Proof of Baptism Where No Records Exist

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In the case of catechumens, those converting to Christianity, the priest can baptize you, confrim you and give you first communion all in one liturgy. This is normally done at the Easter vigil, but there is no rule that says that you must wait for the next Easter vigil.

The priest can treat you as a convert from outside the Christian faith, baptize you conditionally as has been described in other posts, confirm you and give you first communion, if you have not received confirmation and first communion.

As your parish priest about this.

When this is done a permanent record will be recorded and you can take that record to be married in any Catholic Church around the world.

You said that you were married by a Protestant minister. Therefore, you dont’ even have to get a marriage license. As far as the State is concened you are married. You just have to keep both dates in mind.

For legal purposes you have to use the date that you married in the Protestant Church. For ecclesiastical purposes, you use the date that you’re marriage is sanated in the Catholic Church. This is what it is, sanation.

Hope this helps.

JR 🙂
 
mair_francis said:
Thanks for responding Br. Rich. I was fifteen-years-old when I got baptized, and it was in the Church of God in Christ. I don’t remember what preceded my immersion. It may have been some kind of profession of faith. of vow to follow Jesus. I remember, “I baptize you in the name of The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Big dunk. Many tears. I would have never thought I’d need any record of it later.

No Godparents or sponsors. Godparents were for babies being “dedicated”. I didn’t have family support. As for anyone else willing to swear they were present at an event 28 years ago, the pickin’s are slim. And there’s the resistance to me being Catholic.

Sigh.

I’m still not clear on what a conditional baptism is. Anybody willing to help me out with that? I’m certain I was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It’s how C.O.G.I.C baptizes. I don’t want to commit a grave sin by being baptized again.
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It is simply a slight change in the wording, since Baptism cannot be repeated.

Instead of “I Baptize you…” it is “If you are not Baptized, I Baptize you, in the nmae of the Father…”

It is done in private on a Saturday, or weekday afternoon, maybe Sunday afternoon. with only the minister, you, your Sponsor and two witnesses. It takes all of 5-10 minutes, pouring water over your head.
 
Hi all,

I spoke with the Marriage Tribunal, and they told me I can write an affidavit and have it notarized. I was able to find some one to act as a witness for me. The Archdiocese is willing to take my own sworn statement since I was old enough to remember the details of my baptism, and the sworn statement of the one witness, along with a note detailing how difficult it was to get any support from the church I was baptized at, and even my family.

I had my sworn statement notarized today. One more to go and this sistah is sacramentally married.

Thanks everybody,
mair francis
 
I was baptized at church camp [church of christ]. they do not keep records [or at last I was not given a baptismal certificate.]

My baptism was delayed from mu initial request to obtain the permission of my parents and my pastor …

I was baptized in a river with the formula “I baptize you in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit” …

When I came into full communion with the church, I provided the name of my pastor, the city and town where the church I attended was. As my baptism occurred when I was about 12 * nor the exact date some 25+ years previous to my entrance into the church and even my mom [who gave her consent but was not present could not remember what exact year] nor the exact location: a chruch camp located in the state of Oregonwithin two hours drive of the small town of Drain 🤷 …they accepted my written recollections of the baptism [as in I requested it, I was at church camp, they delayed the baptism until both my parents and minister provided witness to my preparation and ability to make that decision and their affirmation to my maturity and christian life, the proper form and use of water, my pastor drove from meeting with my parents to camp to meet with me, etc] and if they attepted to or were able to obtain any information from the church, I was not informed … The pastor could very well be long dead and the church building sold to another denomination 🤷

I do know that I am not in doubt about my baptism nor the formula used … and that is the criteria … 👍

To me it sounds as if you just need to write down the pertinant information … like for me the physical location of the church I attended and the minister’s name was more important then the location of the camp …*
 
Thanks, Yada. That’s pretty much what I did. A canon lawyer guided me in what I needed to do, and I also Googled some affidavits online to get a feel for the wording. So, I’m feeling confident that I’m all set.

Whew. This has gone on for months, and months. I’m glad it’s finally resolved.

I hope!😉
 
mair_francis said:
Thanks, Yada. That’s pretty much what I did. A canon lawyer guided me in what I needed to do, and I also Googled some affidavits online to get a feel for the wording. So, I’m feeling confident that I’m all set.

Whew. This has gone on for months, and months. I’m glad it’s finally resolved.

I hope!😉
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GOOD LUCK

At the age of 15 you can certainly give your personal testimony! 👍

I understand the weight that can be felt in dealing with these types of issues … and how freeing you can feel when the weight is finally lifted 😃
 
mair_francis said:
Ha! That brings a whole 'nother question about the validity of baptism:

“But what if the water actually didn’t touch my person???”

Hey, I know. How about I get a tonsured hair cut? Eliminate hair from the equation all together.
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The Rubrics specifically say that the water is to flow on the head or forehead of the person. Some of these “diaper baptisms” seem questionable to me.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
The Rubrics specifically say that the water is to flow on the head or forehead of the person. Some of these “diaper baptisms” seem questionable to me.
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Don’t quote me on it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve read guidelines on in utero baptism before such that so long as you can get water to flow over any part of the child, it is valid. At least, since things are somewhat foggy, valid enough that when you supply the rites after birth the child does not need to be baptized absolutely but at most conditionally.
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
Don’t quote me on it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve read guidelines on in utero baptism before such that so long as you can get water to flow over any part of the child, it is valid. At least, since things are somewhat foggy, valid enough that when you supply the rites after birth the child does not need to be baptized absolutely but at most conditionally.
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For a certainly valid baptism, the water must touch the skin of the head or forehead and flow a little. The Catholic Encyclopedia says:
It is to be noted that it is not sufficient for the water to merely touch the candidate; it must also flow, otherwise there would seem to be no real ablution. At best, such a baptism would be considered doubtful. If the water touches only the hair, the sacrament has probably been validly conferred, though in practice the safer course must be followed.
*
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
Don’t quote me on it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve read guidelines on in utero baptism before such that so long as you can get water to flow over any part of the child, it is valid. At least, since things are somewhat foggy, valid enough that when you supply the rites after birth the child does not need to be baptized absolutely but at most conditionally.
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According to standard rubricists, for baptism to be certainly valid the water must touch the skin of the head or forehead and flow a little. That’s why in adult baptisms it used to be recommended that water be poured on the forehead and the hair brushed back to make sure that the baptismal water flows on the skin.
 
Interesting. I didn’t even know there was a such thing as in utero baptism. I guess you learn something new every day. That is, if you come to this forum every day. 😃
 
mair_francis said:
Interesting. I didn’t even know there was a such thing as in utero baptism. I guess you learn something new every day. That is, if you come to this forum every day. 😃
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Oh, yeah, I’ve known about in utero baptism since I got my hands on the ethics manual for our local Catholic hospital back when I was about 16 and hippies walked the earth.
 
mair francis;:
I was able to find some one to act as a witness for me.
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A very long shot. Some churches will give the person they baptize a Bible that has the date of the Baptism. Others will give them a church handbook that has the date of their baptism.

Is there a chance that you were given either?
If so,you might still have it.

xan

jonathon
 
I can’t find my shoes most days, Jonathan. The Archdiocese said what I had is fine, so I’m going to trust God that it is.

Thanks!
mair francis
 
that will be okay too, in some parishes adults are baptized by immersion so you would be taking your shoes off in any case.

glad everything is copacetic for you, the bishop knows, go with his decision, that’s what he is there for.
 
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