Effects of Infant vs. Adult Baptism

[Oscarthecat]

I know that some of this seems like i’m drawing fine lines, but it is just one issue in a larger scheme of a local priest who is emphasizing “community effects” of the sacraments, to the exclusion of personal effects, and who is therefore teaching that adult baptism is superior to infant baptism. I understand the scriptural and historical basis for infant baptism- his issues are not scriptural, though, they are social/developmental. I’m really looking for quotable resources that would provide evidence for this post-assuming my thoughts are in line with the Magisterium.

With that in mind, are there any sacramental differences between infant and adult baptism? More specifically, does baptism offer or confer any different sacramental graces to an adult than an infant. As I understand it, the effects of any sacrament can be affected by conditions of the participant (receptivity, etc), such that the graces of a sacrament are available to all, but our individiual reception of those graces vary according to disposition, receptivity, etc.

My instinct tells me that baptismal graces would be available equally to infants and adults, but would be recieved differently according to indiviudal conditions-for example, an adult may benefit greatly from the remission of personal sins, while an infant would not since they do not have the ability to commit personal sin.

Also, I am being taught by a priest that the “sacramental effects” of baptism include the inclusion in the local church community, that this is separate from incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ (the Church), and that this is not conferred in infant baptism because infants have already been included in their local church community by virtue of being born into it. I would think that inclusion into the local church community would be a result of the sacramental effect of incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ (the Chuch), which is the same for both infants and adults, and only differs in that the adult has grown to understand this, while the infant will grow to understand it.

Thanks for any ideas on this!!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I know that some of this seems like i’m drawing fine lines, but it is just one issue in a larger scheme of a local priest who is emphasizing “community effects” of the sacraments, to the exclusion of personal effects, and who is therefore teaching that adult baptism is superior to infant baptism. I understand the scriptural and historical basis for infant baptism- his issues are not scriptural, though, they are social/developmental. I’m really looking for quotable resources that would provide evidence for this post-assuming my thoughts are in line with the Magisterium.

With that in mind, are there any sacramental differences between infant and adult baptism? More specifically, does baptism offer or confer any different sacramental graces to an adult than an infant. As I understand it, the effects of any sacrament can be affected by conditions of the participant (receptivity, etc), such that the graces of a sacrament are available to all, but our individiual reception of those graces vary according to disposition, receptivity, etc.

My instinct tells me that baptismal graces would be available equally to infants and adults, but would be recieved differently according to indiviudal conditions-for example, an adult may benefit greatly from the remission of personal sins, while an infant would not since they do not have the ability to commit personal sin.

Also, I am being taught by a priest that the “sacramental effects” of baptism include the inclusion in the local church community, that this is separate from incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ (the Church), and that this is not conferred in infant baptism because infants have already been included in their local church community by virtue of being born into it. I would think that inclusion into the local church community would be a result of the sacramental effect of incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ (the Chuch), which is the same for both infants and adults, and only differs in that the adult has grown to understand this, while the infant will grow to understand it.

Thanks for any ideas on this!!

Ther is absolutely no Sacramental difference between Baptism of an infant and an adult. The Sacramental effects are exactly the same. The “communial effects” are exactly what you said, the incorporation of the individual into the Mystical Body of Christ. Read ***Mediator Dei ***by Pope Pius XII if you want to see the relationship of Liturgical community action with the Sacraments. A Baptism is an act of Christ through His Church, in which every other Baptized member of the Church participates. It goes far beyond that specific parish community.

 

[palmas85]

The Baptism is the same, bestows the same graces and is no different. I know that Protestants have a different take on things, but for catholics it is the same thing.