Saintly intercession.

[gavanhe]

Hypothetical question and perhaps not so hypothetical. If one had a child and that child lived for a day, was baptised and died, is that child in heaven as a saint? Is prayers for intercession valid or are prayers for it’s soul to reach heaven more appropriate.
Gerry

 

[jmj603]

Hypothetical question and perhaps not so hypothetical. If one had a child and that child lived for a day, was baptised and died, is that child in heaven as a saint? Is prayers for intercession valid or are prayers for it’s soul to reach heaven more appropriate.
Gerry

Traditionally, the ritual of the Roman Church for the burial of baptized infants presumes that the baptized child who dies before the age of reason is happy in heaven, e.g.:

Almighty and all loving God, we know that whenever a little child, reborn in the font of baptism, departs this life, you forthwith bestow on him the gift of everlasting life, for no merits of his own; and so we believe that you have given it today to the soul of this child. Thus we beg you, O Lord, through the intercession of the blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, to help us serve you with pure hearts here on earth, and to unite us forever with the blessed little ones in Paradise; through Christ our Lord.

However, there is no provision to publicly treat them as saints. Traditionally, children who die before the age of reason are not canonized, except when they die as Martyrs (like the Holy Innocents did).

As to whether prayers for private intercession are valid, I don’t see why not.

 

[gavanhe]

Traditionally, the ritual of the Roman Church for the burial of baptized infants presumes that the baptized child who dies before the age of reason is happy in heaven, e.g.:

However, there is no provision to publicly treat them as saints. Traditionally, children who die before the age of reason are not canonized, except when they die as Martyrs (like the Holy Innocents did).

As to whether prayers for private intercession are valid, I don’t see why not.

Thank you for the response. I assumed that the definition of a saint is, any soul in heaven is a saint. This is not to imply that they have, or have not led an exemplary life.
Gerry