Free will of the infant in infant baptism

[DoubtingKT]

Agreed, you are right!

 

[DoubtingKT]

Thanks HarryStotle, will reflect upon what you are mentioned in relation to Adult Baptism as well!

 

[DoubtingKT]

Thank you everyone for all your contributions and sharing! Truly praise God for revealing more of Him to me everyday, directly and through all of you!

As I was contemplating about what all of you mentioned, praying, and reading up more about it, I have finally reconciled the truths of free will and the grace of God in Baptism - be it infant baptism and/or adult baptism.

Summa Theologica III, Q. 68, A. 4.
Reply to Objection 2. As stated above (1, ad 2; 68, 2) man receives the forgiveness of sins before Baptism in so far as he has Baptism of desire, explicitly or implicitly ; and yet when he actually receives Baptism, he receives a fuller remission, as to the remission of the entire punishment. So also before Baptism Cornelius and others like him receive grace and virtues through their faith in Christ and their desire for Baptism, implicit or explicit: but afterwards when baptized, they receive a yet greater fullness of grace and virtues. Hence in Psalm 22:2, “He hath brought me up on the water of refreshment,” a gloss says: “He has brought us up by an increase of virtue and good deeds in Baptism.”

Interesting and enlightening read:

Roman Catholic Teaching on Implicit Baptism of Desire

Christians of every denomination are Christians because they are validly baptized. They have received the formal Sacrament of Baptism with water. But the Church teaches that there are two other typ…

ronconte.com

http://www.rosarychurch.net/answers/ap072001.html
http://cdn.theologicalstudies.net/19/19.3/19.3.3.pdf

https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/188185.pdf