Question about unbaptized babies

[Ron_Conte]

There are four different possible meanings to limbo:

1. The limbo of purgatory, also called the limbo of the Fathers. This is a temporary place, which would be described as an upper level of Purgatory. Every soul in this limbo eventually goes to Heaven. This limbo was taught definitively by Pope Benedict 12 in ‘on the beatific vision of God.’
2. The limbo of Hell, also called the limbo of the infants. The Council of Florence, non-infallibly, taught that those who die in a state of original sin only are sent to this fringe of Hell, but with lesser punishments than the rest of Hell. The Council did not teach that infants go to this place, but only that the faithful often call it the limbo of the infants.
3. Limbo as a third final destination. This idea was once taught as the prevalent theological opinion, but now has fallen out of favor; it is not a teaching of the Church.
4. Limbo as a fringe of Heaven. This idea is directly contrary to the definitive teaching of Pope Benedict 12 ‘on the beatific vision of God’.

I believe, as a speculative theological opinion, that those who die at a very young age without formal Baptism are given a mystical (non-formal) Baptism, at least in the last moment of life, because the great suffering of the loss of most of a normal lifespan unites them with the suffering and death of Christ on the Cross, which is the source and effectiveness of all Baptism.

 

[Sir_Knight]

1. The limbo of purgatory, also called the limbo of the Fathers. This is a temporary place, which would be described as an upper level of Purgatory. Every soul in this limbo eventually goes to Heaven. This limbo was taught definitively by Pope Benedict 12 in ‘on the beatific vision of God.’

Well, one can NOT argue with a Pope when it comes to matters of faith BUT it does DISAGREE with the words of our Lord as recorded in scripture.

1. The limbo of Hell, also called the limbo of the infants. The Council of Florence, non-infallibly, taught that those who die in a state of original sin only are sent to this fringe of Hell, but with lesser punishments than the rest of Hell. The Council did not teach that infants go to this place, but only that the faithful often call it the limbo of the infants.

This COULD be the case as it does not disagree with what we find in the bible.

1. Limbo as a third final destination. This idea was once taught as the prevalent theological opinion, but now has fallen out of favor; it is not a teaching of the Church.

Another possibility but, as you said, Limbo is no longer considered to be a FINAL destination.

1. Limbo as a fringe of Heaven. This idea is directly contrary to the definitive teaching of Pope Benedict 12 ‘on the beatific vision of God’.

As you said, it contradicts the teachings of a Pope.

 

[Mr.Blank1.5]

John 3:3-5 … Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born again? Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. – 'of water" clearly refers to being baptized. If belief and/or desire was sufficient, then Jesus would have just said “of the Holy Spirit” and would not have included the “water” part.​

From Aquinas:
Objection 1. It seems that no man can be saved without Baptism. For our Lord said (John 3:5): “Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” But those alone are saved who enter God’s kingdom. Therefore none can be saved without Baptism, by which a man is born again of water and the Holy Ghost.

Reply to Objection 1. As it is written (1 Kgs. 16:7), “man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.” Now a man who desires to be “born again of water and the Holy Ghost” by Baptism, is regenerated in heart though not in body. thus the Apostle says (Rm. 2:29) that “the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

From Aquinas:
Objection 1. It seems that no man can be saved without Baptism. For our Lord said (John 3:5): “Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” But those alone are saved who enter God’s kingdom. Therefore none can be saved without Baptism, by which a man is born again of water and the Holy Ghost.

Reply to Objection 1. As it is written (1 Kgs. 16:7), “man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.” Now a man who desires to be “born again of water and the Holy Ghost” by Baptism, is regenerated in heart though not in body. thus the Apostle says (Rm. 2:29) that “the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God.”

And that is exactly why we can have HOPE that there MIGHT be a way for them to be saved, known only to God.