Z
zhoudu
Guest
Hi everyone,
I want to ask a question: If an adult receives a valid baptism but without contrition, will all of his sins be forgiven?
I have this question because I may be in a similar situation. I was a Protestant at first, and received baptism in a Protestant church. Later, I wanted to become a Catholic, and received baptism again in a Catholic church. Later, I realized that my first baptism might be valid, and if so, then my second baptism is not valid. But, when I received the first baptism in that Protestant church, I did not make contrition, because I was not instructed to do so. So, I am not sure whether my sins were forgiven at that baptism. I asked several Catholic priests, but their answers were different. Some of them said that as long as a person received a valid baptism, all of his sins were forgiven, regardless of whether he made contrition at that baptism. But some others of them said that maybe my sins were not forgiven at baptism because of the lack of contrition.
The former opinion seems to be supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The article 1263 of this catechism says “By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” And, after searching the chapter of baptism in this catechism, I did not find any article saying that baptism requires contrition in order to forgive sins.
But, the Catechism of Saint Pius X says “An adult who is being baptised, besides faith, should have at least imperfect contrition for the mortal sins he may have committed.”, and “If an adult was baptised in mortal sin without such sorrow he would receive the character of Baptism, but not the remission of his sins nor sanctifying grace. And these two effects would be suspended, until the obstacle is removed by perfect contrition or by the sacrament of Penance.”
So, which opinion is correct?
Besides, I feel a little strange on the opinion that as long as a person received a valid baptism, all of his sins were forgiven, regardless of whether he made contrition at that baptism. Catholicism teaches that baptism given by a heretic can be valid. So, let us imagine this: If a heresy teaches that as long as a person is baptised, he will be saved and go to the heaven, and then a evildoer, who has not yet been baptised, believes this heresy, and receives a valid baptism, thinking that he can just continues his evil way and still goes to the heaven. In this case, this evildoer receives a valid baptism while still sticking to sins. Does even such a person gets forgiveness of all his sins from baptism? It seems a little strange if yes.
So, does a valid baptism always brings forgiveness of all sins, or only does so on certain conditions?
I want to ask a question: If an adult receives a valid baptism but without contrition, will all of his sins be forgiven?
I have this question because I may be in a similar situation. I was a Protestant at first, and received baptism in a Protestant church. Later, I wanted to become a Catholic, and received baptism again in a Catholic church. Later, I realized that my first baptism might be valid, and if so, then my second baptism is not valid. But, when I received the first baptism in that Protestant church, I did not make contrition, because I was not instructed to do so. So, I am not sure whether my sins were forgiven at that baptism. I asked several Catholic priests, but their answers were different. Some of them said that as long as a person received a valid baptism, all of his sins were forgiven, regardless of whether he made contrition at that baptism. But some others of them said that maybe my sins were not forgiven at baptism because of the lack of contrition.
The former opinion seems to be supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The article 1263 of this catechism says “By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” And, after searching the chapter of baptism in this catechism, I did not find any article saying that baptism requires contrition in order to forgive sins.
But, the Catechism of Saint Pius X says “An adult who is being baptised, besides faith, should have at least imperfect contrition for the mortal sins he may have committed.”, and “If an adult was baptised in mortal sin without such sorrow he would receive the character of Baptism, but not the remission of his sins nor sanctifying grace. And these two effects would be suspended, until the obstacle is removed by perfect contrition or by the sacrament of Penance.”
So, which opinion is correct?
Besides, I feel a little strange on the opinion that as long as a person received a valid baptism, all of his sins were forgiven, regardless of whether he made contrition at that baptism. Catholicism teaches that baptism given by a heretic can be valid. So, let us imagine this: If a heresy teaches that as long as a person is baptised, he will be saved and go to the heaven, and then a evildoer, who has not yet been baptised, believes this heresy, and receives a valid baptism, thinking that he can just continues his evil way and still goes to the heaven. In this case, this evildoer receives a valid baptism while still sticking to sins. Does even such a person gets forgiveness of all his sins from baptism? It seems a little strange if yes.
So, does a valid baptism always brings forgiveness of all sins, or only does so on certain conditions?