RE: MY Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage

[RavynCaramy]

I have a somewhat complicated question. I am a convert and back in 2002 I was going to be baptized, confirmed and married in the Easter season but I got very very ill before it was all scheduled and they did an emergency baptism and I am honestly not sure about the confirmation, but they also did our marriage but without a legal license as we did not even know if i would be alive to get through the ceremony. At the time the priest told me that I would have to get the emergency baptism approved later and they might want to “officially” baptize me if I survived, but it would be enough to have the Last Rites as a Catholic if I died. I did survive. (Obviously!) I have tried a few times to get the information from the church and diocese about where I stand but I have never been able to find any real records (the one thing I did find was some kind of decorative certificate- the kind you frame and hang up- but with my name wrong!) I can’t even remember the date I was baptized (I think it was two weeks before Easter of 2002), and it was in my home. I found out the priest has since passed on too. My question is-- can I have it all done again for the paperwork to be done correctly (including with a legal marriage license)? I know you are only supposed to be baptized once, but the priest did tell me that I might need to have it done again officially. I have struggled with health and moved a lot since then, but I am looking at a more stable future and would like to find a real church home now.

 

[Theo2]

Congratulations on your survival! God must have plans for you. Make an appointment with your pastor, he will know of find out what to do. Don’t try to do it by phone.

 

[Dovekin]

If thereis any question about your baptism, they will probably do a conditional baptism, same rite as always but with a recognition that you may already have received the graces. It is not a problem at all.

Where you have had problems getting records, the priest or staff have to get them. If they cannot, you may be baptized conditionally. (See above)

The best thing to do is to talk to your pastor, as suggested.

Your marriage has legal implications which may entail contacting public officials as well as Church authorities.

 

[Wesrock]

I’d schedule an appointment with a priest. Explain you were converting, fell ill, believe you were given emergency baptism, but are interested in having a conditional baptism to make sure everything’s in order. Conditional baptisms are given if there’s doubt about the first one. Say you haven’t found any baptismal record with the Church and want to make sure everything is in order.

The priest will probably have some questions.

Also, explain that your marriage was also done in emergency fashion, you don’t have a sacramental record of it, and you’d like to make sure it’s “convalidated.”

Also, that you’re not sure about whether you were confirmed.

The priest will know more about what needs to be done than us. I think explaining and asking about “conditional baptism” and a “marriage convalidation” are the right starting points, though.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

The parish records should record your baptism, confirmation, and marriage. You may ask your current pastor for help accessing these records.

 

[Phemie]

I take it you were not married before you converted? Or were you married to a Catholic but not in the Catholic Church?