forgotten sins and had a baptism.
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Get baptized!

Also you can be forgiven for forgotten sins, you can be forgiven for anything as long as you truly repent (in case you forget sins after you get truly sacramentally baptized).
 
Speak to your priest about entering RCIA and getting baptised. Most RCIA programs end their formal year after Easter and start up again in the fall/late summer. Your parish or diocese will likely have other programs you can join, like a scripture study or devotional group.
 
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