N
nodito
Guest
OP, what is it that makes you doubt your baptism? Did they use the formula, “I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?” Did they use water?
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J
Jesus_Is_God_1
Guest
Yes, the Pastor said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” and he dunked me under the water.
N
nodito
Guest
So you are baptized. Completely, fully, without reservation. And you are just as baptized as I am or my children or anyone baptized within the walls of a Catholic Church.
Honestly, it sounds like you’re being tempted. The devil doesn’t like losing souls to Christ’s Church.
7
7_Sorrows
Guest
How long have you been Catholic if I may ask?
J
Jesus_Is_God_1
Guest
2 and a half years.
T
tafan
Guest
And you remember it clearly? . . Then why do you think it was not valid?
Water, the correct words: what’s the problem? .
A
angell1
Guest
it is scrupulosity.
you get these “what if” thoughts in your head that just refuse to go away for long periods of time. temptation from the devil. try the prayer to st. Michael
your baptism was deemed to be valid, you do not need a conditional baptism. in fact, in some situations, the person who baptized you doen’st even need to be a christian
7
7_Sorrows
Guest
I would make an appointment with your priest and discuss your feelings with him.
I don’t know why you would not feel like a Christian anymore.
M
Mike1955
Guest
Re-baptism is not a solution to your issues. You have been baptized already. The Church, which is the Authority on this issue, accepts your baptism as legitimate. The Sacrament has been performed and completed.
You need a full confession of your sins and your doubts and concerns with your priest. Be honest with him about your fears, your feeling of being kicked (emotionally and spiritually) repeatedly in the gut. Explore the problem with a wise and experienced guide!
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be upon you.
You need a full confession of your sins and your doubts and concerns with your priest. Be honest with him about your fears, your feeling of being kicked (emotionally and spiritually) repeatedly in the gut. Explore the problem with a wise and experienced guide!
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be upon you.
J
Jesus_Is_God_1
Guest
The fact that a Baptist did it. The fact that the Church did not do it in the usual form of either pouring, or in the Eastern Church triple immersion.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
But it was still seen as a valid baptism even though as you say that a Baptist did it.
Why would that make it invalid in your eyes?
B
Bonnie
Guest
Full immersion is allowed in the Catholic church - I’ve witnessed several of those baptisms. Pouring is “usual” now, but is not the only way one can be baptised. The person doing the baptising does not have to be Catholic for the baptism to be valid.
If you continue to come up with objections, you’re not trying very hard to remain Catholic.
A
acarlson
Guest
I was baptized as an adult into the Catholic church with full immersion. The issue IS NOT with your baptism. It sounds like Satan has found a way to bring doubt into your mind.
Talk to your priest. He’ll help you out in much more substantial ways than us here on an anonymous internet forum can do.
Talk to your priest. He’ll help you out in much more substantial ways than us here on an anonymous internet forum can do.
V
venite_adoremus
Guest
A couple of questions on this thread haven’t been addressed yet.
First, what is a “conditional” baptism. It is one in which the celebrant uses certain words to affirm his intent. The usual condition is “NN, if you are not already baptized, I baptize you…” This was the formula when I was received into the Church, because there was serious doubt about the validity of my previous “baptism” (no record could be found at the time, no sponsors were known, and when the record was finally found years later it was not even my name entered into the christening registry of the church, nor the right date of birth–it was sort-of-a last minute thing arranged by my grandmother, and by sprinkling at that; she was the church organist, and later edited the record!!). It can also be modified in extremis, for a deathbed baptism if there is doubt about whether the person still lives, e.g. “NN, if it is possible, I baptize you…” or “NN, if you live…”
Second, what to do about spiritual silence in your soul. Several posters have made suggestions; I’d like to emphasize a couple of those. Renew your baptismal promises. With confidence! Ask the intercession of your baptismal and confirmation saints, as well as your guardian angel, to give you assurance that you are “named and claimed” in the Kingdom. Make the acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition every day. Dedicate the day to God when you get out of bed in the morning, and examine your conscience when you go to bed at night. At the Mass, remember that you kneel at the feet of Jesus at Calvary, His sacrifice being reenacted in a bloodless way for your sake. Give Him your love. The rest will follow.
Being Catholic is not always a warm, fuzzy feeling in the soul. It is a religion that requires the assent of the intellect, of the will, to things unseen. “Your will, Lord, not mine, be done.” You’ll be fine. You’re one of us. You’re welcome.
First, what is a “conditional” baptism. It is one in which the celebrant uses certain words to affirm his intent. The usual condition is “NN, if you are not already baptized, I baptize you…” This was the formula when I was received into the Church, because there was serious doubt about the validity of my previous “baptism” (no record could be found at the time, no sponsors were known, and when the record was finally found years later it was not even my name entered into the christening registry of the church, nor the right date of birth–it was sort-of-a last minute thing arranged by my grandmother, and by sprinkling at that; she was the church organist, and later edited the record!!). It can also be modified in extremis, for a deathbed baptism if there is doubt about whether the person still lives, e.g. “NN, if it is possible, I baptize you…” or “NN, if you live…”
Second, what to do about spiritual silence in your soul. Several posters have made suggestions; I’d like to emphasize a couple of those. Renew your baptismal promises. With confidence! Ask the intercession of your baptismal and confirmation saints, as well as your guardian angel, to give you assurance that you are “named and claimed” in the Kingdom. Make the acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition every day. Dedicate the day to God when you get out of bed in the morning, and examine your conscience when you go to bed at night. At the Mass, remember that you kneel at the feet of Jesus at Calvary, His sacrifice being reenacted in a bloodless way for your sake. Give Him your love. The rest will follow.
Being Catholic is not always a warm, fuzzy feeling in the soul. It is a religion that requires the assent of the intellect, of the will, to things unseen. “Your will, Lord, not mine, be done.” You’ll be fine. You’re one of us. You’re welcome.
R
Rosebud77
Guest
OP; is this in any way akin to folk who seek every now and then to “renew’” their marriage vows…?
And your words remind me of what someone wrote to me once re some “born again” folk who “have been baptised so often the fish know them by name.”
The lack is in them not in the baptism
Trust and faith have to be learned and lived and it can take a long time. “Lord give me patience… but not yet!”
And your words remind me of what someone wrote to me once re some “born again” folk who “have been baptised so often the fish know them by name.”
The lack is in them not in the baptism
Trust and faith have to be learned and lived and it can take a long time. “Lord give me patience… but not yet!”
H
Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
Then your conscience is not well formed and educated on the subject.
Baptism is not a feeling!
J
Jesus_Is_God_1
Guest
I never said it was.
H
Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
Actually you do talk about your feelings regarding baptism. And it seems what matters to you regaurding baptism has to do with how you feel.Hello CAF. I converted to Catholicism a few years ago. I was a Baptist for like 6 months but then I decided that I wanted to become Catholic due to it well… being the first Church!I was baptized in the name of the Trinity by full immersion in the Baptist church. My baptism was accepted valid and I was received. Within the past 2 weeks my conscience has for some reason been doubting it… I think I am in sort of an existential crisis right now… I know the Church accepted my baptism, and for a while so did I but… now I feel so left out. I don’t feel Catholic… I don’t feel like I am really even a Christian at all. Admittedly, this put me to tears. I really truly don’t know why I am feeling this all of a sudden but because I no longer feel my baptism was valid I refuse to partake of the sacraments. The only way I am going to be able to resolve this is if I were to get a conditional baptism. How do I ask the priest for this? Admittedly I feel kind of embarrassed asking, especially since I have known him for a few years now and he has been my confessor. But my conscience right now is killing me. How would I ask my priest for a conditional baptism? (and yes I understand the theology regarding re-baptism in the Church. Re-baptism is impossible, I am not asking for that. I am simply asking for a conditional baptism because my conscience all of a sudden has been doubting the validity of my original baptism).
B
Bonnie
Guest
Funny! Reminds me of my mother - she was baptised 3 times. She belonged to different protestant churches over the years, starting with her family’s Methodist church where she was first baptised. Two later churches had their own ideas about what constituted a valid baptism. After the 3rd dunking, she decided she was thoroughly baptised & didn’t get it done again.
She loved talking theology with my husband & he has often said that had she not died so soon, she would have become a Catholic.
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