Valid Baptism/ Re-Baptism?

[Karoline]

So… I am/was a Moravian, currently in the process of dipping my toes into the Tiber in hopes to start RCIA classes shortly and become a fully fledged member of the Catholic Church.

My question is this: I was Christened as a baby at my local Cathedral in a CofE Service. Would this count as a ‘Baptism’ with regards to the RCIA process and whether or not I would need to be Baptised in order to become Catholic, or would I need to be Baptised again? I would quite like to be Baptised anyway as when I was originally Christened it was not my choice (although I do not hold anything against my parents for Christening me and I am glad they did) and I would like to be able to stand in the Church and of my own free will be Baptised if that makes sense? So, if it is a valid Baptism would I be able/allowed to be re-Baptised?

Kari

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So… I am/was a Moravian, currently in the process of dipping my toes into the Tiber in hopes to start RCIA classes shortly and become a fully fledged member of the Catholic Church.

My question is this: I was Christened as a baby at my local Cathedral in a CofE Service. Would this count as a ‘Baptism’ with regards to the RCIA process and whether or not I would need to be Baptised in order to become Catholic, or would I need to be Baptised again? I would quite like to be Baptised anyway as when I was originally Christened it was not my choice (although I do not hold anything against my parents for Christening me and I am glad they did) and I would like to be able to stand in the Church and of my own free will be Baptised if that makes sense? So, if it is a valid Baptism would I be able/allowed to be re-Baptised?

Kari

Most likely your C of E Baptism is valid and would be accepted. You would not need to be Baptized again, for there is only ONE Baptism, never to be repeated. You will stand in the Church and make a Profession of Faith before being Confirmed.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

You get baptized only once. But you’ll still have your chance to stand up and show that your faith is of your own free will. As you go through RCIA there will be several rites that you will go through – the Rite of Welcoming, Call to Continuing Conversion, and finally your profession of faith, confirmation, and First Eucharist. Each one shows that you are making this choice on your own.

 

[bpbasilphx]

If you will look at the various Anglican Books of Common Prayer, nowhere do they call it “christening” but “baptism.”

The rite does not say, “I christen you…” but “I baptize you…”

Therefore, in the Anglican Church, you were already baptized.

 

[Karoline]

Most likely your C of E Baptism is valid and would be accepted. You would not need to be Baptized again, for there is only ONE Baptism, never to be repeated. You will stand in the Church and make a Profession of Faith before being Confirmed.

You get baptized only once. But you’ll still have your chance to stand up and show that your faith is of your own free will. As you go through RCIA there will be several rites that you will go through – the Rite of Welcoming, Call to Continuing Conversion, and finally your profession of faith, confirmation, and First Eucharist. Each one shows that you are making this choice on your own.

Thank you for your responses okay that makes a lot of sense, I just wanted to check about that, thanks again!

If you will look at the various Anglican Books of Common Prayer, nowhere do they call it “christening” but “baptism.”

The rite does not say, “I christen you…” but “I baptize you…”

Therefore, in the Anglican Church, you were already baptized.

Thanks, yeah, it was always called a “Christening” to me and have never heard of it as a “Baptism” so I wasn’t sure if they were one and the same, I was given a Christening Candle after the ceremony that I still have with a little Christening Card from the Cathedral but that doesn’t say “Baptism” on it anywhere either so thought I would check if it was one and the same thing or if it was required for me to be Baptised again. I haven’t been to Church since my Granny died in 2001 so I couldn’t remember what it said in the BoCP and I wasn’t old enough to remember what was said when the rite was actually performed (as I was only 12 weeks old ) but thank you for clarifying this for me.

 

[stbruno]

Thank you for your responses okay that makes a lot of sense, I just wanted to check about that, thanks again!

Thanks, yeah, it was always called a “Christening” to me and have never heard of it as a “Baptism” so I wasn’t sure if they were one and the same, I was given a Christening Candle after the ceremony that I still have with a little Christening Card from the Cathedral but that doesn’t say “Baptism” on it anywhere either so thought I would check if it was one and the same thing or if it was required for me to be Baptised again. I haven’t been to Church since my Granny died in 2001 so I couldn’t remember what it said in the BoCP and I wasn’t old enough to remember what was said when the rite was actually performed (as I was only 12 weeks old ) but thank you for clarifying this for me.

Christening and Baptism are used interchangeably for the most. As long as you were validly baptized with water and the Trinitarian formula…of being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit then you were validly baptized and cannot be rebaptized because it leaves an indelible mark on your soul and original sin was removed. All the previous posters were solidly correct when they said you would be making a Profession of faith after a suitable period of study in the Rite of Christian of Initiation of Adults program RCIA. Usually this is done at the Easter Vigil mass.
Welcome HOME!

 

[Karoline]

Christening and Baptism are used interchangeably for the most. As long as you were validly baptized with water and the Trinitarian formula…of being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit then you were validly baptized and cannot be rebaptized because it leaves an indelible mark on your soul and original sin was removed. All the previous posters were solidly correct when they said you would be making a Profession of faith after a suitable period of study in the Rite of Christian of Initiation of Adults program RCIA. Usually this is done at the Easter Vigil mass.
Welcome HOME!

Oh right okay, I didn’t know that! I have several friends who were Christened as babies but were then Baptised as adults in the Anglican Church so I didn’t realise that they were one and the same, or they told me they had been Christened and Baptised so who knows. thank you for the information!

 

[Phemie]

The Catholic Dictionary defines “christening” as “the part of the Baptismal Rite when the child is given it’s name” or words to that effect. That occurs first in the Baptismal ceremony when the priest asks “What name do you give your child?” From then on the child is referred to by name during the Baptism.

So although the terms Baptism and Christening are often used interchangeably they are not truly synonymous. After all, you christen a ship but you never baptize it.

 

[Karoline]

The Catholic Dictionary defines “christening” as “the part of the Baptismal Rite when the child is given it’s name” or words to that effect. That occurs first in the Baptismal ceremony when the priest asks “What name do you give your child?” From then on the child is referred to by name during the Baptism.

So although the terms Baptism and Christening are often used interchangeably they are not truly synonymous. After all, you christen a ship but you never baptize it.

Ah right, thanks a lot for that. I shall speak to the Priest about it and see what he thinks then as I’ve had conflicting information from parents/friends from Church regarding this and at the moment the safest bet is that I am baptised again ‘just-in-case’. LOL.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Ah right, thanks a lot for that. I shall speak to the Priest about it and see what he thinks then as I’ve had conflicting information from parents/friends from Church regarding this and at the moment the safest bet is that I am baptised again ‘just-in-case’. LOL.

Now, who do you think will know more? The priest or your parents and friends who have given you conflicting information?

 

[Karoline]

Now, who do you think will know more? The priest or your parents and friends who have given you conflicting information?

My Priest I am sure but as I am a brand new shiny member of the congregation (only been to Church once) coupled with the fact that my Priest looks after several churches in our Parish, he is very busy and I have yet to ask him, which is why I was hoping for a clearer answer from here/ friends or family.