I don’t know if his drunkenness will affect the validity of your baptism. It may affect its validity if it rendered him unable to form the proper intention. Slurring his words may not affect validity but saying the wrong words would. I suggest you bring this matter up with your priest at the earliest opportunity.I am 17 and am due to be confirmed in the three weeks time. My parents told me that when I was baptised as a baby, the priest doing the baptism was drunk. He slurred the words and might even have said the wrong words for the baptism. Should I ask my current priest for a conditional baptism?
Yes it was my baptism…I would seek a conditional baptism due to it may have been the wrong words for example (before confirmation)I am 17 and am due to be confirmed in the three weeks time. My parents told me that when I was baptised as a baby, the priest doing the baptism was drunk. He slurred the words and might even have said the wrong words for the baptism. Should I ask my current priest for a conditional baptism?
I agree. His intention was clear because of the context, you were obviously touched by water otherwise people would have noticed and even if he slurred the Trinitarian Formula, it would still be valid.jayk15,
The only way that your Baptism could be invalid is if what is known as the “essential rite” is not performed. The essential rite involves the triple infusion of water accompanied by the Trinitarian Formula: “[name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Or, on the unlikely chance that you are an eastern Catholic: “The servant of God, [name], is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”). I would imagine that the only way the priest could have failed to do this would be if he were passed out on the floor. Look at the Catechism paragraphs 1234 to 1245 if you want more information.
If it would make you feel better, my friend, do talk to your priest about it. Remember that God is not trying to trick you, though. Congradulations on approaching your baptism.
Terrible typo. “Congradulations on approaching your Confirmation.”If it would make you feel better, my friend, do talk to your priest about it. Remember that God is not trying to trick you, though. Congradulations on approaching your baptism.
Sounds right to me.just curious why if your parents had a doubt about your baptism they did not confront that priest, or consult another priest or even the bishop at that time? As long as the priest said the proper words and did the prescribed actions, he is presumed to have had the proper intent and the baptism was valid, unless there are other factors that have not yet come to light.
you did the right thing which was also the simplest and most direct thing, good job, and congratulations.I’m 17. I’m bringing this up now because my confirmation is near. An invalid baptism will render my confirmation invalid. My parents didn’t raise the issue before because it looked to them like the baptism was done properly. However my concern is that the priest will even have got at least one word wrong in the baptismal formula. I moved to another city so I am not in contact with that priest. Anyway, I spoke to my current priest and he says he is concerned about the validity of my baptism and he will therefor conditionaly baptise me. Thanks everyone for your answers.
Can a visibily intoxicated person be able to consent to the duties and responsibilites assigned to him?you did the right thing which was also the simplest and most direct thing, good job, and congratulations.
perhaps, perhaps not, but it happened (if it happened at all) 17 yrs ago so there is no point speculating. He talked to the priest, situation is resolved.Can a visibily intoxicated person be able to consent to the duties and responsibilites assigned to him?
I’ll take that as an answer that I can live with for now.perhaps, perhaps not, but it happened (if it happened at all) 17 yrs ago so there is no point speculating. He talked to the priest, situation is resolved.