? Is it posible for an infant to be baptised twice

[Micael]

My wife’s cousin is looking to have her recently adopted child baptized at a local church.

However, she tells me that at one point (I’m not sure of the circumstance, she traveled abroad to adopt the child) she decided to fill her tub with water and baptized the child using the trinitine formula.

Once I told her I do not think the child can be baptized twice she began to say that her “baptism” could not count as she is not clergy.

I told her its not such a huge big deal, she should just inform the priest or deacon so they provide a special “formula” for her, specifically.

Am I wrong?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Anyone, clergy or not, can give a valid baptism. But I’m not saying your cousin’s baptism was necessarily valid. So far as I know, the reasons for non-clergy baptism include things like danger of death, no clergy present, etc., not just a ‘decision’ to fill up the tub.

It would be best for her to consult a priest and tell him exactly what happened, and let the priest decide what to do.

 

[bilop]

Let the Priest know, and he will do a conditional baptism, in case the original wasn’t done validly.

God Bless

 

[1ke]

She needs to consult her parish priest.

You can only be validly baptized once. If she performed a valid baptism, then the child is baptized. It still needs to be recorded in the Sacramental records of the Church.

 

[drafdog]

It is important to remember that Sacraments are always communal in nature. Catholicism is about nothing if it is not about community.
My first child was baptized privately at hospital. I was the only one present other than the priest. Our families all resided in another city to which we returned at a later date to celebrate her baptism. At that time “ceremonies were supplied” at our former parish so that family and friends could participate. This was not, of course, a rebaptism. The anointings, the touching with salt, etc. were all performed to complete the symbolic acts which accompany the normal bathing in water.
The point is the communal celebration. The ceremonies are not necessary to the sacrament but they complete the symbology of the event. Let your sister take the child to the church and have the priest complete the ceremonies. It’s a time for joy and celebration for the Church.

Matthew

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My wife’s cousin is looking to have her recently adopted child baptized at a local church.

However, she tells me that at one point (I’m not sure of the circumstance, she traveled abroad to adopt the child) she decided to fill her tub with water and baptized the child using the trinitine formula.

Once I told her I do not think the child can be baptized twice she began to say that her “baptism” could not count as she is not clergy.

I told her its not such a huge big deal, she should just inform the priest or deacon so they provide a special “formula” for her, specifically.

Am I wrong?

Her baptism is not necessarly invalid but illicit. She needs to inform the priest what she did. He may choose to just use the words of Conditional Baptism.

 

[puzzleannie]

If the baby was baptized because of necessity (danger of death) the proper course is to complete the baptismal rite, that is, the anointing, baptismal vows etc. She needs to see her priest. No, there cannot be two baptisms. As long as she can attest to the first baptism, which may or may not be licit but is still valid if done with proper intent, with water, and with the trinitarian formula, all that is needed is to complete the rite and enter the information in the parish sacramental record. If there is doubt about the first baptism, the priest will do a conditional baptism. Take her to see the priest post-haste.

 

[Phelle]

You cannot baptise twice. Baptism leaves an indellible mark on the soul. If in doubt what should happen is to use the conditional trinitarian formula, “if you were not baptised, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. The priest or deacon should ve been notified and the circumstance explained. You were right I suppose.