Regarding the validity of my Baptism

[Boso]

dylanschrader:

The only question is really the seeming separation of form and matter.

As I mentioned, Catholic ordination also has a separation of form and matter: the bishop first goes around and lays hands on each of the ordinands, and then he goes around again and prays over each one (if I’m remembering correctly).

Cari:

However, since the church itself is now gone, I can’t go back and make sure that the baptism was intended to remove Original Sin.

As dylanschrader helpfully pointed out, intention is always presumed unless explicitly denied somehow. A cradle Catholic could well ask the same questions – how can one go back and learn what the priest’s intention was? My understanding of this whole question is that God gives grace generously and powerfully; he won’t be tripped up by a daydreaming or confused minister. That seems to be the underlying idea of the (fairly traditional) sources I quoted. But I would very much like to understand where the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article is coming from and the recent ruling on Mormon baptism and its explanation.

 

[dylanschrader]

So wait a minute here- when I converted, I got a copy of my baptismal certificate for documantation. I was baptized as an infant, in a Congregational church. The Trinity WAS invoked. However, since the church itself is now gone, I can’t go back and make sure that the baptism was intended to remove Original Sin. Does this make MY baptism invalid? Does this mean every confession I’ve made is invalid? That my entry into the Church is invalid? That my marriage isn’t sacramental and that I’ve never received the Graces from Eucharist?

Great. What started out as an idle way to pass the time, reading this thread, has now spiraled into a theological headache. Do I need to go get conditionally baptized too?

Your baptism was valid.

Again, the intention required is a virtual intention. This does not include holding the same beliefs that the Church does about baptism. It only means intending to do “what it is that Christians do” / “what Christ intended”.

 

[Cari]

Your baptism was valid.

Again, the intention required is a virtual intention. This does not include holding the same beliefs that the Church does about baptism. It only means intending to do “what it is that Christians do” / “what Christ intended”.

Thanks! Sometimes, the OCD kicks in, and the next thing I know, I’m freaking out about something and bugging my husband at work because I can’t shake the paranoia. So on behalf of my poor, overworked husband, thank you for answering my concern so I don’t have to bother him.

 

[dylanschrader]

Thanks! Sometimes, the OCD kicks in, and the next thing I know, I’m freaking out about something and bugging my husband at work because I can’t shake the paranoia. So on behalf of my poor, overworked husband, thank you for answering my concern so I don’t have to bother him.

No problem!