Infant Baptism

[SouthernSister]

I know that Infant Baptism is implicitly seen in the Bible and there is clear evidence by the Early Church Fathers that the Church has always baptised infants. But I know that some Bishops, like Augustine, delayed their own baptism until their deathbed.

Can anyone tell me when the Church, as a united body, declared infant baptism as the norm?

Thanks in advance.

SouthernSister

 

[thistle]

SouthernSister:

I know that Infant Baptism is implicitly seen in the Bible and there is clear evidence by the Early Church Fathers that the Church has always baptised infants. But I know that some Bishops, like Augustine, delayed their own baptism until their deathbed.

Can anyone tell me when the Church, as a united body, declared infant baptism as the norm?

Thanks in advance.

SouthernSister

www.catholic.com/library/infant_baptism.asp

 

[Neithan]

It is impossible for any man to be raised to the sacrament of Holy Orders without first having been baptised! St. Augustine was baptised by St. Ambrose in A.D. 387 at the age of 33. He was consecrated Priest in 391 and became Bishop of Hippo in 396. He died in 430 at a relatively young 43. He wasn’t baptised as a child I think because his father wasn’t Christian, but his mother St. Monica bitterly regretted this when Augustine fell into sin as a youth, although her persistent prayers and tears had a great influence toward his eventual conversion.

Infant baptism was always practiced in the Church, as attested by the writings of the early Fathers, such as St. Irenaeus in the 2nd century. The earliest ‘official’ pronouncement would probably be the Council of Carthage in A.D. 253

 

[TOME]

SouthernSister,
About infant Baptism I would defer my answer to Thistle and Neithan’s reply. But just a quick note on Church History. Yes it was not uncommon and all to human of a practice for people to delay their baptism until they were close to death. The thought being that since baptism takes away sins, if I wait to I am about to die I can pretty much live the life I want to. I am not trying to imply that this was always the case but often it was (even today we find a similar practice of some who lead, perhaps, a life not exactly based on Christian Values, principles and moral behavior but make sure they have the Brown Scapular on at all times “trusting in the promise” that having “Faithfully” worn it a priest will be present at the time of death so they can confess all their sins and receive the sacrament of reconcillation.")

But as Neithan pointed our, no one can receive the Sacramnets of Holy Orders with out first being baptized. But during Patristic times and other times in our history it was not unheard of for a person to receive the sacraments of initiation and holy orders all at the same time.

 

[SouthernSister]

Neithan:

It is impossible for any man to be raised to the sacrament of Holy Orders without first having been baptised! St. Augustine was baptised by St. Ambrose in A.D. 387 at the age of 33. He was consecrated Priest in 391 and became Bishop of Hippo in 396. He died in 430 at a relatively young 43. He wasn’t baptised as a child I think because his father wasn’t Christian, but his mother St. Monica bitterly regretted this when Augustine fell into sin as a youth, although her persistent prayers and tears had a great influence toward his eventual conversion.

Infant baptism was always practiced in the Church, as attested by the writings of the early Fathers, such as St. Irenaeus in the 2nd century. The earliest ‘official’ pronouncement would probably be the Council of Carthage in A.D. 253

Well of course you’re right! I wonder where I heard this rumor? It seems to me that it’s floating around out there somewhere? Maybe it’s not Augustine I’m thinking of?

Thanks for the date!

SouthernSister