Have you baptized?

[JMJ_coder]

This thread is for non-ordained Catholic laity. The Church grants that in dire necessity, anyone can baptize with the right intention and with the proper form. I’m just curious if anyone here has ever found themselves in such a situation – I’d like to hear your story.

 

[stbruno]

I work as a triage nurse in an emergency room in a Catholic hospital, and yes, one time I did baptize two children brought in with smoke inhalation. The children were just clinging to life by a thread and the chaplain was unavailable. So I baptized the two who died shortly afterward.

 

[Brendan]

Thank God, no.

But when each of my children were being born, I had a glass of warm water nearby, just in case.

My father is a retired family practice\OB physician.

He baptized several infants who were not going to live long after birth.

 

[twosweetgirls]

What touching stories. I think this thread may make me get the Kleenex.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I remember my mother telling us that she had “baptized Daddy” once when he was sick. Apparently, he was unconscious. And he did recover.

My dad came from a non-Catholic family… and wasn’t sure if he had ever even been “christened” by his parents.

There was no more mention made of it, that I was aware of. So… I’ve often wondered if my mothers attempt to baptize him, was valid.

 

[armywife]

No, but before my husband started RCIA I used to carry holy water with me all the time. He’s never been baptized and being military we travel a lot, so I told him if something happens… he’s getting baptized.

 

[Jsmith17]

No, but before my husband started RCIA I used to carry holy water with me all the time. He’s never been baptized and being military we travel a lot, so I told him if something happens… he’s getting baptized.

hmm… This gives me an image of a sneak-attack baptism.

Walking down the sidewalk… husband trips… then POW! “I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER…”
jk

 

[Prague]

I baptized a baby of just 22 weeks. Patient came into office with contractions. Just before Dr. came hurrying into the room she lost the baby. I grabbed some H2o and baptized.
Patient at that time did not know this as we sent her to hospital by ambulance as she was bleeding profusely.
When she returned for check-up she was still quite upset, and while I was talking to her she mentioned they had a funeral and buried the baby in the family plot, but was still worried about the little one because she was not baptized.
I told her she was baptized by me at that time, but because of the emergency situation I did not tell her, and at that time, I didn’t know she was Catholic.
She was quite happy and later she once again became pregnant and had another little girl and named her after me.
The date this happened was Christmas eve.

 

[jean8]

I work as a triage nurse in an emergency room in a Catholic hospital, and yes, one time I did baptize two children brought in with smoke inhalation. The children were just clinging to life by a thread and the chaplain was unavailable. So I baptized the two who died shortly afterward.

I think that’s wonderful. If they were my children I would be very thankful. but then, my children would’ve been baptized.

jean8

 

[jean8]

No, but before my husband started RCIA I used to carry holy water with me all the time. He’s never been baptized and being military we travel a lot, so I told him if something happens… he’s getting baptized.

I’m curious, would this be a valid baptism with the Church, in the case of an emergency?

jean8

 

[Red_Meg]

I miscarried last fall. I conditionally baptized the baby immediately in the bathroom sink. It was heartbreaking, but at least I knew I’d done the best I could for the baby.

Prague-- you’re a gem. God bless you for taking care of that baby when mama was incapacitated.

Margaret

 

[Prague]

Thanks Margaret. I am the Godmother of that little girl and she is now a momma.

 

[Jsmith17]

I’m curious, would this be a valid baptism with the Church, in the case of an emergency?

jean8

CCC:

1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a nonbaptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.

 

[Jsmith17]

I miscarried last fall. I conditionally baptized the baby immediately in the bathroom sink. It was heartbreaking, but at least I knew I’d done the best I could for the baby.

Margaret

Just some semantics, but what you performed was an emergency baptism, not a conditional one. It is just as valid and efficacious as if it were performed by a priest.

A conditional baptism is given to someone who was previously baptized, but for whatever reason there is doubt as to its validity.

 

[armywife]

hmm… This gives me an image of a sneak-attack baptism.

Walking down the sidewalk… husband trips… then POW! “I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER…”
jk

LOL, It was pretty much like that. Have you seen the movie Nacho Libre? He does a sneak baptism on his wrestling partner. It’s the funniest thing I have ever seen. Totally worth the rest of the movie for that one scene. My hubby and I being the only Catholics in the audience (there was only around 10 people in the theater) were DYING laughing way past the scene. It was too much!

After he decided he wanted to convert I didn’t worry so much since I figured he has a baptism of the heart until the real thing.

 

[Red_Meg]

A conditional baptism is given to someone who was previously baptized, but for whatever reason there is doubt as to its validity.

I understand that. There was a very high likelihood that the baby was no longer alive, which is a prerequisite for being validly baptized. On the advice of my priest (I knew the miscarriage was coming) I conditionally baptized, since it was questionable that the baby was in fact capable of receiving the sacrament.

Margaret