Jacuzzi or Whirlpool Style Baptismal Fonts

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stjosephtomasi

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These appear ugly and out of place in Catholic churches, but are now very popular.

How can you argue against them, though, when Baptism by full immersion is and always has been approved by the Church?
 
I’m sure someone can think of some reason! 🙂 Maybe the altar boys sneak in them and have keggers? Do they have temperature control and cup holders???
 
We have beautiful baptismal font inside our church, but since our Easter vigil is held outside, we also have a hot tub type that gets set up each year. I am sure the elect appreciate the warm water.
 
We have the “classic” style giant tub with the water poured on the Baptism receiptient. I dont really have an opinion about what type is better. As long as there is someone who wants to be Baptisized, we should use whatever we have.
 
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stjosephtomasi:
These appear ugly and out of place in Catholic churches, but are now very popular.

How can you argue against them, though, when Baptism by full immersion is and always has been approved by the Church?
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there’s one in St Edwards in Louisville… Looks like a Womb! I kid you not… i don’t know, i was afraid to ask… :eek:
 
Those shouldn’t be in Catholic churches. The font will do finely thank you.
 
For full emersion, the traditional baptismal font is cruciform, and in the floor (most of the surviving baptistries taht i am aware of are like this).

Also, there is ample ancient witness to and canons for what kind of water is to be used: “living water” as it is refered to in the Didache, The Apostolic Constitution, and On the Apostolic Tradition. This is taken to mean that flowing water is used, and such would be piped into the baptistry (an ancient baptistry in Corinth is right on the river).

That said, such baptismal fonts were not in the main part of the church structure itself, but in another room (in latter times) or in another building (such as the famous Arian Baptistry in Ravenna). So what i feel is probablamatic when i see these in new RC churches is not their presence per se, but two things: location and aesthetic (which are almost always bad anyway in newer places). Of course the ones with the constant waterfall are always a distraction when there is a service, and there is no barrier between the font and the nave.

In Christ,
Adam
 
I do not care for the Jacuzzi or pool for Baptism. The fonts are better.

Andyz
 
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RichT:
We have beautiful baptismal font inside our church, but since our Easter vigil is held outside, we also have a hot tub type that gets set up each year. I am sure the elect appreciate the warm water.
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Rich, a retired priest in our (Phoenix) Diocese said that one of his last projects was to get a new church built. He was told that the baptismal “tub” was required. He fought it - they’re absurdly expensive, they waste water, they take up valuable floor space and they leak - but there was nothing he could do.

I hope that among the many reforms our new Bishop is making will be to eliminate these silly things. Why does your parish have an outdoor Vigil Mass? Another reform that will probably happen.
 
At least you guys have a font. Our church is so small,(how small is it?) there is no room for a font so the priest uses a couple of small glass dishes, one to pour the water and one to hold under the persons head to chtch the water.:yup:
 
At the parish my husband is assigned to, the priest got a hot tub for the Easter Vigil, and after Pentecost moved it into his apartment in the rectory. :rolleyes:
 
tcj:
Rich, a retired priest in our (Phoenix) Diocese said that one of his last projects was to get a new church built. He was told that the baptismal “tub” was required. He fought it - they’re absurdly expensive, they waste water, they take up valuable floor space and they leak - but there was nothing he could do.

I hope that among the many reforms our new Bishop is making will be to eliminate these silly things. Why does your parish have an outdoor Vigil Mass? Another reform that will probably happen.
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What are you referring to when you say “Silly Things”? The permanently installed fonts on the inside or the hot tub style one this thread refers to?

In regards to the outdoor vigil, unfortunately there simply isn’t enough room to do it indoors. Because our parish is two stories, anyone sitting upstairs would not be able to see the baptisms being done. Afterall, it is important to have the whole community involved. And, conidering that exceptions are made on a regular basis to hold masses in other places, like the overflow mass at the high school for Easter, or a mass held at a staduim during a big conference, I imagine the out door masses will continue.
 
What document says that baptism by immersion is the preferred method of baptism?
 
Unfortunately the Cathedral in my diocese has one on the altar. The Cathedral is very gothic and beautiful- and then the jacuzzi is wooden colored, but when you touch it you notice it is plastic. It is very ugly and out of place- it could not have cost more than $400.😦 What is the philosophy behind placing these spas in the sanctuary anyway- does it have anything to do with the “Spirit of Vatican II”?
 
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Fast_ed75:
What is the philosophy behind placing these spas in the sanctuary anyway- does it have anything to do with the “Spirit of Vatican II”?
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I’m curious about the placement in the sanctuary. Is this typical?

The new churches (last 10-15 years or so) I am aware of have the baptismal pools in the BACK of the church by the main entrance. These also double as Holy Water fonts.

It seems like it is mostly older/remodeled churches that are putting them in the sanctuary. Also, churches that bring in temporary ‘pools’ during the Easter season put them in the sanctuary.
 
In my old parish they had a baptismal font that was no bigger than a bird bath, used for infant baptism. It was made from marble and was really quite beautiful. During the Easter vigil, however, the big guns were brought out. We had a home made tub constructed out of wood with a plastic liner that was used for those being baptised that night. It wasn’t very attractive. I never really understood why they didn’t at least make or buy something a little more attractive.
 
Catholic Eagle:
What document says that baptism by immersion is the preferred method of baptism?
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You’ll find the word “preferred” in the instructions to the ritual for baptism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
1239 The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking. It signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ. Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate’s head.
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Here the expression is “most expressive way.”

Deacon Ed
 
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darwindidntknow:
http://www.joycf.org/images/praiseband.JPG

Our baptismal font is right under the rug that you see on the stage. Its hidden from view and yet very easy to access when we have baptisms!
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I am asking the following because I can’t tell from the picture, I am not trying to acuse anyone of anything, just trying to clarify.

Where is this “stage” located? The musical instruments and players and choir, should not be in a place that is distracting to the congregation; they are not performing. Thank you.
 
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