Repeating a baptismal rite

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Riley259

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This question is a bit silly. I have an aquaintance who got mad at her priest for refussing to redo a baptism in front of family members, etc. Apparently the original baptism was done when the infant was in the hospital with just parents there. My response was that baptism can only be done once and that the priest was justified in refusing to “redo” the baptismal rite in front of family, friends, etc. What do others think?
 
You and the priest were right. The only reason you friend wanted the rite to be repeated was just for show. That’s not the intent for the baptism. Tell her she should be grateful that her child received this wonderful sacrament.
 
When a child receives an emergency baptism, the child receives only the water and the Trinitarian formula…However when and if the child recovers the complete baptismal rite can be done…minus the pouring of the water. The child can be anointed with sacred chrism and the oil of catechumens, the exorcism rite, the various blessings & prayers including ephetha can be done. But the priest was right in saying the actual baptism of water can only be done once. The child received the graces of the sacrament in the hospital.
 
stbruno said:
When a child receives an emergency baptism, the child receives only the water and the Trinitarian formula…However when and if the child recovers the complete baptismal rite can be done…minus the pouring of the water. The child can be anointed with sacred chrism and the oil of catechumens, the exorcism rite, the various blessings & prayers including ephetha can be done. But the priest was right in saying the actual baptism of water can only be done once. The child received the graces of the sacrament in the hospital.
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I’ve never understood why the anointing isn’t done - it takes what, a minute? Canon Law also says that when a child is baptized because there is danger of death he/she should also be confirmed but I’ve never heard of it happening.

Recently I encountered a case where baby was baptized in our local hospital then transfered to a hospital in another town and baptized again. Turns out that the priest who celebrated the original baptism never bothered to tell anyone but me. I had to tell him to make sure that if he baptized an infant he had to tell the staff so they could put it in the chart.
 
Phemie said:
I’ve never understood why the anointing isn’t done - it takes what, a minute? Canon Law also says that when a child is baptized because there is danger of death he/she should also be confirmed but I’ve never heard of it happening.

Recently I encountered a case where baby was baptized in our local hospital then transfered to a hospital in another town and baptized again. Turns out that the priest who celebrated the original baptism never bothered to tell anyone but me. I had to tell him to make sure that if he baptized an infant he had to tell the staff so they could put it in the chart.
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Stupid question, but can a priest confirm someone?
 
Phemie said:
I’ve never understood why the anointing isn’t done - it takes what, a minute? Canon Law also says that when a child is baptized because there is danger of death he/she should also be confirmed but I’ve never heard of it happening.

Recently I encountered a case where baby was baptized in our local hospital then transfered to a hospital in another town and baptized again. Turns out that the priest who celebrated the original baptism never bothered to tell anyone but me. I had to tell him to make sure that if he baptized an infant he had to tell the staff so they could put it in the chart.
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More than likely the reason anointing is not done during an emergency baptism, is that anyone can baptize in an emergency…by using water and the Trinitarian formula…one does not have to wait for a minister to perform the sacrament.
 
…However when and if the child recovers the complete baptismal rite can be done…minus the pouring of the water. The child can be anointed with sacred chrism and the oil of catechumens, the exorcism rite, the various blessings & prayers including ephetha can be done.
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Just the reference for that and a small point. The Rite of Baptism of Children 165-185) calls for the Rite of Bringing an Already Baptized Child to the Church, and that should be done. However, since the infant is baptized, he or she is not anointed with the oil of catechumens.

While it is true baptism cannot be repeated, nor should it be “re-enacted,” it would be possible for the priest even apart from that, with the family gathered, to celebrate the Blessing of a Baptized Child from the Book of Blessings.

(See catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=702 )
 
Riley259 said:
This question is a bit silly. I have an aquaintance who got mad at her priest for refussing to redo a baptism in front of family members, etc. Apparently the original baptism was done when the infant was in the hospital with just parents there. My response was that baptism can only be done once and that the priest was justified in refusing to “redo” the baptismal rite in front of family, friends, etc. What do others think?
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the priest should have “completed the rite” when the rest of the family could be present, such as the anointing, candle and other parts of the rite that are usually skipped in an emergency situation, but canonically he may not for any reason repeat the actual water baptism if there is proof it was done in the hospital. what others think is immaterial. this is a matter of canon law, not opinion open to a vote.
 
Phemie said:
Canon Law also says that when a child is baptized because there is danger of death he/she should also be confirmed but I’ve never heard of it happening.
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I’ve never heard of this either - perhaps cameron_lansing or another knowledgeable member could comment on this.
Can. 891 The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion unless the conference of bishops has determined another age, or there is danger of death, or in the judgment of the minister a grave cause suggests otherwise.
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Riley259 said:
This question is a bit silly. I have an aquaintance who got mad at her priest for refussing to redo a baptism in front of family members, etc. Apparently the original baptism was done when the infant was in the hospital with just parents there. My response was that baptism can only be done once and that the priest was justified in refusing to “redo” the baptismal rite in front of family, friends, etc. What do others think?
Click to expand...
When a Baptism is celebrated in a Hospital under emergency conditions the Rites of Baptism are usually omitted. If the infant survives the Rites without the actual Baptism are usually celebrated in the parish church at a later time.
 
Stupid question, but can a priest confirm someone?

Yes. It happens in the Eastern Churches all the time.

Furthermore, Pius XII gave pastors faculties to confirm members of their flocks in danger of death who had not recived this sacrament.
 
Digitonomy,

Phemie’s statement is quite consistent with the canons and the liturgical texts. A priest must confirm if possible in such circumstances.

In a danger of death situation, the law gives any priest the faculty to administer confirmation (c. 883, 3º) . Further, a priest who has the faculty to confirm must use it in favor of those for whom it was given (c. 885 §2). Danger of death trumps the other times, such as the age of discretion or other age established etc., mentioned in canon 891.

The Rite of Confirmation (n. 11) states: "In this case every necessary precaution is to be taken to ensure that in the event of danger of death or serious problems of another kind children receive confirmation in good time, so that they are not left without the benefit of this sacrament.”

The Rite of Christian Initiation for the Dying says that a priest who baptizes should confer confirmation after baptism if the sacred chrism is at hand and there is time (n. 276). It also addresses care of a dying child at n. 280, and says “as far as possible, the rite of baptism for children and for children and the rite of confirmation are celebrated in the usual way.” Further, “a dying child with the use of reason shares the common responsibility of receiving viaticum.” It also is stated as desirable that an even younger child complete initiation by reception of the Eucharist, in accord with the practice of the Church. The rubrics of the Rite then say if confirmation does not take place, the neophyte should be anointed in the usual way.

The Rite of Baptism for Children permits a priest or deacon to use the shorter form (even “un”blessed water and the formula, etc) at the moment of death or when there is urgency because of imminent danger of death (21,1). It also says, “In danger of death, if there is time and he has the sacred chrism, the pastor or other priest enjoying the faculty should not fail to confer confirmation after baptism. In this case he omits the postbaptismal anointing with chrism.” (n. 22)

(As noted, this post baptismal anointing is quite different from the conferral of the sacrament of confirmation. According to the Rite of Baptism for Children, n. 18.3, the post baptismal anointing signifies the royal priesthood of the faithful and enrollment into the company of the people of God. But it is not the sealing with the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.)

A priest would have to prudently judge the "as far as possible"or “if there is time” parts and would have to have sacred chrism. (Remember, a priest may bless the oil of anointing the sick in a case of necessity but only a bishop can consecrate sacred chrism. So a priest cannot “whip up a batch.”)

But circumstances can vary on all accounts, and things can move quickly.
 
When my first child was born, she required minor surgery and was sent from the hospital where she was born to a children’s hospital just a few blocks away. We wanted her baptised before undergoing general anesthesia. The priest came from the parish which served that area and I was the only person other than the priest at her baptism.
Later we went back to the parish we had come from (much closer to extended family and friends) and had ceremonies supplied. This is not a re-baptism; this is providing the full ceremonial of exhorcism, blessed salt, chrism, etc. The priest at our old parish was very accommodating.
Don’t ask that the child be re-baptised. Ask for ceremonies to be provided. Your pastor will understand what you want.

Matthew
 
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