Priest refuses to perform private baptism?

[Allegra]

The OP needs to tell the priest what he did. That might solve the problem right there.

That whole issue aside, I feel conflicted about the whole private/public Baptism thing. My parish has infant Baptisms twice a month and the preference is to have them immediately after Mass. The parish is invited to stay and watch. They only seem to do the Baptisms during Mass during the Easter season. When they have more than one baby, they do them in front of the Altar. When there’s only one baby, they do them at the official Baptism font located in a lovely chapel in the back. I personally love seeing the Baptisms at Mass. I think it’s really important as a community to have them. If they didn’t have them during Mass occasionally, the only way I’d get to see a baby Baptism is if I have a baby myself! (And I love seeing them! Sometimes they make me cry!) That being said, with my first, we had a “private” Baptism in the chapel with just my own family and it was much more intimate and just nicer.

So, I guess my conclusion is that they should have private Baptisms for my kids, but Baptisms during Mass for everyone else so I can watch. That’s reasonable right? Oh, and neither method is at all Protestant-y.

 

[bitterhope]

Your priest needs to be informed of what you did. If you indeed baptized your child then you need not have a baptism again. Maybe he could do an anointing. Once you do a baptism your priest needs to be made aware.
Yes, the rules can get ridiculous but you need to also take responsibility for your own uneducated choices…

One of my babies was very sick due to group B strep and another had a heart problem. Both were baptized soon after birth (within minutes) by hospital chaplains (Protestant chaplains). When they were about 6 months old and we were able to bring them to Mass the parish priests (two different parishes) had a ceremony but there was no baptism. I can’t remember what they called it, but basically they were anointed with the oils they use during baptism without the water being poured on them. If I remember the name the priests used I’ll post it. It was something like bestowing the sacrament or acknowledging the sacrament or something like that. For the most part it is for the family and for presenting the child to the church as Christians but since they are already baptized they only anoint.

 

[1ke]

My daughter was in the hospital for some time after birth because she was very low birth weight and was in danger for sometime. They have designated dates when they do bàptisms . we did the emergency baptism around the time she was getting away from danger in January but it was past the designated date and I was not yet part of that particular parish yet anyway. (My husband and I move around a lot…) Ad then that’s when the priest said they don’t do baptisms during lent and I’d have to wait until April. The whole thing is messed up and ridiculous I think.

If you baptized your child then there can be no other baptism, in or outside Mass. You must report this to your pastor ASAP!

Your pastor can supply the other rites.

 

[Xantippe]

The OP needs to tell the priest what he did. That might solve the problem right there.

That whole issue aside, I feel conflicted about the whole private/public Baptism thing. My parish has infant Baptisms twice a month and the preference is to have them immediately after Mass. The parish is invited to stay and watch. They only seem to do the Baptisms during Mass during the Easter season. When they have more than one baby, they do them in front of the Altar. When there’s only one baby, they do them at the official Baptism font located in a lovely chapel in the back. I personally love seeing the Baptisms at Mass. I think it’s really important as a community to have them. If they didn’t have them during Mass occasionally, the only way I’d get to see a baby Baptism is if I have a baby myself! (And I love seeing them! Sometimes they make me cry!) That being said, with my first, we had a “private” Baptism in the chapel with just my own family and it was much more intimate and just nicer.

So, I guess my conclusion is that they should have private Baptisms for my kids, but Baptisms during Mass for everyone else so I can watch. That’s reasonable right? Oh, and neither method is at all Protestant-y.

That’s hilarious.

I also like a small chapel baptism. Our two oldest children were baptized in small college chapels inside college buildings.