Re-Baptism-is this bad?

[carlos19]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

 

[bobballen_18]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

I don’t think she would be allowed to be baptized in the Catholic Church again, if she has already been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So if it’s not allowed, it’s kind of pointless to pursue it.

You don’t have to be baptized again to make a “confession of faith.” I assume she has been confirmed; when was she confirmed? That was a sort of “confession of faith.” Otherwise, tell her all she needs to do is live out her baptism and confirmation by receiving the sacraments regularly and building a relationship with our Lord, as that is a good “confession of faith” to God!

 

[carlos19]

I don’t think she would be allowed to be baptized in the Catholic Church again, if she has already been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So if it’s not allowed, it’s kind of pointless to pursue it.

You don’t have to be baptized again to make a “confession of faith.” I assume she has been confirmed; when was she confirmed? That was a sort of “confession of faith.” Otherwise, tell her all she needs to do is live out her baptism and confirmation by receiving the sacraments regularly and building a relationship with our Lord, as that is a good “confession of faith” to God!

yes she was baptized Catholic. We attend mass weekly. She was confirmed. This is exactly what I was going to tell her. I think she is influenced by her protestant friend and her husband who are godly people. Misguided…but really good people. (oneness, borderline prosperity gospel)

 

[Vico]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

It is not permitted by the canon law.

CIC Can. 864 Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is capable of baptism.

Tell her about this indulgence:

28. Indulgences associated with Profession of Faith and Acts of the Theological Virtues

                                                               From the [*Manual on Indulgences*](http://books.google.com.au/books?id=IMEof2fFCHMC&dq=manual+of+indulgences&source=bl&ots=t5yWyAnEJP&sig=apUfYpGcj7hA7Qtb5p4vzb6EUEQ&hl=en&ei=mRWsS6jQJYHo7AO9qv3LDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAA), published 2006 by the USCCB, being a translation of the [*Enchiridion Indulgentiarum quarto editur*](http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_doc_20020826_enchiridion-indulgentiarum_lt.html).

28 PROFESSION OF FAITH AND ACTS OF THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

§ 1 A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, at the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of their own Baptism, renew their baptismal vows in any legitimately approved formula.

§2 A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who

1. renew their baptismal vows in any formula;
2. devoutly sign themselves with the sign of the cross, using the customary words: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen;
3. devoutly recite either the Apostles’ Creed or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed;
4. recite an Act of Faith, Hope, and Charity in any legitimate formula.

scecclesia.com/?page_id=3272

 

[Bob_Aliano]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

Pray the Credo, either version, it is our profession of faith.

 

[beth40n2]

Baptism is a sacrament that can only be done once!!! When protestants re-baptise, or reafirm their baptism, they are only going through the motions. If they are truely baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the sacrament is complete.

On a Holy Land trip as a protestant, many years before converting to Catholic, I reafirmed my baptism in the River Jordan. I was surprised when I came up out of the water as I was totally imersed in the river, that I felt really sad. I did not know why at that time, but it definately was not he Lord’s will.

I had origionally been baptised at age 20 in a Pentecostal church by full imersion. I had pictures of it. But I am sure those who are baptised as infants may have a void since they can not remember their baptism. Parents who take pictures of the babies baptism may be helping to take away that void by the person having he pictures.

Assure your wife rebaptism is not needed or in compliance with Holy Mother Church.

 

[martininthefiel]

One can only be baptized once. One can only be confirmed in the Catholic Church once.

She should talk to a priest about what she should do to make a reaffirmation of her faith. It might be sufficient to do so at Easter Vigil, when everyone in attendance does so.

Lent is almost upon us. I would start by making a Confession with a priest.

 

[Bookcat]

Baptism can only be done once. It would be wrong to attempt to do so again (and to no baptismal effect). A renewal Faith and love of Christ…of ones baptismal promises and profession of Faith --one can do so in prayer and even daily!..and a good confession is what she needs (CCC: "Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,”).

(and it is the very nature of baptism that no one can “baptize themselves”.

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

1246 "Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."46

Nicene Creed:

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

 

[joanofarc2008]

I would suggest going over a study on the Nicene Creed as this may help. God bless her for trying to be closer to the Lord although it may not be in the right way.

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

I would suggest going over a study on the Nicene Creed as this may help. God bless her for trying to be closer to the Lord although it may not be in the right way.

Mmm! it sounds like her heart is in the right place, and she wants to be a faithful Christian, she’s just going about it in an off-kilter way.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Mmm! it sounds like her heart is in the right place, and she wants to be a faithful Christian, she’s just going about it in an off-kilter way.

Exactly maybe some good faith formation classes may bring her more peace than she may realize.

 

[MisterCorduroy]

At the Easter Vigil we renew our baptismal vows and are sprinkled with Holy Water. If she attends every year then she already has done this. If she can’t make the vigil, she can do it personally at home catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1047

Even sprinkling with Holy Water when entering church is a kind of renewal. Also, does she go to Confession? This is a way to cleanse our “baptismal garment”.

For something more intense, the “Exercises of St. Gertrude” has a renewal of baptismal innocence that can be done. Here is a link to a PDF copy that includes it.

Let her know that it’s good to desire a deeper relationship with Jesus, and this is encouraged by the Catholic Church. What the Holy Spirit began at Baptism did not end at Confirmation, but is a lifelong experience lived out through the Sacraments and spiritual life of the Church.

 

[Trebor135]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

How fortuitous that this topic came up. I know of someone in essentially the same situation. I understand why the baptism of infants is so important, but I also see that making a public profession of faith by being baptized as an adult can be really meaningful.

Baptism is only supposed to be administered once, and the same rule applies for confirmation in the Roman (Latin) Catholic Church. I believe that chrismation (the term used is different, but it refers to the same sacrament) can be administered more than once in the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, however.

What about looking for a Maronite or other sui iuris church and inquiring about this matter there?

 

[followingtheway]

yes she was baptized Catholic. We attend mass weekly. She was confirmed.

Then in that case, she doesn’t need to be re-baptized. She can make a confession of faith without baptism.

 

[SecretGarden]

I think you need to back off and let her make her own mind. If she feels called to be rebaptised, she should be encouraged. I know what theology states but in the end, this is between her and God. She needs to follow the spirit on this.

A way she can reaffirm her faith is by praying the prayer below. If prayed with all of one’s heart, it can and it does forever change a person’s life. I’ve seen and experienced the changes myself. This would be a great prayer for the family to pray together because it is life changing. When it is prayed, I suggest everyone to either get or deepen your connection with your parish because parish life is very important to the Catholic life. This prayer can also help other people inside the parish as well.

Good Luck SG.

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.
I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."

Amen.

 

[jilly4ski]

I think you need to back off and let her make her own mind. If she feels called to be rebaptised, she should be encouraged. I know what theology states but in the end, this is between her and God. She needs to follow the spirit on this.

.

This is incorrect and a denial of what baptism actually does. One of the mechanisms is to bring a person within the body of Christ and the Church, it is a public event of becoming one with God and a member of the Church, this makes it inherently a community concern not “just between God and her.” Not only that but it is a direct rejection of what she professes to be true. “I believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.”

 

[Jim_Dandy]

My wife has been talking lately about re-baptizing herself. I think because she feels that she needs to make a confession of faith as a grown up.

I told her she does not need this but she feels that it wouldn’t hurt. I think she is being influenced by reformed theology.

Any thoughts as to what I can tell her?

You mentioned that the people influencing your wife are “Oneness.” That means Pentecostal, but non-Trinitarian, and baptism in the name of Jesus only, in violation of the instructions Our Lord gave the Apostles (Mt 28:18-20).

My suggestion: Tell your wife that Catholics make a profession (confession) of faith every Sunday when we say the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, "I believe . . . ". And we make a confession of faith every time we form a queue to receive Our Lord Truly Present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Holy Eucharist, and we say “Amen” (so be it, it is true). We “accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior” each time we receive the Eucharist into ourselves, the spiritual food which transforms us (we are becoming what we eat – more like Christ). We formally renew our baptismal vows in the presence of the whole Church at least yearly, at the Easter liturgy. We can renew them anytime we wish.

Does your wife realize that the Catholic Church is the only Church made by God? All others are man made. Does she know that the New Testament consists of 27 of the Church’s own writings? She might want to tell her Protestant friends.

 

[Ron_in_minden]

You mentioned that the people influencing your wife are “Oneness.” That means Pentecostal, but non-Trinitarian, and baptism in the name of Jesus only, in violation of the instructions Our Lord gave the Apostles (Mt 28:18-20).

My suggestion: Tell your wife that Catholics make a profession (confession) of faith every Sunday when we say the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, "I believe . . . ". And we make a confession of faith every time we form a queue to receive Our Lord Truly Present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Holy Eucharist, and we say “Amen” (so be it, it is true). We “accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior” each time we receive the Eucharist into ourselves, the spiritual food which transforms us (we are becoming what we eat – more like Christ). We formally renew our baptismal vows in the presence of the whole Church at least yearly, at the Easter liturgy. We can renew them anytime we wish.

Does your wife realize that the Catholic Church is the only Church made by God? All others are man made. Does she know that the New Testament consists of 27 of the Church’s own writings? She might want to tell her Protestant friends.

You always say the best things I want to say but can never seem to get them out in such a coherent way. God Bless you brother.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

I think you need to back off and let her make her own mind. If she feels called to be rebaptised, she should be encouraged. I know what theology states but in the end, this is between her and God. She needs to follow the spirit on this.

It’s not a good idea to advise a Catholic to violate the teaching of her Church. This is a serious sin that would require Confession and absolution.

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.

I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ." Amen.

This is the Protestant “Sinners Prayer” – by praying it, I would “accept Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior” and believe that I am instantly and forever “saved” (i.e., I am guaranteed heaven) from the moment I say these words. This prayer denies the need for belonging to the Church founded by Christ for the salvation of the world and rejects the gifts He gave the Church to help us get to heaven – the sacraments – especially Eucharist and Confession.

Jim Dandy
Ex-Southern Baptist, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!